New-York tribune., 1899-07-23
AGUINALDO'S BOYHOOD.
HE WAS ONCE EDITOR AND PROPRIE-
TOR OF A BOYS PAPER.
STORIES OF A MAN WHO "wENT TO SCHOOL WITH
HIM"-soMETHING ABOUT THE EVERYDAY
LIFE OF THE FILIPINos

HIM"-soMETHING ABOUT THE EVERYDAY
LIFE OF THE F1LIPINos.
From The New-Orleans Times Democrat.
Louis NJ Rodriguez the young Filipino who has
applied for the position Of stenographer ana type
writer TO serve at the Army headquarters In Ma
Mia. concluded his civil examination at the custom
House Yesterday and has strong hopes OF securing
the job Mr.. Rodriguez is man OF education and
culture and In wsv rs aSd agile and his
features bear marked resemblance to portraits
Il used to go to school with Aguinaldo;" he re,
marked to a Times-Democrat reporter VINO calle9
yesterday at ms ohce az No tS9 er we We att
tended the San Juan Seminary In Manila IL Is
Catholic institution and Is designed o TO III GoIbs bs
men for two professions only1the law i ana one
Church. We studied Latin. philosophy, pedagogy
sonal rights and theology. one mad 10 De eraGu-
ate OF academy or first school before entering
"Agu'naldo n hard student continued MT.
Rodriguez "He used to literally turn night into
day, and It at the college that he acquired MS
pronounced ideas on ,e Mnen
boys paper-called La Republica.' took great
newspaper and l was brought up to the trade.
wrote great deal OF poetry Sa %n,Sn udd dd S" no,
last very long. doubt whether there Is copy OF
It in existence -.
boy, but everybody liked him. He was good heart
ed and charitable, and had great Idea or ones
and finished his schooling abroad ! don't know
where his two brothers are at present Ihey y, hsea
by the way was DR.. Rial. who later on started
the last war against the Spanish He was an ,1 able
man ana he we 10 9o Fpnos good education
as rue?" asked the visitor; ;,,,.- ,o .o,,o,,,,os
comes into this office He educated for the law,
but is now common sailor 1t would surprise you ~
a scholarly manner, and frequently SPEAKS OF me
war not merely OF news events put discussing sS II
ample of the young Filipino of good family. They
are Thoroughly educated in everything except Eng
lish
Tell me Something about everyday life among the he
their customs differ most strlkngly. from oursT
We'll" replied Mr.. Rodriguez, there are two
is very expensive. All except the rich live very
cheaply; It costs the upper class about the same
common people and the banana plays very i'm
porant part-more important than bread does here;
preparing bananas, but they commonly ground
Into -four and made into cakes whiGn , are very
banana flour to live several days. The upper
class use Spanish cooking exc!nsey aHt % ana bnS ne
are in New-Orleans one cannot get a good dinner n;T
natnrai oi icn and is brought from the mountains
seventeen miles away. on bufaloes.
ihe Tch fllpInoS nave nave eiesans seryants man
earning $50 a month will employ at least four.
strict To get on calling footing at house is
often the work Of years one must be vouched
for TO an extent unknown even In Europe, Pro-
miscuous calling on young ladies Is strictly in
terdicted and the usual American courtship would
bov a companion about my own age accosted
young girl on the street and told her she very
next day her brother hunted up my friend, who in
sisted that he meant the remark as narmies5 eS
the spaniard She does not desire the infof ma ton
from YOU There is my card Net day tee @ TWO e
Both killed. Ny innocent part In 1t was made
a pretext by the Spanish authorities to squeeze
money out OF my father. and he paid them nearly
5000 to prevent my arrest" -,... 49, .Ao., ,o,.o
Were the Spaniards as oppressive as they nave
OeFY Yes s' fnliy, replied Mr Rodriguez his eyes
sparkling with angry tecolections They looked la4
and missed an opportunity TO insult ana hu- M
Country was ridden by idle priests. The average
Filipino is naturally of religious temperamen1t,
our house we prayed regularly nine times day
upon rising, before breakfast after breaktast De
fore and after dinner, before ana dtter supper; ~
the evening and Just before going 70 bed Al OF
neighbors did the same Ihe aiipnos i've IN
What do you think OF the outlook for the war - :,
the Fhiipinos are limited and the viii become ex-
hausted They making terrible mistake. pu'
norsnt OF this country it's resources and its policy
They imagine that the Americans want to drive
used 10 dealing with honest people You must re-
member they have never come in contact with
9nyboGy except m .hG Tpenq is they would throw
down their guns and welcome the Americans as
How do you feel yourself about taking service
in army that is fshng your Wr
earnestly II am going, II am accepted, IN civil
capacity as n clerk. / believe the American cause
10 be lust and l feel can occupy that emo OF d
nosition Uithout sacrifice OF honor. could not go
INTO the ranks 1t would be impossible for me 70
take up arms against my own people, but 90
not believe any American officer would ask me 70
do such n thing or blame me for refusing. But u.
an insurrent camp and do my best TO convince the
leaders OF their error, would do so gladly nope
/ that | may be ordered 10 carry such messase.
for 7 believe | could make myself valuable. know
nnarlv All the leaders personally and my FAMILY IS
u,eu liked on the island My father VINO IS no"
dead was especially popular among the poorer peo-
ME to whom he always very KIND. MY moIher
died last year in Chicago. and determines tnen
NAT 7 would never leave this country but wouIa
iSrIa 70 look at my old home once more and see II
NV fathers grave is being cared for Ihat Is why
I applied for this position , ,,,...,o -. .No
Todrir,ez himself Il good illustration OF the
-,i,cE uh,ch is part Of the Filipino character ana
bna made them such Unexpectedly good nghterS.
iIn saws when he was boy he noticed that neaIly
ali The implements and machines brought 20 tne
leland we're Of American invention and ne ionged
-, cnTne IN This country and It's marvels with ms
oUn ewes After his fathers death ne lnherlteu
about $50 and determined 10 make the journey
M once His mothe. could not bring herse,l 10 par.
v,,th him so he brought her along ana they HVeu
" Con- roncisco while he acquired the language.
/ 'rben they moved TO Chicago and Dought a Htte
home He supported them both by WORKING as a
Clerk and doing ranslating after hours lncldentaiy
he started a Spanish American newspaper Ior cI
cnIation I'm Central America. After MS mother
death he started for Cuba but stopped IN new
orleans and has remained here ever since ne
docs translating for nine business houses anu heps
edit a local Spanish paper.