The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-27
J[N[lRY MADE N MANILA
NATlvE WOMEN ROTH ARTlFICERS
AND MERCHANTS.
Filipino Pupans s~rpass IN Skill
Their Spa aish Masters-lnxeaieus
sn6 Pretty Deaiwns-lAssances ee
the Lapidaries' Good Taote.

Much has been said and written relative
to the advisahsiiiy OF the Philippines be-
Coming part OF our country's domain.
When considered from ,eWeiry stand
point many interesting things may be said
PRO and con regarsifng the question. II is
Internationally n fact thar one ~ the
most interesting features Of Manila in
dustrzal life is the wonderful skill and ia-
SeHaiiy of SIS ispidaries and gem settlers.
who. strange 70 say. are the womsn ox the
population, whose taste and workmanship
have fsr SURPASSED the powers Of men.
visitor 20 beth spain and Morocco who
was interested in the production OF jeweiry
must have remarked the superiority of the
Spanish artlf!cer, WAC has taught al of tho
exceslencies OF his RAN TO the natives Of
his colonies, In the case % the Philippines.
however. II is undeniabsy true that tho
pupils have improved on the teacher, and
their art has become famous through
out the Far East.
The shops are small. often mere dens,
with gloomy interior. making strange
sitting for the beautiful work done within
the interior. Rents have been exorbitant-
~ high. and under the Spanish system Of
taxation /, was imprnaent fer shopkeep.
or 10 display much stock.
The customer In many Instances who had
been advised Of the beautiful things made
by the natives would be disappointed at
the measer assortment shown. and would
SO away, irritated that he had been per-
ssiaaea to leave hts name and address
Later In the day. or perhaps the follow
ing morning. he would receive an invita-
ton. and even De urged 10 repea, his visit.
and. II refusal Is made. he IL inveiglet
there II possible In one mode or another
Sh0ald ne prove ohdura,e, the persistent,
gentle little brown woman calls on him or
waits patiently on the steps Of his hotel
her wares IN a locked box under her re-
bosa.
II the second visit to the shop Is made.
the customer Is really Well repaid.
Such sparkle OF color and glitter of treas
ure. The broiling sunshine sleeps the
streets and all Manila auivers In the Ian
suor of the tropics. hut the tiny shop Is
cool. Before the wonders now exhibited
one forgets 10 remember the thermometer.
Among the treasures OF one of these little
shops are necklaces of delicate pink coral
coral balls for the decoration of gran,iees'
caps. dainty statuettes OF coral, with the
body and limbs formed Of the stem and its
branches: rosartes with beads like drops
of blood pendants of pure white pearls,
lustfous and pear-shaped; chains OF pearls.
drop-shaped ear jewels. which the seller
assures one are the offspring Of tears and
suffering, great yellow pearls. the favorite
purchase OF the Chinese merchant. and
costly strings Of pink pearls OF peculiar iri-
sieseence
There are sets of hlood-red cabochon gar
nets. consisting of earrings. pin and finger
ring and other sets of the orange red va
rlety. that emit light in the dark like tame
| Indeed. the kinds of garnet displayed are
bewildertng-silv fiiigree set with yellow
garnats. mother of pearl drinking cups
! with handles thickly covered with pale
| green garnets; nacre knife handles that
| sparkle with the lightning OF carbuncies,
ana small bowls OF opalescent mother OF
| pearl that glow with their red fire
| The native saieswoman IL astu.e, noting
| every evidence OF surprise or admiration
| shown upon the face of the visitor who has
| at last been admitted 10 the beauties Of the
inner portals
she turns insinuatingly and SAYS I'm her
fien aito voice, Very pretty: look you"
The visitor has now no desire to do other
wise than look. and the rockethook Ia
sure 10 purchase. As a matter OF fact
| IL does not seem possible that the work
she IL showing can be gold--only gold
so fine and laceiike are the patterns.
There IL a chain. necklace n chateiaine.
hat pin and a brooch. all OF the deepcst
yellow gold from eighteen TO Twenty-Five
karats, and OF exquisite handswork The
chain looks like a long yellow braid Of
hair, tied ut the clasp with a true lovers
knot. that II may not unravel itself. Tho
necklace Is a flexible, delicate yeiued
stem, from which branch pendants OF tho
aatntiest golden ferns. Anything more
graceful and artistic than this work IL
would be difficult TO duplicate. except.
perhaps In the goidsuitheries Of famous
Ceylon. The chatsiaine Is composed OF
solid ropes or gold fexact copies Of Ma
Mia hemp rope. even to the threadsp,
with water lily leaf for n handle, and
the brooch a golden alligator or young
cnyman, the scale work being a most in-
genious imitation Of nature
The sum of iss Spanish pesetas ts5o 80.
geld purchases this entire set Of five
pieces-iess than would be asked for the
necklace alone In New York. London or
Paris. This woman has brought the criiais
gold from the country. made her own al
Toys. drawing out tho gold wire aud beat
ing IL with hammer and anvil. following
stcp by step the most modern and scien-
tisc processes Of metal smithing
These metal workers are az skiiifuI with
silver ~ with gold. Marvellous bangles
OF chased silver, set with precious stones,
and brooches and pendants Of quaint do.
sign. ali manifest the most thoughtful
human labor. One can have no idea of
how much can be done with silver until
he has seen this confusion OF devices in
which n Is used.
Very likely the collection will contain
some exquisite breastptns and ssickpins
of ruhies. some lovely poppy red 9TH
srs OF deepest carmine. like drops Of frox-
en- wine: but the astonishing feature Is the
superb taste and ingenuity which these
women. often iliiterate and entirely un-
iettsred demonstrate. and many a jewell
or whose designs are nonosonous,y con-
yentiOnai might learn useful lesson from
these Philippine iapidaries.
Lock YOU" again snys the woman,
ard she holds out n necklace III gold.
blue euameisd. set with gray pearls. ,hs
harmony Of stone and setting perfect
why NOT amethyst instead OF pearfsy''
one asks. but she shruxs her shoulders
deprecafingiy. Amethyst looks vulgar
with gold nina" she answers
Fewer rings are ~ be noticed among
her productions. perhaps. thar any other
ornament. the betrgthai rings being all
most universally enameied gold. bit EAR
rings. necklaces, bracelets. chains. but
tons. small pins and brooches are abuna-
art
These sapIdafies combine the ability II
ihs Moot gem worker with the pa
ttenee ard originality ~ the Chinese and