The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-21
AMONG THE F|LP|nOS.
Impressions of Philippine Soes-
ety-A ros.g Boston Clerks
VnfQae Experiences Poiyglot
and POlychromatfc Promfscuity.

ssror R. tan and DISTINGUISHED
looking Aezssxo OF fifty years or 50, 10
whom had been introduced during enc oe
Ins sn1ernaissors az my first sal.aght. had
oo1sfes1iAsiy extsn3ei al invitation 10 ne
20 make one % the Engsssh-speaksng
guests AZ n bale" which would take place
al aAs "ca.a" the following evening. says
Manila correspondent OF lie Boston Ira
seasg- senor r. vas rich ard Influential.
a captain OF a pueblo. weii educated and
power IN the community, and Was Told
that the invitation was soneshlng OF an
hoilor. as bis acquaintance was a thlng 20
cultivate Or the strength of bis position
and dignity. he adopted ths European form
Ok dress. that ia, he tucked his shirt inside
lis trousers and wore jacket and neck
tie. He was q great a8nireE OF Americans.
ne told me, and regretted that since the
failure OK tbs houses % R9seil. Sturgis s.
Co ard Peel. Hgbhell d Co.. there had
been 50 few representatives % tie great
FepSbAc In Manila In ysgw OF his opinion.
u Is unfortunate tha; he should not have
lived TO SEE the cid CITY aliei with Amer
lean troogs.
/ cordially accepted his invitation, and
accordingly the next evening drove across
the "FaSs' with a pery 9. English fell
lows 10 ths pueblo where stood the Casa
r.. a big. substantial looking house
sqEai In appearance 10 any OF the best
English and Spanish residences. and stand
islg il the nntds. Of . wildly lUxnriant gar
den Upon entering the "saia We were
greeted by our genial host. who extended
hox Of Imperial cigars with his left
hand While he shook hands with his right.
tie assured ne that the house, grounds and
All contained therein were mine and at my
disposal hencsforth and forever; a priviI
eyed possession which II was very evident
! was 10 share with each and every guest
who arrived. a, his side stood a bamboo
table. beapsd with dainty little Chinese
fans, one CT which each conner was suo-
posed 10 take. use during the evening. and
retain as naeTnento Of the occasion
| supposed the next thing 10 do was to
hunt up my hostess. the Sonora r., and
pay my respects. but my English friends
assured me that Il was not expected Just
then. She's somewhere in the crowd"
they said. ANY time viii do. The dining
room Is the next thing Old R wosIi
be burt IL We didn't take something to be-
gin with
The First supper.
So We fled Into the dining room. A huge
table stood IN the middle. covered with
heapsng dishes OF cake. candy. slabs OF
crumhly sugar from China, pickles OF
every conceivable kind. and bottles OF wine
and liquor, including a generous supply of
Scotch and American whisky.
Tho room was filed with male guests Of
vartegated shades Of complexion and ar
rayed in any kind OF costume. from black
jackets 10 the simple shirt with tails flap
ping outside white trousers. All were eat
ing, drinking very moderately. consider
ing the supply, smoking and greeting zach
other with cleaning teeth and hearty
har.dciasps. Our entry was the signal for
burst OF cordially. and all hands moved
up 10 the table and Joined the 'Ingeses"
In taking something" The idea of eating
at tbs stage OF the proceedings struck me
as being odd. 20 say the least, but I BIZ
came SO used 10 finding the natural order
OF things reversed In the far East that I
ate without comment
l had been to.di'hat to come In o regglia-
ton tress-suit would d marked solecism:
SO. not caring 10 so In the ordinary white
linen Of business I tished up and wore n
black cu;away and pique wa.steoat. with
gray trousers ana the result was that we
nearly had heat apop'exy. though 1t was
fairly cool evening IN December
After having relieved our hosts feelfngs
by partaklng OK the eatables and drink
ahles VIZ re-sntered the 'sala'' jus, as ,hs
music for the first dance started up. said
music being provided by three casiaverot,s
F'l'pinos, with harp. violin and piano. and
remarkably good music IL was Groups Of
NestiZa ladies In the attractive ans, bril-
Nanily co.ored national dress with com
fiexsons varying from the darkest brown
through shades OF yellow 70 clear. dead
white. al much bepowdereSi. stood around
the room chastersng ard laughing with at
tendant SWANS. and waving their fans with
the grace which e0es only with Spanish
blood.
The floor was made Of broad stab. az
dark wood. worth fortune IN any other
country. polished 20 tho last degree OF bill
heEcy. and affordluG the most perfect faetI
iiies for dancing. The canvas walls were
hung with wreaihs ard fewtoons Of loavas
and flowers were artist!caily interviewer
and suspended by cords from the ceiling
just over cur heads. were several snow.
white doves with outstretched wings which
to NY horror discovered were alive. thelr
wings being held iu position by wires
twisted among the feathers. The though.
Of the discomfort the poor little creatures
were suffering considerably .nteyfere.s with
my evenings enjoyment. bat ] arserwar,,
found this 10 Re quite a universal method
of a2orngug rooms among the FsliD.nas
ana MeStixos on occa-sions % cereuoenv
TIE golden rule. 80 far rs animals are con.
Serfied. enters little into the Philippine
min
No Formal Presentation.
MIST q mr. English friends scattered gr
ssarca % partners afgixsag rssss Il, y, .ha