The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-30

close proximity 10 the home plate, two
rather suh-kneed teams pounded hot
liners" through the roof and sides OF
startled natives shacks, or high files
brought down shower OF mortar dust
from the eathedral's ruined walls.
The solitary pleasure OF outpost duty
springs form an opportunity TO forage
IN the deserted estates OF the citys out
skirts. Chickens and shOats have be-
come so wary OF anything in uniform
that It requires all the skin OF nat
ural born "reacher" to borrow" one for
hungry squad. The gathering OF ba-
nanns and other fruit while not so ex-
citing, Is far less labOrious and results
are more certain.
For months after We landed all of US
put of the gathering OF punches OF ba-
nanns until they grew yellow. Conse-
duently everyone continued 10 buy ba-
nanas from the natives and saw plump
punches Of fruit almost within reach
wither and fan. The mistake lay in
waiting for them TO assume the color
usually associated with the fruit store
article. As matter Of fact, bananas
never reach the yellow stage unless
they are cut long before they appear
TO be ripe and are stored In great
earthenware Jars, after the native
method, or hung in a dark cellar for
a week or more. Banana leaves fire.
quently grow to be colossal affairs. 1t
was a common thing during the tent
less and blanketless Rio Grande cam
palgn to see fellow with one leaf for
n mattress and another spread over him
as a protection from the dew or rain.
Americans n Gold Mine.
The natives have discovered gold
mine in the newly arrived Americans.
There are no TagalOs among these ma
tlVes, so they tell you-they are all
AIaccabebes. The two tribes, although
not dlstlnguishable In appearance, have
been hereditary foes for centuries, and
It was even deemed advisable at one
time to arm the Maccabebes and let the
latter do our share OF the fighting.
These natives, however, no matter
what their race, have made more money
by staying at home than they ever saw
before in their lives. Great baskets full
OF eggs peanut and cocOanut candy.
cakes and fruit are turned into "dinero'
each day by the fortunate stay-at-
homes. No American can convince
native that his financial resources have
reached a limit, although the fact Is
apparent to everybody else.
Americans mucho dihero," has be-
come a byword from constant use since
Its recent coinage. Like all the rest OF
the Yankee soIourners In foreign lands.
we pay two prices for everything we
get, and the native is not at all back
ward about adding a third or fourth
price at the beginning. A neighbor sent
a rather frayed shirt and a towel 10
the public laundry on the river bank
by one OF the "washee, washee" men
who had been haunting the company
streets all morning. After pounding the
two articles with a stick for ten min
utes the native returned and doubtless
mlstakIng the nelghbor for Mr.. Rock
efeller he asked him the paltry sum OF
81 50 TO-. the Job. There was only one
thing to do under the circumstances
and my neIghbor did that. Grabbing
his rifle the long-suffering Americana
made wild charge toward the enemy,
but lost shirt towel and native by be-
ing unable to swim.
The rainy season ipso facto, puts an
end to active campaigning by either
army for weeks to come. II any trouble
is to be recorded in the near future on
the north line It will be ~ the nature OF
O. naval engagement.
ERNEST C. SMITH.