The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-10
PHILIPPINES AND FILIPINos.
Discussed at Parish Hall by Mr.. John
Howe Peyton.

howe region.
The audience that gathered al St Johns
Parish Hall last night 10 hear Mr.. John
Howe Peyton's Lecture on the Philippines
was by no means commensurate with the
Interess of his lecture Those who attend
ed were fortunate IN doing so, as a good
opportunity was afforded to improve their
knowledge of the islands and their peo-
pie. The speaker was introduced by Judge
Robert Falligant.
Nj Peyton was an enlisted man for
three months directly after the outbreak
of the war with Spain. Securing his dis
charge from the war department, he set
about religious work among The soldiers,
being army secretary for the Brotherhood
of ST. Andrew. He found there was not a
great deal to be accomplished with the
limited means at mis- command in that ca
pacity. the field being 50 vast.
Last spring Mr.. Peyton set out for the
Philippines. having secured letters from
the authorities at Washington emitting
him TO every privilege in the American
camps and wherever she American gov
eminent might be recognized. He was in
the Philippines until September, and his
travels among the Islands were for the
express purpose of study and gaining all
the Information possible. II was from the
data secuted during his stay in the Phil
ippines that he delivered his lecture.
Referring first TO the physical features
OF the islands, Mr. PeytOn said they were
the most attractive he had ever observed
in any land. There are, of course, he
said. the usual number Of mosquitoes.
flies and other small pests, but the coun-
Try Is an approach TO a paradise, being
rich and fruitful and Offering the most
unbounded possibilities for development
when capital and progress but take hold
10 succeed the centuries Of the lethargy
Of Spanish rule.
The productions of the islands were
spoken Of al length. Hemp. the lecturer
said, IS really moi hemp al an. as the fiber
IS secured from plant that resembles
the banana tree so closely that the only
point OF difference to the casual observer
Is that the fruit of the latter Is lacking
on the tree from which the fiber is taken
Inc trunks OF these hemp trees are
pounded and the pulp is combed ou.,
leaving the fiber of commerce
Mahogany grows in abundance. 1t IS
one OF the most common trees. Vast for
ests Of the wood, almost primeval, cover
che interior Of the islands, Offering for
tunes TO those who care TO undertake
its marketing. So is 1t with the sugar
cane. which grows in great luxuriance,
and that with the assistance OF but little
cultivation. The ground is fertile and
easily TILED, affording ready support for
agrarians.
The people OF the Philippines were dis
cussed at considera BILE length. and il could
have been only after close observation
and mingling with them that the speaker
would be able 10 give 50 comprehensive
an idea OF those who seem destined 10
become citizens of the republic. on the
whole Mr.. Peyton's description of the
Fihpinos was not undattering to them al
he said that, though there is not a great
deal to admire about them, yet they are
not unattractive.
Ten millions inhabit the several islands
that form the Philippine group. Mr. Pey-
ton said that was the number given him
and, from his observations, he would
judge It approximately correct or these
ten millions, some 10000 ere Roman
Catholics, accepting the religion that was
planted in the islands when Magellan
touched there in the sixteenth century or
his RECOMMENDATION OF the globe and
that mas since grown until il Is more un-
relaxing In its hold upon the people thar
any civil rule has ever been
One million of the FiMpinos was the
division Mr.. Peyton made IN seeking tC
give an idea Of the number of Mohamme
dams In the Islands. and the remaining
10000 he said, might be considered a,
savages, pagans and what not IL is il
religion chat tne greatest display OF am
singleness Of purpose or force of charac
ter II given by the F[lpnos for the PEG
pie are not OF the progressive. indomit
able type Of the Angio-Saxon But i've
persons. Aguinaldo and the greatest write
IN Filipino literature were named by IN,
speaker az entitled to considerat lion TO
merit OF q superior order.
In stature the Fihpinos are,smsR Mr.
Peyton said the average hight Of the mer
cannot be more chan five feet, and IN,
average weight from about 100 10 III
pounds The women are proporIionatel,
smaller In color they are brown, betnl
OF the Malay type. Some sixty language
and distinct dialects are IN use in IN.
Philippines, showing a division Of III
abortgines into various tribes. While al
belong 10 the same race, yet there ar
such divisions as were to be found anon,
the American Indians The savages o
whom 50 much has been heard are few il
number and rowing, living principally II
the mountain districts OF the islands.
The dress Of the Eilipinos was discussed
Mr.. Peyton saying that the men wear 81
the feet a simple sandal, with bot the sus
picion of a toe-pece TO keep 1t in place 4
pair Of cotton trousers and flowing whit
shirt, such as are worn IN this country
complete the costume. which was designe
first OF all for comfort and cooness III
latter being desirable, though the island
are not as warm as might be though
from their being 50 close to the equator
as cooling breezes are constantly blDwini
over them.
The women are fond Of dress. though
showing the weakness in way that Il
regarded as quaint and peculiar by for
eigners, for one may be decked with da
Tnonds ana other Jewels and fine vest
ments. and YET go barefoot These ar,
the women Of the more wealthy class
though the Filiplnos, as a whole. are very
poor but none Of them 60 clothed immod.
estiy. The costumes Of the coolies and
laborers required but lltto Of the speak.
er's time for dcscrfptldn. as he said a
consists Of but breechclout