The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-26
LIFE IN MANILA,
DIR. LcHARDY HAS HAD SEVEN
TEEN MONTHS DUTY THERE.
On CITYS HEALTH BOARD.
ENJOYING LEAVE OF ABSENCE
AMONG SAVANNAH FRIENDS.

American Forces Now Occupy All
the Larger Places in the Philip
pines-From the Posts, Detnch-
ments Are Sent Out Against Preda-
tory Bands of Insurgents, Who
Are Driven to Their Mountain
Fastnesses-Bubonic Plague Is Not
Prevalent Among Americans.
There Have Been but Two Cases.
Americans Marrying Pretty Mes
tiEOs.
After seventeen months spent in the
Philippines, DR.. ]. c. LeHardy, acting as
sistant surgeon, U. s. A, is back among
relatives and friends in Savannah on
leave. He will remain here two or three
days and then go to New York, whence
he will cross the continent to San Fran
CISCO to take passage for Manila, where
his work is to be continued.
DR.. LeHardy talks interestingly of the
situation in the Philippines as 1t has come
under his observation. His personal
knowledge of the conditions is omewhat
restricted, owing to the fact that his du-
ties have always kept him In or near
Manila, which means that of recent
months. he has been far from the most
interesting phase of the situation, the
fighting. So actively have the Americans
advanced their lines, that it is in the in
terror that the desultory campaigning, re-
minding Indian fighters among the Regu-
lars of their experiences in the West, is
engaged in.
Most of DR.. LeHardy's time has been
spent in Manila. He reached that city
Aug. II, 1889, when the original volunteer
regiments were preparing to leave for
home and the newlyformed ones were
taking their places. His first duty was
for four months at Bacoor, nine miles
from Manila, where he was attached to
the brigade hospital his regiment being
the Fourteenth Infantry. That was on
the firing line, and Dr. LeHardy was busy
with the wounded and the sick. He was
then two months with the First Reserve
Hospital in Manila, whence he was trans
ferred to the Board of Health of Manila.
In his work upon the Board of Health.
DR.. LeHardy exercises Jurisdiction over
the Chinese quarter of the city. He has
grown to know the bubonic plague from
the performance of this duty The dis
ease, he said yesterday, is not very preva-
lent. Among the Americans there have
been but two cases. Both the patients
were civilian employees. One of them died.
Because of their more clearly habits and
the fact that the white race is not so
susceptible to the disease, the Americans.
have been fortunate in escaping it.
Pretty women, DR.. LeHardy said, are
by no means uncommon in Manila. This
is true, especially of the mestizos, who
have the blood of native Filipinos and
foreigners in their veins. Women of that
class are intelligent and well educated,
and their physical charms and attractions
are such as to have won a number of
American officers. Marriages of Ameri-
cans with the mestizo women have been
celebrated to an extent that induces DIR.
LefIardy to believe that they will be re-
sponsible for better understanding and
complete amity between Americans and
Filipinos.
With dark hair and eyes and complex
ions lighter than those of a Cuban Sc
norita, figures that are graceful and of
greater hight than those of the Filipino
women, the mestizos are fair to look upon.
The Filipino women, DIR. LeHardy said,
have acknowledgement arms and necks,
but what would be beauty is, as a rule,
spoiled by faces that could not be called
pretty.
1t will be but matter of a short time
DR.. LeHardy believes, when English will
be the language of Manila and other of
the larger cities. English is taught in the
schools, and the children are learning it
readily. Aptitude is shown by those
whose interests demand that they become
familiar with the language.
All the larger cities in the islands are
occupied now by the Americans, and only
predatory bands of Fflipinos continue
their warfare. From the army posts are
sent out attachments against them, and
the Americans find little trouble in driv-
49,. Inc,
This state of affairs has induced every
body to look confidently for peace, and
Gen. MacArthurs policy of deporting in
surgent generals, as rapidly as they are
apprehended, to Guam, leaves the Fill
pinos without leaders.
DR.. LeHardy is charmed with the ISL
ands. He took a trip through them
aboard hospital ship that was remov-
ing sick soldiers to Manila. His stay in
the Philippines was pleasant and the
prospective return has no terrors for him.