The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-29
AGUINALDO'S BOYHOOD.


from the N O. TimeS-DemOcrat-I
Louis NJ Rodriguez, the young Fill
pino who has applied for the position
of stenographer and typewriter to serve
at the army headquarters in Mania,
concluded his civil examination at the
custom house yesterday, and has strong
hopes of securing the job MI Roo
risuez is a man of education and cul-
ture. and in appearance is a typlcal
member of his race. He IS short, Wlry
and agile. and his features bear a
marked resemblance TO portraits OF
Aguinaldo.
aldo he remarked TO a Times-DeTnO-
crat reporter who called recently at ms
office at No. 436 Common street, and
] know him and his two brothers very
we'll We attended the San Juan semi
nary in Manila 1t is a Catholic 1nsu-
tuition. and is designed to mt young men
for two professions only-the law ana
the church We studied Latin, philos-
ophy. pedagogy, Roman and nterna-
tiOnal law. the doctrines OF personal
rights and theology. One had to be a
graduate of an academy or first school
before entering
.Aguinaldo was a hard student con-
tinued Mr.. Rodriguez He used to
literally turn night into day. and it was
at the college that he acquired his
pronounced ideas on Repubican1SIn-
When he was only 16 years old he start
ed little paper-a boys paper-called
la Republica- I took a great interest
in the enterprise, for my fathe. was
newspaper man and 1 was brought up
to the trade L wrote great deal of
poetry. which. I dare say. was very
poor Anyhow, La Republica did not
last very long / doubt whether there
is copy of it now in existence.
I'm his school days Aguinal5O was a
very quiet boy. but everybody liked
him. He was gOod-hearted and chart
table. and had a great idea of ones du-
~ to the poor He is extremely well
educated. and finished his schooling
= know
brothers are at present. They used to
live at CaVite. one of our intimates at
college. by the way. was DR.. Rial, who
later on started the last war against
the Spanish He was an able man and
exercised great influence on Aguin-
aldo"
Have the well to do Filipinos a good
education as a rule2" asked the visitor.
Yes There is a little Filipino who
sometimes come into this office. He
was educated for the law, but is now
common sailor. 1t would surprise you
TO hear him talk. He can converse on
any topic in a scholarly manner, and
frequently speaks of the war not mere
" of news events. but discussing it
from "a philosophic standpoint. He is
fair example of the young Filipino of
good family. They are thoroughly edu-
Gated in everything except English and
English literature
Tell me something about everyday
life among the FuipinOs," said the re-
porter In what respect do their Gus
toms differ most strikingIy from ours 20
TWO WAYS OF LIVING
Well replied Mr. Rodriguez. there
are two ways of living in Manila one
Is very cheap and one is very expensive.
All except the rich live very cheaply:
it costs the upper class about the same
as il does here Fruit is the principal
food of the common people and the ba-
mana plays a very important part-more
important than bread does here I
could describe over % different WAYS
OF preparing bananas, but they are
commonly ground into -four and made
into cakes, which are very palatabIe.
For five cents a man can buy enough
banana Hour to live on several days.
The upper class use Spanish cooking
exclusively, and the prices at the fash
ionable cafes are about what they are
IN New Orleans one cannot get a good
dinner for less than 81 The ice used is
nearly all natural ice. and is brought
from the mountains, II miles away, on
buffalOes.
The rich FiIipinOs have elegant resi-