Evening star., 1901-03-19
WALLED CITY OF MANILA
DESCRIPTION OF MANNERS AND Gus
TOMS THERE.
Kaleidoscope View as Obtained by
an American-The Filipino
Problem.

ment has received letter from Mr.. E. D.
NJ. Fowle, stenographer, who is in Ma
Mia with the Philippine commission. Mr..
Fowle was connected with the police de-
partment in this city for some time. Sew
eral months ago he accepted position
with the Philippine commission at $1,000
per annum. His proficiency has earned
him the recommendation for an increase
to 81, 400.
In his letter he says:
81 am as far away from home as it is
possible to be, and I am living in the
walled city of Manila, entrance to which
is by crossing first bridge over moat,
then the drawbridge through the arched
gateway, tunne1ed through the wall. Such
an entrance excites memories of romance
reminiscent of the days Of Spanish domin-
ion, when the city was stronghold, the
key to the islands, occupied by powerful
eccesiastics and the church, with the
courteous and chivalric gallants of old,
but today, as Dewey's guns discovered,
such constructions of defense are an alb
surdity. and only to be admired because Of
their picturesque qualities.
Manila Of today is cosmopolitan and
Bohemian to the extreme. The habits and
customs of the residents are highly inter-
esting, and the systems and institutions af-
ford much entertainment as well as in
struction. The church Is prominent and
opulent, and the cathedrals, many of them,
and antique patterns, are conspicuous and
numerous Going down the EScolta any
afternoon you may view a picture ka1eido-
scopic, if permissible to use the term, be-
cause of it's variety. Soldiers, who are
making the barkeepers independent, as well
as the sailors of the American service, cit
Izens of the states, Spaniards, and, in fact,
a representative collection of most of the
European and ASiatic countries, all garbed
in their varied habits, the American adopt
ing suiting of white drill, cut military
fashion and buttoned to the throat, a wide
collar encircling the neck; the Spaniards In
their European suits, the Chinese with
their loose jackets and slips and the ma
tives with the gauZy shirt hanging over
pair of voluminous trousers, some wearing
towel for a turban and others with i'm
mense basket-like hats. shading the head
like an umbrella. Then a native woman
comes along carrying her partially nude
baby.
Indians and Chinese.
1.-The Indian and Chinese establishments
are a source of much entertainment. Stored
away in them are to be found expensive
and valuable oriental wares, embroideries
IN silk, ivory ornaments and other delights
for the collector of souvenirs. Then, by
taking a peep into Chinatown, you will
discover delicately carved images in ivory
and gold some of them exceedingly minute
patiently and tediously created by some
Mongolian genius. One carving seen was
about one-half inch square, representing a
caribou, or water buffalo, on the back of
which was mounted an idol Of gold. These
Chinese are very clannish, and you will find
associated in groups the shoe shops and
general merchandise establishments which
remind one of the children's playhouses
by reason of their bandbox appearance
the comb manufactures, fish and meat
stalls. etc, all gathered together.
while several of us were wandering
around this section of the town one night
we were invited, in sign language by a
ter, where we were amused by a sort of a
punch and judy show, during the perform
ance of which they beat drum and gong
and set several bells changing, an -ac-
compartment quite weird.
without Railways.
Manila has no railway facilities, the
only means of conveyance being the CARO-
matas and quilezes, two-seated and four
seated vehicles of miniature construction,
drawn by diminutive lilipution native po-
MES. The charge for riding in one Of these
vehicles is from Is to 20 cents an hour a
reduction being made after the first hour
or fraction thereof. In this connection a
word to the wise is sufficient, suggestive
of a considerable fortune to be unearthed
by an enterprising corporation. The trans
fer and express system in operation Is
peculiar and entertaining. The patient
though slow, but sure caribou, dragging a
two-wheel cart through the streets re-
minds one very much of a huge land tor
toise yOked to these axle-creaking trans
ports, he measuring his PAGES carefully
with proper cadence The department of
sanitation employs these quadrupeds, to-
gether with the zebu, in hauling ash and
garbage carts
Most of the burden-bearing is performed
by Chinese coolies. who surprise you at
the enormous weight they can support by
using bamboo stakes as aids. These same
coolies carry burdens in large wicker bas-
kets, shallow and broad fastened to
yoke. which resembles in it's entirety pair
O. immense, old-fashioned scales These
are supported upon the coolies shoulders
and, when laden, he falls into peculiar
sort of dog trot, which enables him to
cover considerable ground in a short space
of time.
THE fire department has instituted an
absurd method of moUnting their equip
ments on the walls, arranging them syrn-
metrically and in conventional designs-I
suppose to retard facility of action. The
principal form of amusement seems to be
COCK lighting, which sport is largely en-
joyed by the natives. There are few thea
ters, and refined amusements, which culti-
waited and cultured people enjoy are. con-
spicuous by their absence.
There seems to be no abject poverty as
1t exists in our own cities and comm unities
There are, however, many professional
beggars to be seen on the highways who
have developed the most horrible contor-
tiOns and weird cries to excite sympathy
In Chinese show house we saw Fill
ipino hombrey squat down and dispatch a
meal for which he paid one-half cent, gold
or 1 cent Mexican. If the landlady should
raise her rent and the price Of board he
her we are going to get our grub at
4o cents a month
Divisions of Time.
II tumbled to the delightful custom Of
separating the day as they do out here in
the orient. We eat breakfast at about 7:3O
report at the office at $50. work until 12
and return in time to arrange our toilet
before dinner. 1890, after which we are at
liberty to enjoy our siesta, going back to
the office at 2:30 The Office closes at g.
at which time you repair to the house and
partake of coffee, ready at $50; then
Strengthening up for the evening, you stroll
out on the Lunetta where you may enjoy
listening to a concert every evening by one
of the military bands. then walking into
the cool Of the evening loiter toward home
arriving In time for your supper, which is
ready at 1870, and the devil never finds
work for idle hands to do under this ar
rangement.
There is a bright future for investments
here. and the opportunity will not be long
1olo oxyo1& Gov &I4 g.,