The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-29
MANILA OF TODAY.
Will the Americans There be Filipinized 2
~ =. W., IN Nc,c York Erening Post.
MANILA, P. l., Feb.

MANILA, P. l., Feb. /.
I have seen more or less said in the
home newspapers about Americanizing
the Filipinos, BY persons who seem to
think that that process consists OF put
ting pantaloons on people who already
wear paptaloons, and sending mission
aries to convert people already con-
ve.ted so completely that they get up
before daylight to go to church. Until
our people have better understan ding
Of this country and it's Inhabitants
they cannot expect to be very success
ful in their efforts to change matters
for the better or to make salutary laws
for their government. The talk about
Americanizing the islands is heard
here as we'll, but it means somewhat
more than when usedby the good peo-
pie at home, for we recognize more
fully the difficulty Of its accomplish
ment. Up to the present time the Fill
pinos have as much Filipinized the for
eigners as they have foreignized the
natives, so to speak. Their customs
and habits, both social and CONNER
cial, are fixed. They soon have their
Influences upon newcomers, and they
have affected in some degree the Eng
lish and German business men OF
Manila.
The watchword OF the people Of all
nations assembled here is "manana,
ssto-mofrow.' This Spanish word
seems to cast its paralyzing spell upon
all countries where Spanish influences
prevail. Whether the ancient Filipi-
r nos eyer had better appreciation Of
the value Of time or higher sense Of
devotion TO duty than they have now
is doubtful. At all events they have
for years learned the lesson OF delay
and insincerity from their Spanish
masters, until it is in che bone, blood
and flesh as deeply ingraired as though
their savage ancestors had transmitted
it to them as racial inheritance.
Strange to say-that is, strange in the
ewes Of Americans-its blighting spell
has fallen upon tie Europeans who do
business here, until they also are as
Indifferent to the pressing needs of the
hour as the natives. This suggests
the thought that it may be possible
that Americans coming here may be
Filipinized, as have been the Germans
and the English, instead Of working
), the great revolution SO cheerfully pre-
dicteG. Certainly they will have the
forces Of numbers, custom and climate
to contend with, and these are no
mean antagonists.
Let us take: for example, one Gus
tom, that of the afternoon siesta.
Even business bows to this. One can
go through the chief business streets
between IL and 2 o'clock and easily
imagine himself strolling on a Sunday
in an American town, with we'll
enforced Sunday-closing law. Even
the quilez drivers have gone home to
sleep. When the hour Of noon comes
the merchants politely follow their
customers to the door and lock the
portals, and open them not again until
2, or, perhaps, 3 o'clock. Even the
English banks are not open for busi-
ness Of Importance between those
hours, and if one enters the institu-
ton on business intent, one Of the In
dians snoozing on bench will arouse
himself sufficiently to say that the
clerks have all gone to eat and sleep.
This he does by poking his fingers at
his mouth to. indicate the taking Of
food in genuine Filipino style, and by
laying his head over to one sideon the
palm Of his hand and closing his eyes,
to signify sleep. A little exclamation
Of disgust may bring compassionate
smile and ga las dos, senior, which
means that he is sorry for you, but
you must wait until 2 o'clock.
A few days ago I entered photo
graph gallery, presided over by an old
German and his two full-grown sons.
I was going to say operated by but
.epresided owe" fits the case better,
for all three Of them entertained me at
the same time, and no work Of any
kind was done during the half7hour |
was there. / made selection Of ~
views from the sample-book, and was
informed that they might possibly
have them printed for me in two
months. I insisted upon one week,
but they shook their heads and said
.No; it is not possible; we have SO
much work. so much trouble. . Then,
it being 12 o'clock, one Of them fol