The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-27
UNIQUE CEREMONIES n WHICH
THE BRIDE FIGHTS THE GROOM
The Inhabitants Are the Most Experienced
Liars Since the Time Of Ananias, and
Nothing bot Fines Can
Reach the Facts.

Few of the many letters which have
been received from the Philippine islands
have appeared so interesting as some OF
the private letters which have peen re-
ceived here by Mrs. James r Gordon,
from her brother. Captain r. G. CroNton'
of the Twenty-third United States IN
fantry who is now stationed. with his
company, in the most southerly point III
the Philippines. Captain CroXton is We'll
known in Richmond, where he has many
friends He. was stationed here from Oc-
tober 1897 until the breaking cut or the
hCstilities in Cuba. His health was then
.eIy bad, and his physician ADVISED nun
not to go to Cuba until his health I'M
proved When he got better he accepted
tha nosftlon of Lieutenant-Co Colonel of the
famous Sixth Virginia (colored) ReSl-
ment.
Captain Croxton was ordered to the
Philippines. to join his regiment there In
March, 1900, and sailed 81 few days after
receiving the order.
Some extracts OF his letters TO MIS-
Gordon are given below:
.TAIL-EN DOF CIVILIZATION"
Bungao, F. L, Nov 26th-
You cannot call this the tail end OF
civilization because civilization ends
long before you get here But the place
is healthy, and as cool as any place out
here, though the fifth parallel OF latI-
tude passes just south of the island that
am on. There are twenty-five islands,
of which I have charge, but only twenty
are inhabited and this IS the most south
erly point occupied by United states
troops With the exception OF an En-
glshman and tlis wife, / and my company
of TWO lieutenants, one doctor, and 40
men, are the only people here, except
the Moros, OF whom there are about SIX
thousand. Steamers come lTreSu!ariy
from Manila (Which is 80 mics north OF
here) vita mails, provisions. paymaster>
etc. and are at times thirty or forty
DAYS apart, but am well and busy. Am
having a house built for myself. and have
a crude system Of water-works under
way Am building new nipa huts for
the men-houses. three feet above me
ground fifteen feet square, and there
will be four men to a house, which Is
great Improvement on the long BARRACKS
with sixty or eighty men in one big room
The men have fixed them up very PRETTY
wifi, flowers and vines and most of the
men like this better than any OF the
southern posts.
PUPILS OF ANANIAs.
EVERYTHING is quiet down here. but
sometimes have little Moro difficulties to
settle. The AIoros all have brats, and
live on the coast in huts made OF bamboo
and covered with palm leaves. There IS.
entirely in their canoes. They trade flsh
and shells for rice and salt, and never
leave their canoes except for trading pur-
poses. All are very poor and have no
ambition, to accumulate anything. They
have no regard for the truth. but have a
wholesome respect for the Daitos. These
latter may be Iikened TO a chief, as to
authority, and to a duke or some such
title as to social status. There are other.
smaller titles among them. but no titled
person can work. so they live by timing
their subjects or enslayins them.
Ny predecessor here had gang OF SIX.
VITO had soma trouble to complain OF. but
who told so many lies that finally. IN de-
SPAR OF getting at the facts. he said to
Datto Taat!ng: You know more about
these people than do. Get at the facts
and settle their case.
Well 1t took him about ten seconds He
said: You are all guilty OF something, 70