The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-04-13

- i, III Ssrs Y : n;s 4 y ~ call
~ AAsivss uieeess) yelled, bands 5ayed
- the CYANIDE ensemble was u,as
II Old Raphael could have been present
hs would Ell uetpay too6etaied q
the honor done him. I've no doubt.
Well they disembatked near our quart
ers and scared up two or three more
shrines anda few more native bands, and
with IN sccompSniment Of some thous-
and natives started for the church, about
q mile distant. In the procession was .
bridal party, Of six strong, riding on
caraboo Tor water buffalo) cart, The
cart consists Of a platform merely, on an
axle connecting two wooden wheels. a
most insecure vehicle. Well! they had
the bride, groom, some witnesses. or
what not, and harper, sitting on stools,
on the cat and the harper, who was
large man, was doing his level best. The
bride and groom were doing out mods
and becks and wreathed smiles,' and
the best man, and bridesmaid glanced
around haughtily, as ifto say "kindly
take stock OF the show" The caraboo,
however, that much maligned land de
servedly soy beast must have been of a
religious turn of mind, and evidently
thought that a little more excitement
would add "eclat" to the days pro.
ceedings. Be that as it may, he started
on the keen jump through the crowd aud
the sight that followed was something
fierce. The stools bounced about three
feet high at every jump. When they
struck the firsttree root the poor harper
tried to squash his harp out Of sight in
the mud. when: the br1de disembarked
with fearful velocity plum on top Of him.
That old caraboo did certainly do a com.
pletejob; he tore across the back Of the
officers quarters, shedding stool here,
niger there, until he arrived at the
picket liue in light marching order, and
proceedetf,to regale himself. Ifyou had
heard the good old American whoop
that went up. when this really funny
occurrence took place, you would have
thought those boys amt dead yet"
The natives Of. these islands are ex-
tremely attentive to their religious duties,
in form at any rate; and believe that
their standard of morality is very high,
but they do like cock fighting. There is
a big one held two or three times week
at Pasay village. have attended sew
eral. They use single gafi, or rather
blade, about three and half inches long
as sharp all along the blade as a razor.
AS a general thing the fight is over in a
few minutes. Immense sums are wager
ed on them The Filipinos are arrant
gamblers and although the American
government, or rather military govern
ment, is doing its utmost to suppress it,
it flourishes both in highways and by
ways. It's q common sight to see a.
piccaninny five years old. with cigar or
cigarette stuck in his. mouth. gambling
fer coppefs with other children his own
age. The Spanish priests have got these
people properly bluffed. Some of them,
bare A,e FpnkSs but when sickness or
anything troubles them, the padre easily
fesafhs fitsss lost Influence. With the
,sesslsas ssiiesasray thissreligipn.i is. most
strinssntly followed. - :.
Now HasrysolA buy, I've spun you
out quite !et ofyarn and supposing the
quality is somewhat interior, it's late in
the season $3.50 p. m.)sand the machin-
cry needs oiIing, SD I'll AVA tae ma bed
to sleep. ;perc nance to dream of Gods
country and old friends, to all Of whom
remembt1 m, kindly. s =. =.
Ever your Old friend,
As. r. OLDFIELD.