Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-05-22
A LETTER FROM MANILA.

n L Il
A letter written by an officer in Ma
Mia to his daughters, describing his
life in the tropical land where Ameri-
can soldiers are now stationed, is
printed in st. Nicholas:
Manila, P. L., Oct. %, 1898
Dear Myrtle and Ethel and Louise:
You wrote me three letters all in one
envelope, and I will write you three
letters all in one. 1 have a native
servant whose name is LEONARDO, who
has yellow skin and straight black
hair. LEONARDO speaks no English,
and I speak little Spanish; but he is
willing to work, and l am willing he
should so being of one mind we get
along vrey well-as why shouldn't we?
LEONARDO is only fifteen years old and
doesn't know much, and the most
charming thing about him is the utter
absence of all pretensions to knowI-
edge, and his desire to learn and give
satisfaction. LEONARDO blacks my
boots, gets out my linen, mops the
floor, keeps my desk tidy-and you
know what job that is-unmakes and
makes my bed, gets out my towels for
my bath, waits on me at table, and
makes it his business to anticipate my
wants. Duty became so hard on the
men that I had to let Siyerson go and
I'LL his place by native servant; and
| am making all the officers do the
same. There are five of us at our ia
BILE, and we have three native servants
to pass our food, so we get along very
we'll. They have already learned to
come on ones left side with the dishes
they are passing, and it is amusing to
see them guess at things when we ask
for them in English. They keep pick
ing up things until they find the right
one. They already know ''butter" and
bread, and will soon pick up enough
English so that we won't have to both
er with Spanish. I can't say l worked
very hard with Spanish, although I'M
derstand it much better than I speak
1t. The weather here is very rainv.
1t rains some every day, and the soil
and air are saturated with moisture
start to put on my shoes in the morn
ing and find them covered with mold:
put on my belt, and it will be mOIdv.
as L put on my cap see that the sweat
band is mOldy. I HAND them over to
LEONARDO, who makes them clean again
but in a few hours mold reapDears
We use condensed milk or Highland
cream at table. We did buy milk. un-
til rode into the country, one day. and
found the natives milking the COW of
the water buffalo. [ went a little far
Their and found drove of them living
IN the mud and ooze of the swamps.
and some, coming out, were plastered
with nasty, ill-smelling mud all over
their bodies We returne6 to canned
milk on short notice. I have a room
overlooking the Pasig river and I fire.
quently sit at the window and watch
the canoes and cascos and other quaint
looking craft passing up and down
we nave water gate where one can
enter boat, and where our supplies
are Landed. We have a large garden.
IN front and another in the rear of the
palace, and on the ground floor are
several dark and gloomy dungeons
where prisoners have been confined.
The walls of the rooms are covered
With magnificent mirrors, and we did
have very expensive furniture, but it
was removed, because I did not wish
to be responsible for it. My room is
30 by 40 feet in size, with a covered
balcony on the river side, and a
dressing-room and a bathroom, with
a shower, on the west. I have mos
uqito-net over me at night, or should
be eaten alive, the mosquitoes are so
thick.