Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-12-14

ike civilized surroundings, ana there
were many things to make Christmas
dinner enjoyable.
Christmas day here in the Philippines
could not have been more perfect. Tho
weather was fine. In the morning there
were cooling brcezes, and later the sun
poured its rays straight down. The
sentincs were kept busy in lodging the
heat and hunting the shade. All duty
not absolutely necessary was dispensed
with for the day. There were all kinds
Of sports in the different commands. A
great field day had been arranged to
be held on the I.unetta,. but owing to
the unsettled state of affairs it was
postponed
The natives celebrated Christmas
with many queer ceremonies, and with
them the joyful Pasco Dias was a great
day, The Fiipinos know how to enjoy
holiday as do no other people. They
have their holidays every week, but the
greatest of all are pasco Dias and holy
week. TO the Filipnos Christmas was
week long, and there was another week
Of preliminary rejoicing. For more than
a week before Christmas the early morn
ing hours here In Manila were filed with
music. Bands paraded the streets In the
different parts Of the city. The bells of
the great cathedrals rang out their mel
low monotones TO awaken the people for
early mass.
Music was one Of the principal features
connected with the native observance Of
the holiday season. There are few peo-
pie more musicaly inclined than the Fill
pinos, and on all occasions music Is Il
principal feature with the natives. They
have all sorts Of brass, string and reed
instruments, and some of the latter are
most rude contrlvances. They make
reed Instruments from sections Of bam-
boo, and these are of all sizes and con-
sequently of all pitches At the holiday
season one has n chance to see more of
the musical instinct than at any other
season of the year All day Christmas
these native bands played in the street.
They lent their aid toward making the
festivities of Christmas eve and Christ
mas night enjoyable. All through the
holy week Manila was filled with music.
Christmas, or Pasco, as the Spanish
is, had It's good things for old and young.
The children were qt the height of their
Joy, for Juguctes, the Santa Claus Of
the Filipinos, came throughout the land
and everywhere distributed good things.
For week before Christmas figures
fantastlcally dressed to represent Ju-
guetes were hauled through the streets
on decorated carts. Everywhere these
were followed by crowds Of native chill
drcn.
When the people Of the Philippines
turn out to enjoy holiday, they are
clad In their best and airlest attire and
especially Is this the case at Pasco sea-
son. Early on Christmas morning the
streets were filed with natives Of all
ages and both sexes. The men were clad
in the customary ermlne garment and
the women In bright colored frocks, with
an embroidered piece Of pima around the
neck. The little pickaninnies were
dressed in tasty style, as Filipino styles
go, and were as happy as the rest.
The natives all attended the church
ceremonies, for with them, as with US,
these are the real features Of the day.
All through the holy week the church
continued and ended only with
the advent Of the new year.
With our soldiers the principal ques-
tion at Christmas time was as to going
home, for all were thoroughly tired Of
In the tropics. The bright
prospects for the speedy return Of the
volunteer forces was another cause Of
rejoicing and making merry. When
another year has passed and another
Christmas season Is celebrated in Ma
nila, this city and the Philippines will
have been brought more fully under
American influences and will have EN-
parked uD0n a new era.