The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-02

The following letters has been re-
ceivcd by the relatives of Lieutenant
Thomas Murphy, who has been fight
ing with Uncle Sans soldiers in the
Philippines for more than a year:
Daraga, p. l., Jan. :, 1905.
My Dear Mother:I have Just recovered from
a short illness and have left the hospital
at Manila after confinement OF one month,
Dr. p. II. McAndrew, Of Scranton, took care Of
me- lie took a special interest in me and kept
me in the hospital until | vas permanently cured.
The doctor is a brother to the Rev. Father Me-
Andrew, Of Wilkes. Barre, and for long time
was at the Scranton Private hcspital lie is also
a member of the Knights of Columbus, :" you
sec | was in good hands.
At this writing am enjoying excellent health
and becoming quite deshy. Captain and my
self went to a dance at Scgaspi, Saturday night,
and had nice time. The captain speaks Span.
ish huently. lie had more trouble with me and
my Spanish than ! can possibly tell Of. but ne
does not mind it; he tells tie people ! do the
best | can and asks them to forgive me.
The other day the captain and myself were out
slioppirg The captain went in store while
| waited outside. Filipino friend came along
and asked il the captain aud myself would not
dine with him. He spoke rather fast and did
not understand him. but | said Isl, S'nor,'
which means 'yes, sir. lie went home and
prepared dinner and we went home Two lays
later we met brother If his VINO told us that
the folks were mad at the captain and myself
called on a nice young lady some time ago
and | tried to handle my Spanish in good style,
but, as usual, | got in all kinds OF trouble.
They asked me about my folks at home ard |
wanted to tell them I had tive brothers and FIVE
sisters, but my Spanish went wrong and | said
I had five daughters and five sons. They were
quite surprised, and asked me the age of the
eldest and said 20 years, and they wanted
to know my age, and ! said 81 years. They
could not understand, and finally the young lady
asked me how long 7 was married, when in
formed them I was till a bachelor They looked
at each other and then had hearty laugh as the
cause Of the misunderstanding dawned upon them.
Every time I met the lady or any of her family
they asked me il had heard from my children
lately. l not the only one having trouble
with the Spanish language.
met young lady at the dance who told
me how much English she knew. She could say
good morning. and "good night" ] congrat.
ulated her and said she was doing famously, and
would soon be able to converse in the Language.
She answered in English: "You go TO Il"
She said she learned this expression from a sol
der
Christmas was spent very pleasantly ly our
company, but we were quite blue at times. My
captain and ! had made many arrangements as
to what we would 10 to make the day pleas.
ant one for the company. We worked for sev.
eral days getting ready, and on the eve of the
twenty-fourh, as We sat eating supper and talk.
ing about the morrow, telegram came ordering
the capatin to leave for Manila early Christmas
morning. lie left without seeing the good time
the boys had. You can't imagine how an of.
ficer looks forward to a day like Christmas.
Just picture 100 men living as soldiers in the