The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-26
P()KES Fun At THIN
American Scribe Guys Fill
pinos and Their Ways,
BITTERLY ATTACKING OTIS
Because He Won't Let Manila
Stand Wide Open.

New York, Sept. 25.-The Evening
Post, anti-expansion, publishes mail cor
respondence from Manila which contains,
besides some humorously drawn pen pic
lures of natives and natives customs, a
savage roast of OTIS military conduct of
affairs, especially with regard to the
vigor with which martial law is en-
forced. The correspondence follows:
Manila, Aug. 2.-There isn't a great deal
of fun in the Philippines, but one occas-
ionally encounters a sight or an incident
which brings a smile. Usually, these are
Of type which must be seen to be ap-
preciated Just now, outside of Manila,
there is little to induce one to make ex-
cursions. About all that can be stem in
the country are an expanse of inundated
valleys and groups of waer-soaked SOL
diers.
In wandering about Manila, practically
the new city, which is the centre of mar
tial life as the old city is OF spiritual life,
one should ether have his nose at home or
plug it up. The wear and tear exercised
by the highways and byways uyon the OIL
factory organs are quite severe. There is
a fair measure of offense to the eye as
well, but that instrument possesses a
wider adaptability than does the nose. It
resents less keenly. The novelty is ephem-
eral, but there is novelty for the outsider
in the life of the chief city of the Phil
ippines. The novelty gone, one rather
shrinks from it all. 1t gets almost TO
border on the repulsive, so greatly is it
lacking in inherent attractiveness.
In the new, the commercial city, the
stroller notes that it is already becoming
"Americanized." He sees the intoxicated
American in ample evidence, and sees the
numerous saloons filled with American
soldiers and sailors. He finds the Boston
Bar" the ''New York Saloon" the IRE
ception," the American Bazar," and the
American Trading Company" Ameri-
can advertising signs principally of beer,
are on the walls. Beer is a great insti-
tuition. I remember it was a beer man
that was the first to represent America s
commercial interests in the island of
Porto Rico after the landing there last
August.
commercial enterprise one day last week.
A street car rolled along. It was not much
of car, but it was a fair sample of the
Manila outfit. Along its top the whole
length and foot high ran the sign, use
Tumblemans Whiskey." The name was
not Tumbleman, but that will do for a
substitute. Surely we shall yet civilize
these people. They are an abstemious
race, but we can, by persistent energy
and advertising, added to the force Of ex-
ample, cure them of that.
Manila is comparatively free from one
great nuisance the beggar element. Now
and then a beggar is encountered, but
| they do not, as in Havana, block the way,
and infest every possible place where
Americans may gather. Manila children
are not yet educated up to the appeal for
eff cents from every American.
I have been making a cursory study of
the gait of the Filipino women. As rule,
the women of all classes are as stright as
the wall of a house, If not straighter. A
plumb-line dropped from the nap of the
neck would, in most instances, fall we'll
behind the heels. But the Gait is a pc
culiar swing, which is quite noticeable.
Some charge it, as well as the straight
ness, to their habit of carrying all bur-
dens, from cake of soap to a house and
on the top of the head. That is probably
the cause of the erect bearing, but 1 think
the limbs required for keeping the shoes
on the feet
The local woman's shoe consists usual
", of fat sole with a toe cap. Sometimes
he cap has room for all he toes, some
times not. Often thesole is raised from
the ground by wooden heels and sole
blocks like, but lower than, hose used by
the japanese. Stocking are not usually
worn. Let my gentle reader take a pair
of her little slippers and cut away from
the soles all OF superstructure except
the cap that will just about cover her
toes, and after sticking her toes into them,
try TO walk once or twice around her bou-
doir, and see how many shoe she has on
after the trip. Try it again with a little
outward swing from the knee, viii a re-
sultant side swing from the hip. After a
! few years of practice the slipper will stay
| on, and you will have acquired the gait
| of the Filipino. There is, perhaps a ceraln
grace in the movement, but there IS 4
| good deal of scuffing, anda general ap-
| pearance of being slip shod
| In fact one gets nidea that the aver
| age Filipino. male or female, is only about
| half dressed anyway from our standpoint
| The customary male bady-covering is
! only an undershirt. These Of higher social
| rank and greater wealth wear also a cot
| ton shirt, or a garment OF gauzy texture
! al q 1ra
| garment viii be worn. like a coat. in ne
! full measure Of its beauty. outside the
scale brings the substitution OF thec9at
! for the shirt Filipino dude with a
/ cane and a little fbilly-cock' hat. a pair
| Of black trousers, anda gauze shirt, worn
| outside Of them. is G Respondent spec
tacle, and he has the air OF being entirely
| conscious Of it.
| From our standpoint. there IS the same
| half dressed look about the women OF the
! poorer classes. The Negrito woman OF the
| mountains may use only 2 cloth extending
| from waist 70 knee. The Mangyan wo
| man of Mindoro may wear 4 cont-ivance
/ Of braided rattan. which Is even more ab-
/ breyIatsd. These garments do not suggest
| the half dressed. They are distinct. There
/ is no suggestion OF European costume. Il
| i not 80 with the Filipino women Of Ma
/ Mia Their garments are neither dres nor
! naive costume. Pieces Ct Cloth cover her
from the waist downward. by q system
which not iufreQuenyly displays the legs
as high as the knee joint. The shoulder
/ and body covering varies n me number
/ Of articles and detail OF construction Al
are cut somewhat low IN the usck. and