The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-11
SKETCHES FROM
EVERYDAY LIFE


If there is any one who knows the truth
about the Philippines let him now speak
1t has become an honored custom to speak
of the situation in China, as the Chinese
puzzle, but where is the dark corner of
China that can hold candle, so to speak,
with the Egyptian darkness which en-
velopes the Philippines? The eyes of the
world are today on China; the front page
of every newspaper in the land is trimming
over with Chinese scare-heads; the 10000
men in Pekin are the object of the worlds
solicitude, while the $4,000 Americans in
the Philippines, much to McKin1eys re-
lief, are forgotten. The administration has
thrown cloak of silence over the situa-
uon, since Otis was recalled and his type
written victories ceased. For months moth
ing passed through the censored cable
save the daily casualty list of Macarthur
LAY py DAY this constant dripping must
nave worn away large portions of his army
Ihere have been no big fights. Aguinaldo
was reported dead. 1t was darkly whs-
pered a home that the Americans held no
more OF the islands than did the Spaniards
while 1T was said that large numbers Of
the American soldiers were insane
AT last it was rumored that the war
dragged on because the American officers
wanted 1t to- A war meant promotion to
them' increased pay and bigger shoulder
Straps. That there may be something in
this, can be appreciat ted by those who
know the craze for promotion which exists
Ill the army Murmurings of discomfort
were heard at home, elections were coming
on something must be done by the admin
istration.
In this dilemma some one thinks of Otis
Happy thought! his typewriter Is fshed
out and busted off, and report is gotten
out and made public. This report is an
interesting document. 1t contains the
startling information that Aguinaldo, who
was killed by the newspapers some months
ago, with detailed accounts of the death
scene, is still alive. AS an evidence of this
Is cited proclamation of his dated June
Ath This proclama ton gives detailed in
structions to the Filipions how to kill off
the Americans. Article of these instruc-
tons is as follows
AT the moment of the attack the Sand
tahan should not attempt to secure rifles
from their dead enemies; but shall pursue.
slashtng right and left with bolos until the
Americans surrender, and after there re-
mains no enemy who can injure them they
may take the rifles in one hand and the
ammunition in the other"
The proclamation goes on to direct that
men shall be stationed on the housetops
who shall have vessels filed with boiling
water, tallow, molasses, and other LIQUIDS.
which shall be thrown as bombs on the
Americans, or they can make use of
syringes or tubes of bamboo In these
houses shall be the Santahan, who shall
hurl the liquids that shall be passed to
them by the women and children. When
the Sandtahan make their attack with
courage and decision, taking advantage of
the confusion In the ranks of the enemy,
the victory is sure, the triumph is ours"
Was there ever such nonsense set I'D in
type. Is 1t possible that Agunaldo, man
with intelligence enough to become the
leader of 100000 people, could have written
such stuff, or Is Otis typewriter out of or
der from disuse? The proclamation is a
long one. 1t was given to the press last
Thursday by the government In place
he advises his men to rely on dAggers in
stead of rifles, and the document whole
is on a par with the extracts here given.
What does 1t all mean? Are the American
soldiers afraid of not water and molasses?
If so, buy them umbrellas. Perhaps this is
the keynote to the situation, and this proc
lamation is gotten up in the interest Of
the umbrella trust.
This last report of Otis leaves the situa-
ton as clear as mud, and a ray of dark
ness would probably throw some light on
the situation.
Great reforms come slowly, even In pro-
gressive America The shirt waist man is
finding this out to his sorrow. He is go
ing through the same trials and trbua-
tons that his short skirted sister went
through year or two ago What a COM
motion the bicycle skirt created How
many stern fathers put their foot down
it's short skirt? How many wearers of it
even landed in the police court? Yet to-
day it is triumphant and so common as to
no longer attract attention. 1t is taken
as a matter of course All dress reforms
that are based on common sense are bound
to succeed The dress of men in hot
climate like the South is absurd. The on
ly sensible costume for the South Is the
Chinese or Japanese Soft felt soled shoes,
a pajama like upper structure, no starched
collars nor wooden coats but a pic
turesque and graceful costume. This is
what the Southern man needs. No one
has been bold enough yet to start the fash
ion. But let him not despair. He has done
much in the last thirty years. First he
got rid of the billed shirt, and subsu-
tuted the artistic negligee. Old ladies and
old gentlemen were borrow stricken at the
idea of a gentleman wearing colored
shirt. But they are now broken in to it.
Then the Southern man shed his vest.
This was another step in the right direc-
ton, which like all reforms met with the
usual criticism. Now, poor fellow, he is
trying to shed his coat and emerge from
this chrysalis a gay and beautiful butter
fly But here he is having the same ex-
perience as the short skirted girl. He has
been turned out of theaters and hotels
and even landed in the police courts.
A q H. tla. lr.x IL