The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-17
Christmas in Our New Lands

1 ~---N QCOR@C " 10 I'VE IN Ieu1DeraI e
ATTITUDES, and whose affections are sci
on all the pretty legends that have be-
come associated with the observance Of
| the greatest of holidays
But there are plenty of American citi.
Gems VINO Will pass the coming Christmas
without any Of the accessories that have
been enumerated, nor will they be dis
| turbed By the lack. says the New York
| World
No modern country can offer any par
aAel, IN Its recent history 10 the start
ing contrast between the Christmas day
OF our original thirteen colonies and the
Christmas day OF lS99-the simple festival
celebrated in uniform fashion throughout
all the homes in that modestly restricted
area on our eastern coast-and the multi
form observance in the New America that
girdIes the globe.
Just glance at the way that Christmas
viii be spent IN some parts of our ex-
panded country and you Will realize that
december p does not necessarily bring
plum pudding and sleigh rides-nor even
peace and goodwill
Now, Porto Rico, for instance, is a good
Catholic country. The Porto Ricans be-
lieve in all the Christ-stories dear 10 the
church, and to them the nativity is a holy
festival. But when Christmas day ar
rives there is no snow and ice TO keep
them indoors, nor any traditions or
churchly counsels to keep these cheerful
people from celebrating in the gayest way
they know.
Christmas day among these light-heart-
ed Americans is spent in watching cock
fights, a great many of which take place
in every town. The combatants are tiny
creatures, not half big enough. ore would
think, TO afford entertainment TO hundreds
of stalwart human beings
But, small as they are, the gamecocks
are trained to the last degree of agrees
iveness. They have been carefully watch
ed and fed for weeks beforehand And
If, when they are finally set at each
other, the stronger cock does not desist
until the other is torn in pieces, the
Porto Rico audience goes home well sat
isfied.
Do not condemn this before comparing
il with the Cuban Christmas, which is a
great deal more shocking to a civilization
that has never known Spanish influence,
for it ASust be remembered that these new
Americans have learned all they know
from Spain.
The Cuban idea of a good Christmas is
a bulI-ight, carried on in accordance with
the most approved Spanish traditions.
A great open circular space is tightly
fenced in, and tier after tier of seats set
up all around It.
Early in the day the gates are flung
open to admit not the sporting element"
but as fair a display of Cuban beauty as
the island can produce. These gentle
ladies are gowned in their. gayest Ioi-
ment; they are in the liveliest IF humCr,;
their lips are parted and their dark ewes
dance in anticipatory delight.
When the show opens the actors are
strong man on horseback, carrying a
formidable spear. and great bull. at
first frightened then furiously enraged.
The man has every advantage. He
knows how to keep cool. But the bull is
goaded in a thousand ways.
Once, twice, ten times the mounted as
sailant and his furious victim come to-
gether. Not until one is dead or dis
abled is the Christmas celebration con-
cluded; not until then are the pretty Gu
ban women satisfied.
In Manila, and in Tutuila, one of The
Samoan islands of which our exclusive
possession is practically. though not form
ally, established, they celebrate by curious
dances. In Manila they are fond of
combination of drama and ballet, which
is performed on a rude stage. One man
and one woman appear at a time and 80
through a performance half reiigi nus,
though it is not enlivening to foreigner,
the natives of Manila find it diverting and
still more so is the ballet that sccOm-
panies it, and which is danced TO a dull,
monotonous sort of music.
Much less modern is the dancing rrac-
ticed by the natives Of Tutuila. These
far-away people celebrate by pereo m
ance known as the silva dance. This IS
danced altogether by women.
And, of course, so far as possible, TIE
women chosen are young and pretty.
Dwellers on old colonial ground need net
affect any scorn at this suggestion Tor
there are pretty women among the new
even If they have not straight
poses and Gibson shoulders and blond
hair.
Some of them have very sweet, appeal
ing faces, and if you can forget your
racial prejudices long enough to ignore
their snub noses, you will see that their
eyes may be very beautiful and their
mouths have a very winning curve.
At the beginning the women seat them
selves in a circle on the floor and rock
backward and forward. while they slowly
beat one arm with the other. When by
means of this performance they have
worked themselves thoroughly into the
spirit of dancing they stand and. still
striking thmselves. sway to and fro In a
still more marked fashion. moving every
part of the body but the feet, which re-
main in one spot.
This dance is a feature Of every feast
and entertainment, and an integral part
Of marriage and funeral ceremonies.
If the dances Of a nation may be con-
sidered TO present any Indication OF the
national character. there is something en-
couraging in Samoan dances.
Most people imagine that Christmas
trees are peculiar 10 Christian people
But the newly-made Americans who live
IN Sulu. and who are anything but Chris /
tan. have Christmas trees. too.
II a Sulu host invites you TO his home T
y Christmas time. OF on the day that cor
-esponds 10 our Christmas. sou viii be
sked 10 take part II eating an entire
Tree. Not fir tree, however. with can /
7Ies and sweetmeats, attached 70 its I
.oughly elastic branches.
The Sulu Christmas tree e made OF I
sugar cane. with native confections
strung ali over II, and every tiny twig Is
sone deIectably sweet morsel When the
guests arrive this tree is seen standing IN .
he corner. As t.e feast progresses e +
: gradually torn apart and by the sine
ne feast is broken up every sign q Il has
disappeared
S1Irf-rldIng. the favorite Hawaiian sport
5 in fun swing a Christmas time. and
ra peorle who practice II have as merry
/. Christmas as could be imagined
This sport Is particularly favored BY
a--nar although az BaT7HaHs Erea-iy
lallEht f. water. Ve5y littls clothing is
worn
s. feHcatsfv DO they balance themselves
s4t This proves the finest sort o. sport
"a from The point q view ~ comfort
nirat 5e favorapiy compared Tith Ger
additional Christmas sports. skating and
1e.gh-riding-
Probably the least known = az or mex
,oesezsla1s Sc Guam. that Htt1e iaisn3 Fri