Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-05-25
A LETTER FROM MANILA.

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 | will write you three
letters all in one. l have native
servant whose name is LEONARDO, who
has a 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 knowl-
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 Siverson go and
fill his place by a native servant; and
[ am making ell 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
well. 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
Dread" and will soon pick up enough
English SO that we won't have to both
er with Spanish. | can't say | worked
very hard with Spanish, although [ I'M
derstand it much better than | speak
it. The weather here is very rainy;
it 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 ny belt, and it will be moldy;
as I put on my cap see that the sweat
band is moldy. l hand them over to
LEONARDO, who makes them clean again
but in a few hours mold reappears.
We use condensed milk or Highland
cream at table. We did buy milk, I'M
til l roue into the country, one day, and
found the natives milking the COW of
the water buffalo. | went little far
Their and found drove of them lying
in the mud and ooZe of the swamps,
and some, coming out, were plastered
with nasty, ill-smelling mud all over
their bodies. We returned to canned
milk on short notice. l have room
overlooking the Pasig river and l fire.
quently sit at the window and watch
the canoes and cascos and other quaint
looking craft passing up and down.
We have watergate where one can
enter a boat, and where our supplies
are landed. We have 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 l did not wish
to be responsible for it. My room is
90 by 40 feet in size, with covered
balcony on the river side, and a
dressing-room and bathroom, with
shower, on the west. l have mos
uqito-net over me at night, or should
be eaten alive, the mosquitoes are so
thick.