The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-12-21

not absolutely necessary was dispensed
with for the day. There were all kinds
Of sports in the different commands.
great field day had been arranged to
be held on the Lunetta. but owing to
the unsettled state Of affairs it was
postponed.
The natives celebrated Christmas
with many queer ceremonies. and with
them the joyful Pasco Dias was a great
day. The Filipinos know how to enjoy
holiday as do no other people. They
have their holidays every week. but the
greatest Of all are Pasco Dias and holy
week. To the Filipinos Christmas was
week long. and there was another week
of preliminary rejoicing. For more than
a week before Christmas the early morn
ing hours here in Manila were filled with
music. Bands paradcd the streets in the
different parts of the city. The bells of
the great cathedrals rang out their mel
low monotones to awaken the people for
early mass.
Music was one OF the principal features
connected with the native observance of
the holiday season. There are few pee
pie more unsteady inclined than the Fill
pinos and on all occasions music is q
pTluGlpdi leutuIc with lAc HdllNeS. Hey
have all sorts of brass, string and reed
Instruments, and some OF the latter are
most rude contrivances. They make
reed instruments from sections of bam-
boo, and these are OF all sizes and con-
sequently Of all pitches. At the holiday
season one has a chance to see more Of
the musical instinct than at any other
season of the year. All day Christmas
these native bands played in the street.
They lent their aid toward making the
festivities Of Christmas eve and Christ
mas night enjoyable. All through the
holy week Manila was filled will music.
Christmas, or Pasco, as the parish
is, had it's good things for old and :oung.
The children were at the height their
Joy, for Juguetes, the Santa ClAus Of
the Filipinos, came throughout the land
and everywhere distributed good things.
For week before Christmas figures
Realistically dressed to represent Ju-
quotes were hauled through the streets
on decorated carts. Everywhere these
were followed by crowds Of native chill
dren.
When the people Of the Philippines
turn out to enjoy n holiday, they are
clad in their best and ARREST attire, and
especially is this the case at Pasco sea-
son. Early on Christmas morning the
streets were filed with natives of all
ages and both sexes. The men were clad
in the customary ermine garment and
the women in bright colored frocks, with
an embroidered piece of pima around the
neck. The little pickaninnies were
dressed in tasty style, as Filipino styles
go. and were as happy as the rest
The natives all attended the church
ceremonies, for with them, as with us.
these are the real features OF the day.
All through the holy week the church
festivities continued and ended only with
the advent of the new year.
With our soldiers the principal ques-
ton at Christmas time was as to going
home, for all were thoroughly tired OF
soldering in the tropics. The bright
prospects for the speedy return Of the
volunteer forces was another cause OF
rejoicing and making merry. When
another year has passed and another
| Christmas season is celebrated in Ma.
| Mia, this city and the Philippines will
| have been brought more fully under
| American influences and will have en-
| barked upon a new era.