Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-01-17
MANlLA,S WATER FRONT.

Scenes That Interest tho Stranger and
Native Alike-Bringing in the Wounded.
There is an air of similitude in all
ports. The same forests of masts,
the sans Ilaok-funneled steamers, the
same weather-beaten men with sum
tanned faces, speaking all sorts OF
languages, the same neat memo
warsmen dressed in immaculate white.
Whatever the town may be doing
there is always movement going on
ut the waters edge. Either it is the
waterboat or else the Cavite ferryboat
or a casco of soldiers singing happily
as they are being towed out to some
troopship bound to the old country,
or squad of jackies on shore leave.
Sa:Apans and other native craft are
busy threading their way i'll and out
among larger vessels. Then there is
The roar and rattle of machinery and
the grinding of the jute mills, inter
mingled with the hoarse cries of the
Chinese coolies as they pile their bur-
deus on the different vessels. White
shirted clerks, dressed spick and span
as though just out of the bandbox,
are taking tally in dainty little note
books of the goods handled by brawny
stevedores, with muscles that rise up
on their arms like small, inflated foot
balls. Then there are the invariable
loafers, always ready to "strike"
passer-by for a dime or "work" q
sailor on the spree for his hard-earned
wages.
Every day you see the little old
weazened native woman fishing in
front of the captain of the ports office.
When she is fortunate enough to catch
fish it is no longer than my little
finger. Many time have seen her
counterpart in San Francisco, only he
was man. How they exc out a live
lihood nobody knows OF cares. There
are "wharf rats" here as in San Fran
cisco they style politely, the urchins
who work round tue docks. They only
differ in the shade of their color from
their white confreres, for they are just
as full of mischief and lead the China
men dance. One of them is just
now putting a crab down the neck of
carpenter as he is bending over his
work. Catch him? As well try to
harness o cyclone. What is that
crowd? A train just in with the
wounded men from the front. AN
other man wanted here" Immediately
there are o dozen willing. hands to
lend their assistance. Gently Gent
ly! as you place him in the ambulance
to avoid all jar. Yes, that's an ugly
wound in the neck, but he'll pull
through. He is full of grit.
Here is something, however, that |
have seen in no other port. 1t IS
gang of native workmen fixing the
loose cobblestones in position OH
piece of road that needs mending.
Twenty of them line up facing each
in do1ble row, the foreman at the
head. AS they work their wooden
rammers they sing. Happy the fore
man who can keep his men working to
the sound of his voice. There is plen-
ty of music and iollity of the rough
and ready description.
A stout, red-faced captain, wipinng
the perspiration of his jolly counten-
ance, comes rolling along, and is imme-
diately tackled by Chinaman richly
dressed in silks, as to the price OF
freight on his coaster to the Island of
Negros. Immediately the smile fades
on the face of the skipper and he is
strictly business. For if you would
eat YOU must work is an axiom all the
world over. The soldier to the sword,
the sailor to the ship, the shoemaker
to the last and the poor scribe as best
he can.-Manila Times.