Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-22
PHILIPPINE ]. CHRISTMAS
Unique and Interesting Sights in Our Most
Distant Possessions.
How Uncle sam's Soldiers md Sailors
Enjoyed Their First Christmas
Holiday in the Islands.

Edwin Wildman In Leslie's Weekly.
A straw hat does not seem like a very APP
propriate Christmas present; neither does a
temperature Of 80 degrees in the shade
strike one as the right sort of weather for
Christmas, yet these are peculiarities that
our boys in far-away Manila find on Christ
mas day. Nevertheless, when the transport
Meade. which sailed away from New York
on the 18th of November. laden with boxes
for fathers, sons, brothers and sweethearts,
discharges her precious burdens on the
banks of the Pasig, the boys will forget to
ask any questions as to the state of the
thermometer or the previous customs of the
country, but will Tevel in Christmas cheer
such as would make the joys of the simple
home feasts tame in comparison.
Last year all our troops were barracked
in Manila. and Christmas was merry day.
Large dances were given in the various
quarters of our volunteer army and the
city was alive with midnight orgies. The
boxes from home came in by the thousands.
and the boys Joined together and had
LAY out" that made them forget that they
were 10000 miles from home. The ships in
the harbor were brilliantly Illuminated at
night, and the festive sound of music
fioated across the bay, while the officers
and men reveled in dance and song Dur
ing the day water tournaments and ath-
letic exhibitions were given. and the jackies
enjoyed feast that gave them the nearest
to a home feeling they had enjoyed since
they sailed across the Pacific. The after
noon was given over to dinners and visit
ing, and all lent themselves to the spirit of
the day. for thought, of war was then
hardly entertained. The stars and stripes
fioated unquestioned over Manila, and Span
ish supremacy was thing of the past.
Aguinaldo was looked upon with almost
brotheriy feeling, and the Filipino came
and went, and was accorded all the cour-
tesies of friend. His spacious houses
were opened with hospitable welcome and
the American soldier was taking his first
In SnaniSh He could
esta w" and would nod his head know
ingly and answer Isl, 81. senor," to the
Filipino's Americana Filipino igua1."
Last year the Filipino turkey was abun-
dant. and many of the Christmas messes
were supplied with stuffed turkey. Some
had roast pig and others ducks from the
great duck town, Psteros. The table SER
vice was not of thefSherry or Delmonico
pattern, but although the boys had to wash
their tin plates and iron knives between
courses, there was 10 complaint on that
score. go
Although political relations We're becom-
ing slightly strainsd by Christmas time,
last year, the personal relations of the
American soldier and the Filipino were not
affected. The American was welcome, UNI
armed. through the lines into the fhsur-
gent country. and the Filipino soldier came
and mingled freely with Americans in Ma
Mia, So it happened that many of the
boys, after Christmas dinner, started for
trip up the acknowledgement railway to
Malolos.
To the natives Christmas is largely a re-
ligious ceremony. AL over the islands
Christmas bells ring out for hours. and
grand mass is celebrated in the early morn
ing. The churches are profuseiy decorated
with palms. fragrant flowers, and great
wreaths and chains of cut flowers are car
red by the children. who sing songs and
parade through the streets. Filipino band
leading the procession. Banners are carried
and floats are drawn. Then all go home to
a big dinner and though the native does
f1f,t loo n rara ba oaly
by quantity. Vino is drunk. imported beer,
Dutch gin. chocolates and sweets of many
native varieties. Betel nut is constantly
chewed. and cigars and cigarettes are
smoked profuseiy by men, women and chill
dren. - 81.
Music is always on hand. and although
there is not much forr1affty; the festivities
are thoroughly enjoyed and lash until very
late hours. In the evening fancy and gem
RAJ dancing is INDUCED in, for the Filipinos
sc dancing almost as well music. /
have seen a dance going on in tiny nipa
hut when it seemed to me that the frail
affair would topple over or be crushed
down at any moment, such was the crowd
and frolic going on inside. The fancy dane
ing is rather awkward and sti1ted. and con-
sists of either man and woman or one
woman. In the former case a dialogue is
carried on in monotonous voice, and love-
making, rebukes, jealousies and amorous
appeals are supposed to be made all the
time illustrated by the dance and the ges-
tcuiating of the hands and arms. When
the woman dances alone she is supposed to
work herself up into furious tantrum
over some imagined cause. until she
achieves very elated passion and falls in
mt on the floor. One dance is done by the
woman with glass of wine balanced on
the head. 1t Is very skiilful and graceful.
With all the novel experiences of the
orient with its bright beautiful days and
refreshing, breezy nights, Christmas seems
astray-aWay from home. 1t is one of those
ceieprauons that need the accompaniment
OF SnOW-DOtlnI fields and d,;,,o
NY hrst Christmas in the orient seemed
like an anachronism. I could not accustom
IL TO the temperature. The thermometer
and the calendar seemed to be fighting each
other Perhaps in time the Americans who
become colonists will get acquainted with
the oriental Christmas, or, what is more
llkely, learn to forego the Christmas lows
OF our youth; but it will take time: and
now, before the spirit of the east has come
over US. We shall join hearts and hands
across the sea. and hope for our brave SOL
uiers ana yenturesome colonists all the lows |
OF GOOD, old, merry Christmas ard a !
happy New Year.