The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-30
AGUINALDO'S BOYHOOD.
He Was Once Editor and Proprietor
of n bows Pancr.


From the New Orleans Times Democrat.
Louis M. Rodrigues, the young Filipino
who has applied for the position of stenog-
rapher and typewriter to serve at the army
headquarters in Manila concluded his civil
examination at the custom house yester-
day and has strong hopes of securing the
job. Mr.. Rodriguez is a man of education
and culture, and in appearance is a typical
member of his race. He is short, wiry and
agile, and his features bear a marked re-
semblance to portraits of Asunilado.
4 used to go TO school with Aguinaldo."
he remarked to a Times-Democrat reporter
VINO called yesterday at his office. at No.
436 Common street, land l know him and
his two brothers well. We attended The
San Juan Seminary in Manila 1t is
Catholic institution, and is designed to fit
young men for two professions only-the
law and the church. We studied Latin,
philosophy, pedagogy, Roman and interna-
tional law, the doctrines of personal rights
and theology. one had to be a graduate
of an, academy or first school before en-
tering.
"Aguinaldo was a hard student" con-
| tinued Mr.. Rodriguez. HE used 20 literally
| turn night into day, and it was at the col
| lege that he acquired his pronounced ideas
on republicanism. When he was only 16
years old he started a little paper-a boys
| paper-caled La Republican I took a
great interest in the enterprise. for my IA
| Their was newspaper man and was
| brought UP to the trade. 1 wrote a great
deal of poetry, which 1 dare say was very
! poor Anyhow, La Republca did not last
very long. I doubt whether there is a copy
of il now in existence.
"In his school days Aguinaldo was
very quiet boy but everybody liked him.
He was good hearted and charitable, and
had a great idea of ones duty to The poor.
| He is extremely well educated, and finish
ed his schooling abroad. l don't know
| where his two brothers are at present.
| They used 10 live at Cavite. One of our
intimates at college by the way, was Dr.
| Rial, who later ON started the last war
/ against the Spanish. He was an able
man and exercised a great influence on
! Aguinaldo."
! "Have the weIl-to-do Filipinos a good
education as a ruler" asked the visitor.
Eyes. There is a little Filipino who
sometimes comes into this Office. He was
! educated for the law, but is now a COM
/ mon sailor. 1t would surprise you to hear
! him talk. He can converse on any topic
| in a scholarly manner, and frequently
| speaks Of the war not merely of news
| events but discussing 1t from philoso-
| phic standpoint. He is fair example of
the young Filipino of good family. They
are thoroughly educated in everything eX-
cept English and English literature"
Tell me something about everyday life
among the Filipino" said the reporter
! I'm what respect do their customs differ
! most strikingly from ours?
We'll" replied Mr.. Rodriguez, there
are two ways of living in Manila. One
| is very cheap and one Is very expensive
| All except the rich live very cheaply
| it costs the upper class about the same
as It does here. Fruit is the principal
| food of the common people, and the ban
ana plays a very important part-more i'm
| portant than bread does here I could de-
! scribe over twenty-five different ways of
preparing bananas but they are common
! ~ ground into -four and made into cakes
| which are very palatable. For five cents
| a man can buy enough banana -four TO
live on several days The upper class
| use Spanish cooking exclusively, and the
| prices al the fashionable cafes are about
| what they are in New Orleans. one can
| not get a good dinner for less than a dol
| lar. The ice used is nearly all natural ice
and is brought from the mountains, sew
| enteen miles away, on buffaloes.
THE rich Filpinos have elegant resi-
| dences, and everybody employs troops Of
| servants. man earning $50 a month
| will employ at least four. The rules re-
garding social intercourse are very strict
/ To get on calling footing at a house is
| often the work of years. one must be
| Youched for to an extent unknown even