The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-23
THE JEWELLERS OF MANILA
Filipino Women Rank Among the
Finest Artists In the world.

tEEotu anu MISUNDERSTANDING ssWotohst
One of the most interesting features Of
Manila industrial life 10 the wonderful
skill and Ingenuity OF Its lapidariss and
gem settlers, who, strange to say. are the
women Of the population. whose taste
and work manship have far surpassed the
powers Of men. A visitor TO both spain
and Morocco who was Interested In the
production Of jswelry must have re-
marked the superiority Of the Spsnifh
arti1,sr, who has taught all of the excel
Iencies of his craft to the natives Of his
colonies. In the case Of the Philippines,
however, 1t is undeniably true that the
pupils have improved on the teacher, and
their art has become famous throughout
the far East.
The shops are small, often mere dsns,
with gloomy interior, making q strange
setting for the beautiful work done
within the interior. Rents have tbsen
exor bitantly high. and under the Span
ish system of taxation 1t was imprudent
for shopkeeper to display much stock.
The customer In many instances who
had bean advised Of the beautiful things
made by the natives would be disap-
point ted at the mesger assortment shown,
and would go away irritated that he had
been persuaded to leave his name and
address.
Later In the Gay, or perhaps the. fol-
lowing forming, he would receive an In
vitation and even he urged to repeat his
visit, and, II a refusal is made, he 10 In
weighed there II possible in one mode or
another Should he prove obdurate, the
persistent gentle, little brown woman
calls on him or waits patiently In the
steps of his hotel. her wares In a locked
box under her rebosa. II the second visit
to the shop Is msde the OF stomer 10 really
we'll repaid. Such sparkle Of color and
glitter OF TREASURED The broiling SUM-
shine stseps the streets. and all Manila
quivers In the languor OF the tropics. but
the tiny shop IL cool. Before the won
dsrs now exhibited one forgetI to remem.
her the thermometer.
Among the treasures Of one Of these
little shops are neck lacss Of delicate pink
CORAL coral balls for the decoration Of
erandees' caps dainty statuettes Of coral,
with the body and limbs formed Of the
stem and Its branches, rosaries with beads
like drops Of blood, pendants Of pure
white pearls, drop-shapsd ear jewels
which the seller assures one are the o6-
spring Of tears and suffering, great vel.
low pearls, the favorits purchase Of the
Chinese merchant, and costly strings Of
pink pearls Of peculiar irridesoenoe
There are sets of blood-red caoochon
garnsts, consisting Of ear-rinGs, pin and
fiuger ring, and other sets Of the orange
~aA that nukt tha dar h
like fame. Indeed, the kinds Of garnet
displayed are bewildering-silver fiigres
Sc t with yellow garnets, mother Of pearl
drinking cups, with handles thickly
covered with pale green garnsts, naors
knife handles that sparkle with The
lightning Of carbunoles. and small bowls
of opalesoent mother Of pearl that glow
with their red tire
The native saleswoman Is astuts, not
ing every evidence OF surpriss or admira-
tion shown upon the face Of the Visitor
who has at last been admitted TO the
beauties OF the inner portals. She turns
insin uatingly. and says In her rich alto
voice, "Very pretty; look you" The
visitor has now no desire to do otherwise
than look, and the pocket book Is sure to
purchase.
As matter Of fact, II does not seem
possible that tbs work she Is showing
can be gold--onIy gold-so fine and lace.
q necklace, a ohatelaine, hatpin and a
brooch, all of the deepest yellow gold.
from Is to % karats and Of exquisite
handiwork. The chain looks like . long
yellow braid of hair. tied at the clasp
with true lovers knot, that 10 may
not unravsl itself. The necklace IL a
flexible, delicate veiped stem, from which
branch pendants of the daintisst golden
ferns. Anything more graceful or ar
tistic than this work IL would be difficult
to duplicate, except, perhaps, in the gold
smitheriss of famous Ceylon. The ohate-
laine 10 composed of solid ropes OF gold
(exaot copies of Manila hemp rope even
to the threads), with clasps designed like
fishhCoks. The hatpin 10 miniature
Malay orsess, with water lily leaf for q
handle. and the brooch n golden alligator
or young cayman, the scale work being
most ingenious imitation Of nature.
The sum of los Spanish pesstas $3.50 SO,
gold) purchases this entire set Of five
pieces-less than would be asked for the
necklace alone In New York, London or
Paris. This woman has brought the
crude gold from the country, made her
own alloys, drawing out the gold wire
and beating 1t with hammer and anvil,
following step by step the most modern
and scientific processes Of metal smith
Ing
These metal workers are as skillful
with silver as with gold. Marvellous
bangles of chased silver. set with prec-
ious stones, and brooohes and pendants OF
quaint design all manifest the most
thoughtful human labor. One can have
no idea Of how much can be done with
silver until he has seen this profusion OF
devices In which 1t Is used.
Very likely the collection will contain
some sxquisits breastpins and stiok-pins
of rubies, some lovely poppy red, others
of deepest carmine, like drops Of frozen
wine; but the astonishing feature is ths
superb taste and ingenuity which these
women, often illiteIate and entirely un-
lsttersd, demonstrate, and many q jewell