The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-03-11
0NOERNING A sMEsTIZO BAILEu
~ IN MANILA. .'5
Sun6ry Impressions of Society in
Cur Far Eastern, or Western, Ac-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of a Young
Clerk From Boston - Poly glOt
and POlychrOmatfc Prominently
Among the Islanders-NO Formal
PresentatfOn-Danc Not Espe
cially Lively.


had courteously extended an invitation to
guests at ''bailie" which would take
place at his "casa" the following even
ing, Thus writes a correspondent of the
Boston Transcript. Senior RI was
rich and influential, a captain of a
pueblo, we'll educated and a power in the
community, and I was told that the invi-
tation was something of an honor, as his
acquaintance was a thing ta cultivate.
On the strength Of his position and dig
nifty, he adopted the European form Of
dress; that is, he tucked his shirt inside
his trousers and wore jacket and neck
tie. He was great admirer Of Amer
leans, he told me, and regretted that si19ce
the failure Of the houses of Russell Stur.
gis & Go. and Peele, Hubbell & Co., there
had been so few representatives of the
great republic in Manila. In view Of his
opinion, it is unfortunate that he should
not have lived to see the old city filled
with American troops.
cordially accepted his invitation, and
accordingly the next evening drove
across the "Pasig'' with party of Eng
l1sh fellows to the pueblo where stood the
casa r., big, substantial looking
house, equal in appearance to any Of the
pest English and Spanish residences and
standing in the midst of wildly luxuri-
ant garden. Upon entering the "sala'
we were greeted by our genial host, who
extended a box of "ImperiaP' cigars with
his left hand while he shook hands with
his right He assured me that the house,
grounds and all contained therein We're
mine and at my disposal henceforth and
forever; a privileged possession which it
was very evident I was to share with
eacn ana every guest who arrived. At
MS side stood a bamboo table, heaped
with dainty little Chinese fans, one of
winch each conner was supposed to take,
use during the evening and retain as
memento Of the occasion.
supposed the next thing to do was to
hunt up my hostess, the Sonora R, and
pay my respects, but my English friends
assured InEe tsatttt .vas not expected j,ist.
then. She's somewhere in the crowd, y,
they said, ANY time will do. The dining
room Is the next thing. Old R would
be hurt if we didn't take something to
begin WITH
So we filed into the dining room. A
large table stood in the middle, covered
with heaping dishes Of cake, candy, slabs
OF crumbly sugar from China, pickles of
every conceivable kind, and bottles of
supply Of Scotch and American whisky.
The room was filled with male guests
of variegated shades Of complexion and
arrayed in any kind Of costume, from
black jackets to the simple shirt with
tails Tapping outside white trousers. All
were eating, drinking very moderately,
considering the supply, smoking and
greeting each other with cleaning teeth
and hearty nandclasps. Our entry was
the signal for burst of cordially, and
all hands moved up to the table and
Joined the "1ngleses" in "taking some
thing" The idea of eating at this stage
OF the proceedings struck me as being
odd, to say the least, but had become
SO used to finding things reversed in the
far East that ate without comment.
had been told that to come in a regu-
lation dress suit would be marked SOLE
cism; so, not caring to go in the ordinary
white linen of business, I fished up and
wore black cutaway and pique waist
coat, with gray trousers, and the result
was that I nearly had heat apoplexy,
though it was fairly cool evening in
December
After having relieved our hosts feelings
by partak1ng Of the eatables and drink
ables, we re-entered the SCALA Just as
the music for the first dance started up,
said music being provided by three cadav-
erous Filipinos, with harp, violin and
Groups of Mestiza ladies', in the attract
i've and brilliantly colored national dress
with compilations varying from the DARK
est brown through shades of yellow to
clear, dead white, all much bepowdered,
stood around the room chattering and
laughing with attendant swains and wav-
Ing their fans with the grace which goes
only with Spanish blood
The floor was made of broad slabs of
dark wood, worth q fortune in any other
country, polished to the last degree of
brilliancy, and affording the most per-
feet facilities for dancing. The canvas
walls were hung with wreaths and fes-
toens OF leaves, and flowers were arts
tcally interviewer, and suspended by
cords from the ceiling, just over our heads
were several snow-white doves with out
stretched wings, which to my horror I
discovered were alive, their wings being
held In position by wires twisted among
fort the poor little creatures were suffer-.
Ing considerably interfered with my even
ings enjoyment, but afterward found
this to be quite universal method Of
adorning rooms among the Filipinos and
Mestizos on occasions Of ceremony. The
golden rule. so far as animals are con.
mind.
Most Of my English friends scattered in
search OF partners, advising me to do the
same, with the information that formal
presentation was unnecessary; rather bad
form, in fact. :.
Just say .Quiere listed bailar? docs
your grace wish to dance? and she will
pc as pleased as Punch to dance with an
Americana"
was still exercised in spirit over my
neglected duty to my hostess, SO, Just to
set my mind at rest, one OF the fellows
took me up to her. She was very brown
lady rather tall and slender for Fill
pino, and dressed in the native costume
brilliant plaid skirt. black silk overskirt,
white waist and stimy-starched beauti-
fully embroidered mantilla OF the famous
pima lace. made In the convents-but she
bowed and smiled with the air Of q Ouch.
ess, said few words In Spanish, which I
did not understand, and then waved me
with much4bejeWeled hand and arm to-
ward group of damsels, chattering in
liquid Tegalan. My knowledge Of Spanish
was limited at that time, but summoned
my wits, approached the girl nearest me-
and, after making my best Papanti bow,
said what must have sounded like Kerry
oostay bily? She understood, however
and jumped up directly. beaming all over
The musicians were playing waltz. and
In moment more / found myself 'sthread-
Ing the mazes" with the best dancer had
ever met In my life. at. home or abroad.
The ease with. which she adapted herself
TO my Zone too graceful steps ard the