The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-25

An excellent report Oh the ldst TWO
meetings of the Paradise club OF Mid
dletown, X. l., is at hand. but must,
necessarily be abridged. because of a
lack OF space.
ON Tuesday. April 11th, the members
of the club assembled at the home OF
Mrs. Herman II, Peckham. when the
study OF the geography of the United
states was concluded with a consider
alton of the state OF California. Miss
Jessie w. Campbell was In charge of
this subject. presenting paper when
gave a very general and clear descrip-
tlon of the state i'm all it's phases. geo.
graphical, educational, industrial, ETC.,
etc,
At a meeting of the club held on
Tuesday Apvil 18th, the club, metaph-
Orically speaking, crossed over the wa
ter TO Our New Possessions, tarrylng
there awhile i'm order TO become more
closely acquainted with the natives anu
their manner OF living.
Mrs George Il. Ward presented
most entertaining paper on the Philip
pines from which very clear idea OF
the extent of the islands was gained
together with a knowledge of the char
acteT habits and customs or the ma
lives. MfS. NAfu uWcll, ltnStH, up
no the agricultural resources OF the
islands, giving. I'm connection with this
topic. an explanation OF the value of
productions of the same. Continuing,
she said, "Of the seven or eight millions
OF people I'm the Philippines. Malay
tribes form the numerical majority
These are by no means savage though
their place i'm the scale of civilization
is far from high. Besides the MaIays
there are the Filipinos, race called
the 'negritoes' and believed to be the
aboriginal people of the islands CORES
ponding To such tribes az the Phils in
India" At this point Mrs. Ward gave
a description OF the climatic conditions
OF the country and. continuing. called
attention 10 the traits of character OF
the civilized Filipino. whom she
thought had some good qualities to
offset his bad traits"
"'The traveller cannot fail to be inn
pressed. she continued. by his open
handed and cheerful hospitality. He
will go to any amount OF trouble and
often 10 no little expense in order To
accommodate some perfect stranger. who
has not the slightest claim on him and
he never turns one of his own race from
his door. Hardly less noticeable than
the almost universal hospitality are the
well regulated homes and the happy
family life which one finds TO be the
y
and obedient 10 their parents; wives are
allowed an amount of liberty hardly
equalled In any of the eastern coun-
tries and they seldom abuse II. More
often than not they are the financiers
of their families. Women have their
share OF the work 10 do but ii is just
share and they perform liz without
question and without grumbling. The
civilized native rs sef-respecting and
self-restrsiued TO a remarkable degree." "
He Is patient under misfortune and
forbearing under provocation. He is
Kind father and a dutiful SON. his aged
relatives are never left in want, but
are brought TO his home and are well
come 10 share the best that 1t affords
TO the end of their days"
Attention was here called TO the uni
versal lack of education among the
Philippines. and their consequent un.
fitness for self-government. one Of
their priests said of them: I'm many
things they are like big children, who
must be treated like little ones"
Mrs. Ward dwelt interestingly upon
the construction OF the Philippine
houses and the Interiors of the same; /;
n description OF the Philippine ceme-
tery and the strange. weird ceremo-
nies and customs pertaining to death
and burial followed. when the paper
closes with a description of Manila.
NNtI Witch lilt t'ldIE plliDfS nON
Wave i'm the eternal summer breeze.
In second paper Mrs. Ward gave a
brief description of another of "our
new possc sions wiz. Porto Rico. In this
Paper many interesting historical facts
were mentioned in connection with the
narrative.
A third paper OF the afternoon, by
Mrs. y. j. Peckham took up the sub
tect of Hawaii This paper like those
which preceded IT, showed careful
study, and was condensed i'm such a
way as 20 clearly present the main fea-
lures Of the subject without being at all
weaIisome In detail.
The geogra phical position OF the is
lands was explained together with
their extent. The early forms OF gov
ernment and the rulers OF Hawaii We're
described particular attention being
called 10 the reign of the unfortunate
Queen Lilulokalhni The characteris-
tics Of the natives We're nonted outl
the vast sugar and coffee plantations
the result of American enterprise--were
described one plantation. the Eva
a ho1 au ct fttao Of