The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-08-31
supERsTIrIoNs Of FILIplNos.
Number who Believe an Image Of
Christ Gave Advice TO
Awutmnldo.

In Cavite viejo and vicinity lot of
natives, who are insurgents at heart,
but who have mo stomach for fight
ing" have been muttering against the
Americans. The ostensible cause of
their complaint is. reports the Manila
American. that Lieut.. Paul A. Barry, Of
the Fourth infantry. has been living
In house which is alleged to belong
TO Aguinaldo.
The house In question is one OF the
largest buildings in Cavite Viejo, and
when it became necessary to use the
residence for military purposes, Sonora
Famy lAguinaldo's mother), who oc-
cupied the dwelling, was politely asked
to move out. She complied with the
request made of her by the military
authorities and went to live in Bincay-
IN, The men Of company /, of the
Fourth infantry, were quartered in one
wing of the building, and Lieut.. Barry
occupied the big front room.
This room was formerly Aguinaldo's
fayorite place of abode. The walls are
beautifully frcscoed and the ceiling
hos painted on it a picture representing
the ocean, In the background of the
picture there are three mountains. In
the space between the center and left
one the sun appears in magnificent
splendor. In the foreground Of the
picture is set of steps leading from
the ocean upward. On the topmost
step sits native girl In national cos
tune, holding Filipino flag, the upper
end of the flagstaff being capped by
bow and arrow. To the left Of her
and at her feet is the Spanish flag, ly-
ing in the dust, with the staff broken,
and near this are pieces of the chains
symbolizing the harshness Of Spanish
tyranny and the breaking Of it.
This room seems to have been sort
of audience room. Against the far wall
is an altar, to the right and left of
which are pictures of the Virgin Mary
and Jesus, in half life size. On top of
the altar is group Of figures, is inches
In height, representing Mary, Joseph
and the Child Jesus. Under curtain
Of gaudy material one may see life
size figure Of Jesus. representing Him
dead and ready for the tomb
The Holy of Holes in this room,
according to Filipino ideals, is the re-
cumbent image Of Jesus. With this
statue of the Saviour Aguinaldo
claimed to have held many long CON
yersations, and his ignorant and de-
luded followers believed that the Inn
age of Jesus often gave the self-con-
stituted dictator advice as to the man.
agement of the insurrection When
Aguinaldo left Cavite Viejo, by his
orders light was kept constantly
burning on pedestal in front of the
image, and when Sonora Fanny moved
away she pleaded as an excuse for
wanting to stay that 1t was the COM
mand of the saints that she should al
ways keep lighted candle In that
particular place.
Lieut.. Barry had lived In the
Aguinaldo mansion but a short time
when the insurrectos attempted to
foment discord by saying that o
'sgreat sacrilege'' was being commit
ted.
The images, and sacred pictures
were not molested, but the refractory
natives were angered because an
American officer used Aguinaldo's au-
dienee chamber for sleeping apart
ment. AS time went on this talk
increased, and. in Bincayan especial
ly, threats were made that Lieut..
Barry would be killed If he did not
yecatG the premises.
But the lieutenant ia q brave man,
and was not In the least intimidated
by the reports of what the insup-
rectos had sold. Mistaking leniency.
for fear, the insurgent sympathizers
in Bincayap went so far as to say
that Lieut.. Barry was afraid to come
to their barrio. because be would
surely be put to death If he did. When
these assertions came to the ears of
the officer whose life had been threat
ened he at once proceeded to show
the natives how little he cared for
, their clustering. Going immediately
to Bincayan. he collected number Of
braggarts and admonished them to
do less talking or they would get into
trouble.
The malcontents were thoroughly
! cowcd by Lieut.. Barry's unexpected
action. and since then the propriety
of his living in Aguinaldo's "casa" has
not been questioned In Bincayan.