New-York tribune., 1900-09-17

FOR both convent and monastery, and those who
liYe within them have moulded the past history of
the islands. That the Roman Catholic Church,
which was once supreme here and is now subordi-
nate. occupies entirely different position from
year ago is a we'll recognized fact; at the
7ime the conventual Hfe-that which goes on within
1he wallsis practically the same as it has
always been. The rules Of the orders which are
centuries old do not change for wars or rumors
of wars There are no great public outdoor pro-
cessons now; they restricted 20 the interior Of
sthe churches the chuTchyards. and great
lChurch fiesta" is longer the occasion Of pub
lie holiday. its only evidence 10 the average Amcrt-
ican being In the extra ringing of church bells and
an unusual number of Spaniards and ''mestizas"
driving the Luneta in the evening.
THE DAY BEGINS EARLY.
The convent day begins early. The first office Of
She Sisters is at a. MI speaking Of Sisters
fschool-and the children up after, and
have their breakfast c'almuerza') at O'Clock. At
that hour the great doors opened and the
pupils begin their days work. AS breakfast is so
early a luncheon is served at 9 o'clock consisting
of bread and chocolate. Lessons continue through
out the morning until noon, when all the inmates
of the establishment have the principal meal of
the day, ''comida." dinner. Afterward comes
the siesta. and when the day is begun so early 1t
IS a benehcent institution In the mean time the
doors have been closed. Between the hours Of II
a N. and p. n. 3 soul IS allowed enter
and only the privileged allowed to out.
After the siesta the lessons begin again. At
Is a luncheon 'nler!enda'-and at O'Clock a
vice which is called "capilia' Chapel. Recreation
follows and 'cenar' CT supper. a p. Soon
after everybody retres, and the convent is silent
The building is more than acre in extent. oc-
.cupying an entire block. There are vacant house
lots in the walled city. have there been for
several centuries The streets narrow and the
fhouses all large and built as closely together
as possible. The "Palaco," ''Intendencia" and
most Of the important Government buildings
here also the cathedral and a number OF other
large churches including that of San Augustine,
which, next TO the cathedral is the largest 1t is
safe to say that than half of the walled city
rs owned and occupied by the Church. Spanish
architecture prevails throughout. II is a good
5sized and accurate model Of Spanish city None
fof the other districts have right to the name
sManila and If you give that address to the Co
:chero' he will take you straight over the draw
bridge within the massive walls AS most of the
buildings were erected o hundred hundred
syears ago Is, from picturesque point. the most
.dnteresting part Of the city. Whether life is
:enjoyed there than anywhere else is another mat
5ter. II certain that the breezes which blow IN
Sfrom the bay and make the Luneta Drive and the
Sresdences along the shore in Ermita and Malate
$50 delightful are turned off by the city walls
gWhst little fresh air does wander in has difficulty
I'm percolating through the narrow streets and the
.closey built houses. is probably the warmest
aplace Of residence in Manila.
We have buildings in America whose age
may be reckoned by centuries and the American
tourist has explored hundreds Of them abroad but
there probably few where. If they still in
habited. the original arrangement is adhered TO.
If had a collection OF such houses at home in
any part Of the country, with the same sanitary
arrangements, they would e1e this have been or
.dered down by the Board % Health. Neither would
the same class Of American people as those who
3ive IN the old converts here put up for minute
with similar accommodations Yet IN almost every
convent the wives OF Spanish officers who are
IN captivity and other women Of high standing
who widowed or orphaned and who live here
from choice. At Santa Isabel is the wife of Cen
-eral Penar whose husband and son are both held
by the Fflpinos.
NO SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS
II is impossible to speak Of the sanitary condi-
tions Of the old buildings because none Of them
are sanitary. The baths and the kitchens are Just
what the Spaniards used when they first came to
the Philippines. In cases a more modern
cooking stove is added 10 the old ones which arc
OF various kinds though all constructed on
the same principles. AS a general thing. ii does
take much in the way of equipment to cook
meal in this country, there being a similarity in
the preparation of the various kinds Of food. /
charcoal stove Of tin. earthen bowl to contain
the Goals, while piece of metal is laid on top on
which 10 rest the cooking utensils often does ser
vice for whole Philippine family. In the OLD
buildings stoves Of cement and are Joined 10
the walls. which are Of the material. They
extremely primitive. having nothing but a
series Of holes along the top. in which separate
fires built. and the inevitable frying pan set
on top.
Americans do not like the Spanish cooking In the
Philippines. AS a nation we prefer to eat our food
without copious dressing of grease and oil The
spaniards are not epicures and Americans are be-
coming moro and more The average American
family would feel that it faring poorly indesd
II obliged TO eat one meal OF Spanish fare num-
Ger OF our ofhcers' wives attempted board with
various Spanish families in Manila but I know Of
no case in which they wished to remain Possibly
the spansTds here find cooking as distastefuI
find theirs
The curriculum in the Manila "colegios' does not