Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-04-27

troops TO the northeast and south. and l
am to come in from the north, and we
shall make good run for them.
Though my business since we got on to
the island of Leyte has been to look for
trouble, and have found it. still there are
laughable things also. Among our captures
the other day were about 30 brass band in
struments in all stages of usefulness. This
evening, after outposts were inspected,
inner guard posted etc. Corporal Broda,
tall, lanky man from Michigan, asked me
if l did not think the band ought to give
the commanding officer and mayor of Da-
gami lat present myself serenade. in
timated that the mayor would feel battered
at such a courtesy, and the commanding
officer would not object if the ceremony
was not prolonged He disappeared, and
in about 10 minutes, from the corner Of
the church, appeared a gathering that
| would have struck terror to the hearts of
the natives. Each man with his Krag and
| belt on (they are not allowed to 20 unarm-
| ed) and each with an instrument to his lips
| Except the drummer), and there issued the
most hideous sounds imaginable. Capt
Broda was drum ma or with piece of bam-
| boo, six feet in length, as a baton. They
| played what they called several popular
airs, and then disappeared This same
|
company, and l have been with HIM in one
or two ticklish places.
| | discovered yesterday that a certain
Lieut. Hora, chief of Gen. Moxica's staff,
has offered price for my head q don't
know how much either on or off my
shoulders, but have several prisoners who
are willing to point out his different places
of hiding if they can stay with the Ameri-
can soldiers. If | can get within shooting
distance | shall try to keep him busy look
ing after his own hat rack. Many of his
soldiers are such by compulsion, and will
lay down their arms with pleasure if as
sured of protection against his outrages.
The Spanish l picked up in Texas has
been of the greatest advantage to me as
most of it has drifted back to me. Most
of the natives, however, speak the Bessia
of which | know but two words, "dogmit
for hurry, and ''tobig" for water.
To show the nature of this man Hora
l impressed what natives | could catch into
a reconstruction gang to rebuild bridges
the "nigs" had torn down. One of them,
a friend of the Americans, went to his
home in the mountains and Hora caught
him and cut off his nose because he worked
for the American soldiers. | believe that
fully third of these men are soldering
with knife at their threats. Now | will
tell you a little | have learned about these
'chenos, or Cinnamon who are the prnci-
pal business men of the smaller islands
} The native Filipinos are a picturesque and
interesting race. As you know the Span
lard has for three centuries been trying to
take the measure Of these people and with
} no success; but the impression left by this
J semigovernment is we'll nigh indelible
though not desirable imprint. They have
: | 81 hoI tLot al
the pale face can in no wise be trusted
, thereby handicapping the American in his
effort to inspire confidence. The Filipino
men are sturdy, rugged little fellows, not
3 afraid of work, but from past experience
averse to work solely for the white mans
! gain. The women are graceful and not
l without well-founded pretenscns to good
looks. So far as | can determine from
| questioning both Filipino and Spauiard
q there are no class distinctions. The China
Q man has come here at the invitation of the
= Spaniard, who desired his skill and indus
. try. This invitation was extended to
3 John" alone. No females were included
8 The Cheno must take unto himself FLIP.
S inc wife, if any, and certain inducements
were offered him to take such a step. The
= Cheno being invariably weather. than the
= Filipino, and the native woman, like al
|
n the mestizo, or half breed is found every.
9 where, but he is an improvement on either
g race. From the father he inherits economy
g and thrift, from the mother genteness anC
y retiring self-possession that makes gooC
n I citizens and merchants The mestzo woman
o is proverbially good looking and many Span
iards have taken them as wives Theil
), descendants call themselves Spanish anC
: form large percentage of the bushes,
!, portion of the islands.
, The native women are abundantly endow
e ed with hair, which they dope in liberia
n manner with cocoanut oil, and wear flow
It ing over their bare shoulders As rul,
e they are clearly and wherever water i
S found, salt or fresh, clear or dirty, Their,
s may be seen men, women, children, dogs
S ponies, sharks and caribou bathing togeth
err. Occasionally u shark and native
e double up" and the native yields Away,
IS to the persuasive powers of the shark anC
9 tarries with him. No one seems to mine
: these occurrences, nor does it interfere witt
a their sport except for the few moments il
d takes to fight for the effects of the dear de
!, parted. Their clothing is scanty at bes
d and back here in the mountains the children
o never wear anything except a grin or
9 snarl according to their respective tempera
}, ments, until they earn their own clothes
y The comments of the men on the appearance
d of these people would furnish material fol-
= several editions of Puck or Judge.
J. Leprosy is very prevalent among them
J, particularly the mestizo and Cheno. There
e is no attempt at isolation and you run OIL
k to them in all places Most hideous, awful
9 sights are they, and just as soon as quiet il
IS established, steps will be taken to form {
r colony some where and hold in check this
!. loathsome disease.
0 The Filipino woman, either in her Sun.
IS day best or every day gown, is an interest
J. ing object. just why a woman shoeless
a stockingless, hatless, gloveless and decol
!. lete to an extent that would cause ballet
d dancer to turn green with envy, should
Q wear a ball gown with six-foot rudder
9 about her daily employment is an unan
0 swerable query. This same woman will
# walk off with burden on her head thai
= would make a negro stagger, holding the
: head erect and steadying the burden with
t one well-rounded arm, while the other
h swings easily at her side in cadence will
s an easy quick step.
A slight detraction from the picturesque
9 ness of this sight is that between the row,
f of betel-stained teeth you will usually see /
h huge Manila cigar; for the ladies % ar,
s fond of the weed, though none of the ma
r tives use opium in which the Cheno, fai
# from the home of his forefathers, finds /
It failing solace. The women have
" necks and shouldara that would maka any;