The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-05

that are audible throughout the cathedral:
then grope their way our, pausing at the
door TO dip their fingers in The holy water.
In attempting a brief description of
Filipino music, the writer in beginning
had no thought of entering into a defense
of the Filipino character, which it seems
now the fashion to despse and malign
because we are al war with them; yet
l cannot refrain from paying a simple
tribute 10 these people for their devotion
to the church; for their unaffected, sin
cere, and gentle manners. They are
doubtless an inferior race, intellectually.
They are as simple as children, and as
credulous. But they are Industrious and
God-fearing, while in department they are
not a whit behind their brothers of the
Caucasian race who have had better adj
vantages.
The writer's stay in Manila was brief,
but army officers who had been stationed
there for months united in tesufying to
their devotion 10 the Catholic religion,
ana to their gentle department, which is
either natural, or acquired from the Span
fards by long association with these polite
people.
When. a few weeks ago. the Manila ca
BILE dispatches tod of the charge made by
the First California Regiment on Paco
Church-the battle-and the destruction of
that holy edSdce by order Of Col James
f. Smith, l wondered whether In the eX-
ecution of this stern duty as soldier ne
remembered the day we dismounted from
our ponies, the willing hands of F1lipnos
that held the bride reins, the courtesy
with Which we were greeted at the church
door, and the evident pleasure it gave the
Filipinos to show some attention to the
good Americans" I wondered II Col.
Jim Smith remembered his own prayerful
attitude as he knelt at the chancel rail
and crossed himself out of Difference and
respect to the religion of these people.
Several months later the California reg
iment poured a murderous fire of shot into
this church, Nand soon IL was a mass of
smolderng ruins.
At the time of which I write the Ameri-
cans in Manila were treated with inYari-
able courtesy by the Filipinos, for they
hailed the good Americans" as their de-
liverers. They were profuse, sincere and
cordial in their expressions and in the eX-
tension of hospitality.
| had the pleasure of attending a must
Gale given in our honor by a prominent
Filipino family. Like most dwelling
houses in Manila, this one had Its port CO.
chere, the entire lower floor being coach
house, the living apartments being up
stairs These were wealthy people. Two
daughters Of the family had received I'M
usual educational advantages including
voice culture and instrumental music.
They were named Paquita and Dolores
del Rosario. Though we enjoyed their ma
tive songs the best they could sing an
aria in Italian or a cantata in Spanish as
we'll
Our host treated us TO wine and cigars.
1t is the custom there to smoke in the
presence of ladies' for they, too, puffed
their cigarettes as they Nsped delightfully."-
in Spanish. The voices of Philippine wo-
men are low and softly modulated, like
the voices of children. Their carriage Is
peculiarly graceful, though in face and
figure they are not particularly attractive
The facial type is a composite of Malay
and Ethiopian.