Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-08-15
courting in the Philippines.

among the social upper tendon of the
Spanish at Manila, says Harry K.
Montgomery, late secretary Of the Gus
tom service in the Luzon capital, "is
their method of courtship. Ita Kan
sas City Judge had jurisdiction there
he would have Jail full of hightoned
youths before he was on the island half
day. I understand he is fning men
$500 apiece for ogling and making re-
marks about young ladies. When the
young Spanish grandee wants to do
the thing about right he dOns fault
less suit of clothes, gets out a light
bamboo cane, and wakes his mustache.
Without this his case would be hope
less, He goes to the home of his lady
love and takes his station on the walk
where she can see him from her win
dow. He struts up and down for her
inspection, twisting his idolized mus
tache, twirling his cane, and going
through gestures calculated to set of
the offering to the best advantage.
The lady may not even deign to look
at him. In fact, he hardly expects
her to until he has gone through his
monkeyshines a number of times to
prove his sincerity. Itmay be months
before he receives the encouragement
of smile, but when it does come his
raptured heart repays him for his labor.
After awhile, say six months, the
sonora may drop rose, fan or her
perfumed lace handkerchief. He seizes
the prize with the avidity that half
starved miner reaches for golden
nugget where he expected none. But
the bird is not yet within the suitor's
grasp. Not by long ways. At this
point the dutiful parents of the young
lady appreciate the fact that matters
may become serious some time in the
future, and they begin looking up the
young mans pedigree-and bank ac-
count. They never think of inviting
him in to see their daughter until
these facts are ascertained without a
shadow of doubt.
"His standing having been ascer-
tained, the bulldogs are tied up and
the wardens sheath their swords The
coast is clear now, and the lover may
fetch out his mandolin or guitar and
send sweet melody along with the
moonlight into the bed chamber Of his
sweetheart. At the end of the year
or II months if he still remains faith
ful aud refrains from prosecuting his
suit with undue haste, he may ap-
proach the girls parents and plead
for a personal audience with her.
This i, getting to close quarters, and
favorable answer means that the
girl has made the same plea to her
parents. The young people are per-
mitted to meet in the parlor, but not
alone. The parent OF guardian is al
ways on hand to see that the proprie-
ties are thoroughly respected, and this
sort Of vigilance is never relaxed until
they have plighted their troth. The
lover cannot take his mistress to church,
theater or even to the refined, elevat-
ing Spanish sport known as bullfght,
until his matrimonial intentions are
spiked down and welded.
"a person would think the rigorous
custom would deter aspirants, but it
doesn't. They accept the conditions
eagerly and face them like martyrs.
"The funeral customs-to make
sudden change of the subject-of the
wealthy of Manila differ almost as
greatly from ours as do their court
ships. If enough money is furnished
the padre will see that the obsequies
90 off about right He is the great
man of the occasion. The ceremonies
are long, but not altogether impressive.
In fact, the band which heads the sor-
rowful procession is more likely to
play lively, exultant air than dlrge.
I have seen a acortege where the strains
were "A Hot Time in the Old Town
Tonight Many Of the natives Of
Manila think that is the national air
of America, and their musicians play
it as a compliment to this country.
From four to six stately plumed horses
haul the bearse to Paco cemetery,
where the remains Of the citizen are
placed in the chapel, to lie in state for
several days, in order to give the
many friends a last look. A wall
seven feet in width surrounds the
cemetery. which is pierced with holes
like honeycomb. Each hole is fitted
to receive coffin. The casket is slip
ped in and sealed up, where it is al
lowed to remain in peace-until there