Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-05-02
OUR NEW
POSSESSIONS
Ed. Lazarus Talks Entertain
inely Concerning the
Far Country.
Brought Back Few Memen
toes Characteristics
Of Filipinos.

| Importance we touched at on our way
to the Philippines" said Ed. Lazarus.
who has lately returned from those
much-talked of islands. 1T Is GER
tainly beautiful place. with sights
and scenes like fairyland. The eli
mate is delightful, being tempered by
the crisp ocean breezes, while the
vegetation is very luxuriant. All of
the natives are very friendly and
duce everything necessary to their
simple existence.
Landing at Manila the regiment
marched through the outskirts of the
town. There time had turned and
the years rolled back to the seven
teenth century. Along the road stood
quaint Moorish houses, thick walled
and built of Spanish brick. which was
, covered with mortar and whitewash.
ed. These houses are extremely cool
in summer as well as warm in win
ter"
Mr. Lazarus said that there is no
glass in the sliding windows In.
stead, squares of isinglass are used.
Dark-eyed senoritas peeped out of the
oddly shaped apertures and waved
heir lace handkerchiefs to the sol.
iiers as they passed.
Marching on through the poorer
districts. the scene changed. There
.he houses were built of bamboo,
erected on four stills. and rooted with
lipa graas. The walls between the
bamboo frame work consist also of
,ipa grass sewn together Split BAN.
BOO constitutes the floors. Such a
lwelling costs fifty pesos. or S25 in
sold. to build.
The furniture is very simple. A
lative's trunk looks like a carpenters
'ool chest more than anything. Then
)f course there is always doll-size
mage of the Virgin or Jesus, beside
heap prints representing different
scenes from the life of the Saviour.
Their cooking is done in an earthen
arrangement, sort of low jar, call
ID an oyer. Rice boiled and fried,
md prepared in as many ways as their
United cooking apparatus will allow.
they are also exceedingly fond of
ish which they eat when in a state
If putrefaction. This "begong." as
hey call 1t, is delicious dish to the
lative, but as may be imagined 1t has
very sad smell. The native drink
s called veno.
All of the Filipinos are Industrious.
rhey manufacture all their articles
If clothing from material grown on
he islands. Beside the native cot.
on they use the fibers Of trees and
plants as well as some OF the grasses
which grow there in such profusion.
Mr.. Lazarus has fine collection OF
rticles used by the natives. which
exceedingly interesting to look
through. The talibung or native hat.
extremely quaint. 1t looks very
much like mushroom and inside
here is pouch-like arrangement
somewhat after the order of the head
ming In lady's hat or mans Der
W. Instead Of being sewn in. as
With us. the inside OF the taiibune
Gems to be interviewer with the out
ide. In this woven lining the ma
i've tdITleS NIB lnOHty anu NdludDlsSs
The hat is very light, being woven OF
lative grass. 1t would be very com
ortable on hot day and also render
umbrella unnecessary.
There were handkerchiefs of all
;inds, made of the different materi.
Is manufactured by the natives. and
Ised on various occasions. All OF
hese were worn around the neck.
)ne made of nipa grass was lovely.
It was a black and white plaid and
70 fine and silky that it reminded one
| more OF mousseline de sole than any
hing. Another in deep violet resem
| 1led crepe de chine, with only a very
| slight crinlle. This was made oi
ocoanut fiber. Others made Of ma
i've cotton hsd the Filipino color
,rapge-rcd. used as borders and
| tripes.
pair OF ohinei.as. heelless slip
oers. must have been gorgeous In
heir day. The tops were OF magenta
| olorcd plush. Then there were dag
,ers and swords of all sizes. The
working boio. with blade like 6
iword. only very heavy. they use Il