New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01
AMONG THE FILIP1NOS.
A "MESTIZO BALE IN MANILA.
IMPRESSIONS OF PHILIPPINE sOCIETY-A YOUNG
BOSTON CLERKS EXPERIENCES-POLYG
AND POLYCHROMATIC PROMISCUITY

AND POI.YCIIROMATIC PROMISCUITY.
Correspondence of The Boston Transcript.
Senior R. a tall and distinguished -iookine
MestizO of fifty years or so. to whom nae
been introduced during one Of the intermisson:
at my first bulfght. had courteously extended
an invitation to me to make one OF the English
speaking guests at q bale" which would take
Mace nj his casa" the following evening. SenOi
r. was rich and influential. a captain of a
pueblo we'll educated and power IN the com
munty and | was told that the invitation was
something Of an honor. as his acquaintance was
A thing to cultivate. on the strength OF his posi-
tion and dignity. he adopted the European forl
OF dress that is. he tucked his shirt inside ms
trousers and wore a jacket and necktie lie was
a great admirer Of Americans. he told me. ano
regretted that since the failure Of the houses OF
Russell Sturgis & Co. and Peee, Hubbell x Co
there had been so few representatives. OF th'
great republic in Manila In view Of his opin-
ion II is unfortunate that he should not have
lived TO the old city filled with American
troops.
| cordially accepted his invitation. and ac-
Cordingly the next evening drove across the
"Pasig" with party OF English Fellows 10 th'
pueblo where stood the Casa R. big, SUP
stantiai-iooking house. equal in appearance u
any Of the best English and Spanish residences
and standing in the midst Of wildly Thurman
garden Upon entering the sala we were
greeted by genial host. who extended DO,
OF "Imperial' cigars with his left. hand while
he shook hands with his right. He assured me
that the house grounds and all contained there,
in were mine and at my disposal henceforth anc
forever. A privileged possession which 1t wa:
very evident I was to share with each and every
guest who arrived. At his side stood bamboo
table. heaped with dainty little Chinese rams
one of which each conner was supposed TO take
use during the evening. and retain as n"mento
of the occasion.
| supposed the next thing to do was 10 hunt
up my hostess. the Sonora R. and pay my
respects but my English friends assured me
that it not expected just then shes
somewhere in the crowd" they said. amy time
will do. The dining room is the next thing. Old
R would lie hurt if we didn't take something
to begin with"
THE FIRST SUPPER
So we filed into the dining room A huge table
stood in the middle. covered with heapng dishes
of cake candy slabs of crumby sugar from
China pickles Of every conceivable kind. and
bottles Of wine and liquor. including generous
supply Of Scotch and American whiskey.
The room filled with male guests OF varie-
gated shades Of complexion and arrayed in any
kind of costume. from black jackets To the sim
pie shirt with tails happhG outside white trou-
Sers All were eating. drinking very moderately.
considering the supply. smoking and greeting
each other with cleaning teeth and hearty
handclasps Our entry the signal for a
burst Of cordially. and all hands moved up To
the table and joined the "lngleses in taking
something The idea of eating at this stage OF
the proceedings struck me being odd. TO say
the least. but | had become used to finding
the natural order of things reversed in the Far
East that ate without comment.
| had been told that to come in a regulation
dress-s,it would be A marked solecism. so. not
caring TO go in the ordinary white linen of bust
ness | iished up and wore a black cutaway and
pique waistcoat with gray trousers. and the re-
suit was that | nearly had heat -apoplexy
though II was fairly cool evening in December
After having relieved hosts feelings by
partaking of the eatables and drinkables. we
re-entercd the 'sala" just as the music for the
first dance started up said music being provided
by three cadaverous Filipinos. with harp. violin
and piano and remarkably good music IT was
Groups of Mestiza ladies' in the attractive
and brilliantly coored national dress. with
compilations varying from the darkest brown
through shades Of yellow to clear dead white.
all much bepowdered. stood around the room
chattcrng and laughing with attendant SWANS
and waving their fans with the grace which
goes only with Spanish blood.
The floor was made of broad slabs Of dark
wood. worth fortune in any other country. pol
ishcd to the last degree OF brilliancy and afford
Ing the most perfect facilities for dancing. The
canvas walls were hung with wreaths and fes-
toons of leaves. and flowers were artisiically in
terwoven. and suspended by cords from the cell
ing Just over our heads. were several snow
white doves with outstretched wings which to
my horror | discovered were alive. their wings
being held in position by wires twisted among
the feathers The thought Of the discomfort the
poor little creatures were suffering considerably
interfered with my evenings enjoyment. but
afterward found this To be quite a universal
method Of adornng rooms among the Filipinos
and MeStizos on occasions Of ceremony. The
golden rule. far animals are concerned
enters little into the Philippine mind
NO FORMAL PRESENTATION.
Most OF my English friends scattered IN search
OF partners, advising to do the same. with |
the Information that formal presentation was |
rather bad form in fact.
Just say 'Quiere listed bailar" (DOes your |
grace wish 10 danceo and she will he |
pleased as Punch to dance with an Americana " |
was still exercised in spirit over my neglected |
duty to my hostess. So just TO set my mind at
rest. one OF the fellows took me up 10 her. She
was very brown lady. rather tall and slender
'or a Filipino and dressed in the native cos
plaid skirt. black silk overskrt.