The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-23
AMONG THU FILIPINOs.


A Woman's View of Matters at Ma
niIa-Her Experience With Ma
tives.
One of the few American women II
Manila Ia Mrs. @. Il. Nosler, of Spok
ane, Washington, the courageous wife
Of l. eutenant NOsler Of company L.
who is now keeping house with hel
husband at his post Of duty. She hat
q long journey across the Pacific tt
Hong Kong, and back to the Philip
pines.
Mrs. Nosler has written home the
following interesting letter, whiof
Manila:
Eddie (Lieuteuant Nosler) and have
just got back from the city. We live
in the suburbs, as people do In come of
| the many additions at home where it Is
thickly settled. But there are nc
stores out here, only fruit stands, and,
If we want anything else we take q rig
and go to the city for it., about one and
half miles. We have had no rain
since came, although it has been
cloudy.
We are still eating with the officers,
as the house isn't painted yet. They
are 30 low here. This Is q dreadful
place to get anything in. They simply
don't know what is meant by cook
ing stove, the most necessary thing on
20 cook on. There are q few, two or
three. steel ranges, not One-half, no,
not one-quarter, as nice as mine, and
they want 1925 for them. : would
willingly give $25 for No. 6 stove,
but there arc simply none for love or
money.
After riding around all afternoon,
we found one little cook stove with two
lids and an oven about q foot square,
not an American stove on high lego
no damper, and the price Is $25. 1t
looks as If it had been in use ten years.
Ed is going to take an interpreter
with him tomorrow and try to get it
for $40. 1 doubt If 1t will bake, but If
80, 1t Is better than none at all.
1t Is just tha same with everything
else. We tried everywhere to get
some silk thread to make my pongee
silk dress, but could find none. Mon
day morning we will have a Spanish
teacher to como here to our house to
teach us and 18 of our boys. Saturday,
while we we're at dinner, between $50
and 7 o'clock, somo natives got into
our house through the window and
helped themselves. We came in and
scared them out, or we wouldn't have
had a tning left. They say they will
even take an old plate If they can't
steal anything else. They got away
with my revolver, knives, forks, and
spoons, six pair OF new socks, ten yards
Of new dress goods-some that | had
bought In China-my little powder box
with the large pearl buttons In it.
in) .-;r al ;1tr ~, I@kt 4
cross guns Of Es best suit, my pocket
book-litte money-check for $l3 and
several things. IT makes NC wild
when l think of 1t, but l am thankful
they took so little. Can't leave tho
house day or night.
The insurgents lave made no trouble
as yet, but they are still armed, and
every night before going to bed we lay
everything handy for call during the
night. am the only American wo-
man out this way, and for once am q
living wonder Every one stares and
the natives laugh and look me over
from head to foot.
The boys think they have the laugh
on me now, and say | am the fret
volunteer to be disgraced, as l am the
first to be disarmed, because my re-
volver was stolen.
*
for Ed TO come back from supper, one
Of the boys carno hurrying down and
told me to go up to the barracks and
eat, that they were expecting an attack
at any minute. He was very much
excited, and said he should think
would be afraid to stay here in the
house alone. l won't up to the barracks
and found 1t almost deserted, as all the
companies had been sent out to find
their exact positions, 80 tnat in case of
a call they would know just were to
go. They didn' stay out long, how
ever. Everything was put in readi-
ness for an outbreak, the mon were
issued an extra supply of ammunition,
the band was also supplied, and the
guard doubled.
trunk and hamper and sent them up to
the barracks, for If there was call I
couldn't stay here in the house alone,
and If l left those thievipg natives
would steal everything we had. just
as we got packed Colonel Whooly and
Captain Moore called. asked tho
colonel il Ao expected trouble soon,
and he said wo must be prepared for
anything at any time, and added
you are brave little woman, Mrs.
NOsler, to stay out here" But Ted
and | don't think that the insurgents
will attempt to take Manila.
Last night after we were all sound
asleep, we had to get up and dress.
The orderly called: Lieutenant
Noeler, report to your captain at once"
Maybe yon think we didn't dress fast.
Tho colonel sent for mo to come to
headquarters and stay The company
all turned out, but didn't 60 far, when
they were ordered back, and all went
to bed again. Such Is army life.