The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-12-21
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

Dear Cousin Blanche:-l Will seat
myself this warm Sunday to write you
few lines. l was just looking at
your picture which Jennie sent NE.
You and she look very natural, but l
do not remember seeing the other
lady. A fellow by the name Of Shell
don was looking at them and thought
you were my sister. told him you
were just the same as sister, out
were only cousin.
1 Iam still in Jolo and hardly know
what to write about, but perhaps a
little description Of this place might
interest you. Jolo is small town,
pronounced as though it were spelled
Holo. 1t is surrounded by stone
wall about ~ feet high. On the in
side of the wall about four feet from
the ground is a bench or shelf made
of stone, and about four feet above
that there is row of loop holes to
shoot through IN case of an attack on
the town. All the buildings of the
city are made of stone, and the inhab'
itants consist of Chenos, Morroos and
soldiers. Just east of town, outside
the wall, is a small Cheno town called
Bus Bus, whose buildings are made of
bamboo. West of town, outside the
wall, is a little town called Tuleai.
The people there are Filiplnos and
East Indians. The houses are built
of boards, and they have school
house and teach the English language.
To the north is the Sulu Sea with Its
inky looking water stretching far to
the northward. On clear morning
the level surface is very beautiful to
behold; you can look as far as the eye
can reach until the water and sky
seem TO mingle together, and it is not
possible to tell where the water leaves
off and the sky begins. To the south
about two miles is low mountain
range covered with beautiful green
trees. Just back Of the town is a
small stream which pours over perci'
pice, forming a beautiful little water
fall. I 90 bathing there every day
and also do my washing there. Below
the falls, under banyan tree,
do all my writing. sit down, tailor
fashion, with a board across my lap
for desk. 1t is not as handy as hav-
ing a nice table to write on, but /
manage to get along.
1 have a little baby monkey, but
don't know whether I shall keep him
or not-he is so noisy. When | &c
away he will cry and scream and make
great fuss, but when I am around
he is always climbing over me. hunt
ing my head to see if he can find any
lice. He never finds any, but he is
bound to look anyway One day
when was out at drill L tied him Sc
long that he could reach my knapsack
and when I came back he had all my
clothing out and was looking at him
; self in my pocket looking glass. l gave
him good whipping, after which ht
got into his box and laid down awhile
but finally got out and jumped int
nv lap and began trying to talk.
petted him and he soon got all right
and began to hunt IN my pockets t
see what he could steal, The boys have
parrots, monkeys and dogs. Nearly
every fellow has some kind of pet.
Tomorrow l will have been in the
army 1S months, but it hardly seems
that long since 1 left sunny Kansas
. consider myself fortunate in having
been able to see so much of the world
but think I shall be rather tired OF
rambling when 1 get home. And af
ter all like Kansas better than any
place l have ever seen. The ladies oi
Kansas, both old and young, are the
most beautiful and noble looking
creatures on earth, and as 1 have seer
people from every nation on the globe
l have right to judge, and l am tell
ing the truth.
1 am in very good health and have
been ever since came here. 1t is moi
unhealthful here il one takes care oi
ones self. Nearly all the sickness the
boys have they cause themselves. Ol
course there is sickness here the same
as in the States, not much differ
ence.
1 am getting rather tired Of writing
and guess l will close, 1t is harder
for me to write than it is for you, fol
anything from there is news to me.
j You will give the excuse that Jennie
has written all the news, and Jennie
will say, IL know that your folks have
written al the news" so between the
two excuses ] do not hear very much
from there. Be sure aud write all tho
news YOU can think Of and 1 will try
to do the same. / will have TO close
now, as mess call Is blowing and