The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-02-10


pavilion, where the SpaniardS used
TO execute insurgent prisoners by
the score. by lining them up on a
stone wall two fact high and shoot
ing them. The Calsada. on which
we are camped, is the gathering
place of the opulent or wealthy
classes. From o'clock, m. I'M
til the shades of night have closed
over the city, it is crowded with
carriages, hOrsemen and strollerS
whose mutual salutations seem TO
occupy their whole attention. The
constant taking off of hats i'll re-
spouse TO greetings, gives the NOV
ing mass a comically automatic
look. Every evening some one of
the regimental bands of the Amer
lean troops here plays for several
hours for the amusement and graft
ticatiOn of the promenaders. The
moment the sun sinks into it's gold
ell sea of fire beyond the bay the
church chimes announce the time
for vespers, and everybody uncov-
ers his heal and stands for a mo-
meut or two in a devotional atti-
tude. Many of them drop upon
their knees, clasp their hands over
their hearts and mutter an inarticu-
late prayer in their native tongue,
after which the promenade contim-
ues. The Americans have taken to
this popular resort aud hundreds of
them may be seen walking or div
ing along with the mighty throug
every evening.
Old Manila, within the wall, with
its seventeen spacious streets. cross
ing at right angles, is a dull and
quiet place, a strange. contrast TO
the hustle of the commercial quart
ers of the new city across the river
While few houses are elegantly
built, after the Mexican style, the
majority of them are poor affairs
little more than huts matched with
bamboo. Among the finest build.
ings in the city is the San Sebastim
Cathedral, which was begun in 1854
aud completed in 1872. 1t is 24O
feet in length and sixty in breadth,
aud has fourteen bells. which are
almost constantly pealing forth the
sweet metallic chimes. Inside. this
Cathedral has some of the finest
furnishings in the world. The
seats are carved of ebony and arr
polished until they look like black
glass. The old Governors Palace
is another very fine building. 1t
was reconstructed in 1890 and has
some of the best statUary of the
age. The Second Oregon Regi-
ment is quartered in it, and part
of it is used as brigade headquarl-
ers. Like all houses in Manila, it
has for windows sliding frames, fit
ted with large fish scales, or semi-
molher-Oi-pearl shells,
which admit a soft mellow light
and are impervious to the burning
tropical sunbeams. The houses are
comfortably furnished but never
crowded with superfuities, and one
rarely sees carpets or mating upon
the floors.
Binondo, or the new city on the
northeast side OF the Pasig river, is
with the old walled city
by means of eight massive bridges,
one Of which is a wire suspension
bridge. Two-thirds of the houses
in the new city are substantially |
built of stone, brick aud tiles, while
the rest Of the houses are like those
Of the oil city.
There are some very amusing and |
some very pitiable sights To be seen
along the streets here. have To
laugh every time l see a native
couohed upon the back of Ole oil thv
water buffalos, while he drives the
lazy, ugly animal TO a heavily laden
cart of wares. 1t is amusing, too.
to hear the natives try ing to sell
their fruits, native drinks, etc.. to
the soldiers. They will say, ''here'S
your ice-cOld lemonade, red-hOt;"
''ice cream here, full of slOp Or |
course, the soldiers have taught the
innocent natives that this i the
proper way to sell them. The beg
gars here are the most pitiable look
ing beings | ever saw. They are tn
he found OH almost every street cor
Ier. with out-stretchad palms. NUT
,ering in a mOurnful and pitifui
their pieadings for few
;enIimos to buy them a morsel To
With sores, they sit all day in the
not sun, never ceaSing to plead with
he throng of passers-by.
The native women 20 down to
he beach, or to the banks of the
'aSig river, to wash clothes. With
/ club and a few round stones, they
most wonderfully in getting
he clothes clean. Some days tn,
,anks of the river aud bay are lined
With women washing, sometimes
i've or six hundred at time.
spent Christmas day Oh outpost
luty. Ny outpost was in clump
# banana trees, within sight of the
nsurgent lines, and my orders were
o halt no one, but shoot all who
approached from the direction of
he insurgent camp. For twenty
our long hours ! stood my post,
of the many happy times
iad seen Christmas come and 90
vhen had not realized what-a jov
nd liberty experienced. On this
ay when came 10 eat my Christ