The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29

] SAN ISIDRO Luzon. Philippine Islands.
The adjutant general OF the brigade had
pushed a heap Of papers 10 one side and
sat thinking over the rumor that Russia
and the United States we're about 10 en-
gage in war. and wondering If he would be
iueky enough to receive an appointment
OF Major Mex" as the volunteer stan
commissions are called II was sizzling
not day. Without the wide-ouened win
doWs a fair substitute for a hooking bird
sang dozen strains and then seemingly
collapsed, his song being dried up bv the
heree heat. An orderly came briskly into
the sun-flooded Office ard said. There's a
native wishes to see the adjutant general.
sir! And thus it happened that we we're
all surprised and much gratiaed. two days
since, to receive an invitation TO attend
the wedding Of the one apothecary OF this
place and Senorita Gonzales. The hour OF
the ceremony was announced as o'clock
in the morning, in accordance with the
customs OF the Church.
Three Of US turned out at 4:3o the next
! morning but this is the land OF "manaua.'
and IL was an hour later before the candle
/ CLEANS began TO stream through the
| creyices in the rickety church and groups
| OF spectators began 10 patter toward US
I along The dusty street. The men we're for
| the most part in freshly Numbered suits Of
white, and the womsn's garments ranged
| in color from the sOmbre black Of formal
/ churchgoing dresses 20 the gayest Of pink5
| and puppies. But the church rule Of yelled
/ heads Tor women when In a sacred edifce
/ was overlooked by none OF the gathering
! crowd Of slender brown senoritas or more
1 pOrtly and darker senoras.
| With the foremost guests came the na-
/ tive orchestra Of viOlins. cello. aud horn
I with tbs leader IN flowing shirt and trou-
| sers Of daring check
/ He was true Filipino. for he was bare
I footed. save for a pair Of dusty. heelless
! slippers, and scOrued a hat.
/ The church opened most OF the waiting
/ groups followed the orchestra within that
| they, like the spectators Of any other na-
| tionality, might secure advantageous
/ places. each pausing as good Catholic
| Church people should. to sign their fore
heads with holy water dipped from the TWO
great seashells that served as fonts The
groom. however. waited with US for his
bride When she had arrived in the only
quilez that the town affords, accompanied
by three OF her female relatives he tossed
aside his third cigarette Of the morning
and met her at the church door. She was
in gorgeous attire. A skirt Of heavy bro
caded silk Of brightest pink the color not
less pronounced than was the cabbage-leaf
pattern; a bodice Of embroidered pima
cloth, the TOsebuds thereon riyaling in
their bursting flashes Of color the start
ling pinkiness Of the skirt; these, with as
daintiiy an arranged veil as any bride ever
wore. and held in place by a tiny wreath OK
orange blossoms. gave her all Of the blush
ing effect Of pink on white. so desired since
brides have been. and denied her so sadly
by her natural colOring. Now there was
no delay. The orchestra plunged calamity
into a really dreamy waltz The groom Of
fered his hand TO the trim little figure in
pink. and friends and aliens followed the
little party to the centre of the church,
where the padre stood with accompanying
acOlytes TO receive them
The fanlike train Of silk swept slowly
over the dusty floor Of brick and came 10
a halt at the edge Of a rug Of crude red.
whose color swore violently at the Chinese
pink above it There was no variation in
the usual ceremonies Of the Catholic
Church, but there was one ludicrous piece
Of forgetfulness on the part Of the bride
groom He had forgotten to put aside his
hat before he met his bride and it was
necessary for him to interrupt the cere-
numerous ragged and barefoot boys that
stood Opeu-mouthed near the wedding
uarty to relieve the now embarrassed gen
tleman of that article. And when came the
ceremony of the giving Of estate to the
bride We saw the need that there was for
the mans two hands. For the best man
had provided most generously for that part.
4 handful of our $50 gold pieces. represent
ing the best in money prOcurable, had to
be passed from bridegroom TO priest ana
then to the seUOrita and back again to the
future man of family, as the token Of the
giving Of endov meu- ana sharing Of world
Iy possessions. When this symbolism had
ended. the ever-efiicient man OF affairs Of
the occasion. or sexton. quickly returned
the shining coins to their obliging owner.
and he dropped them into his pocket with
much ostentatiou. There had been many
muruurs of w0udermeut at the sight Of so
much wealth from the crowd Of kneeliEs
witnesses. and / have no doubt that the
double object Of the gold had been accom-
pIfshed The ceremony was conducted
partly in the Spanish language and partly
in that of the Church or Latin. Both were
strange tongues to the girl, for / later
heard her say to one Of our party that she
did not understand Spanish.
For the conclusion. the party now
moved to the foot Of the brilliantly iiu-
minated altar Chairs had been provided
for the family. and We were included IN
that chosen circle The orchestra no"
beat its way into q sweet song-Iike strain.
II was not the beautiful the vote that
breathed Ger Eden but it was a s1tis-y-
ing. thrilling native air that carried much
Of home thoughts iu its liquid notes oi
violius and softer cello 20 the ears or
that little group Of strangers there
present.
But now the swarthy padre is leaving
the altar and the newly welded dpothe-
cary leaves his emotionless bride TO hasten
to extend 90 US an invitation to the we'd
ding breakfast. When We arrived az the
home OF the bride we found the feast pre-
pared and after Oh the ladies had break
tasted in one chattering crowd. the men
were seated and had served to hem de-
Iicious native chocolate and little cakes.
with accompanying cigarettes.
As We had now spent the time until our
messes We're awaiting our return for our
We made our adieu jn our best
Spanish and were thus spared the sight Of
the seizure Of one OF the guests as an in
surgent captain. II was all done very
quietly and without roughness: and later.
when the happy apothecary and the new
sonora drove away for Manila In the
1uilcz there was one guest missing from
the throng that waved good-hyes from the
high balcony just opposite the guard house.
Il was unfortunate but we needed that one
guest. and We had been sufficiently con
siderate to allow him TO attend his former
sweetheart's wedding That ali came out
in the little talk that the provost marshal
had with the Crestfallen captain later in
The day It was all very touching. Was IL
lOt2 But that is the way things 20 some