The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-10-19

Iney use nat cluU us remOrSeleSSiy
ON d fine shirt as they would on a pair
of oyeralls. All clothes look alike to
them. For nearly year we were at
the mercy of these clothes finishers,
but now the city has several steam
laundries which do first-class work.
The Filipino women are noted for
their luxuriant hair. l would not call
it beautiful, being too coarse. They
soak q certain bark in a small bowl
and saturate their hair with the solu-
ton. They told me they owed their
beautiful tresses to this preparation.
If this bark does contain such won.
6erful properties l would like to see
the American ladies of Manila inves-
tigate the matter for the benefit Of
their sisters at home.
The writer was on the beach near
Manila when Admiral Dewey was
81 elling Fort Malate, previous to the
assault by the troops. | was aston
ished at the lack of interest taken by
the natives. We were wild with ex-
element, but the natives looked on
unconccrned. There were several
thousands of them living in the yicin-
ity, but very few were interested
enough to walk q few yards to the
beach. Many Of them had their backs
turned from the river.
/ regard the Filipinos n very moral
people when 1t Is considered what a
hard road they have had to travel. A
faithless wife is seldom heard of, and
was told such faithlessness was pun
ishable by death. They have some
sort of secret society which acts on
such cases.
Marriages with Americans is not
countenanced by the Filipinos, and the
| few who have taken the step have
| been ostracised by their people. The
| first American soldier to take unto
| himself a native wife was a hospital
corps man, stationed at Cavite. He
| or she made an unwise selection, as
the alliance proved to be total fail
ure and they soon separated.
Styles do not worry the native bellies.
| as their costumes have the same cut
| to-day that was in vogue 100 years
| ago. 1 rather like their style Of dress,
which l do not believe will last many
| years under American rule, as Manila
now contains several hundred we'll
dressed ladies from America, and the
natives will become dissatisfied with
their flowing garments and copy after
their white sisters.
| Tho Gnaricb 1odioc Of Nani1o o1woUc
! appeared to me to be over-dressed
and very awkward in their carriage
! when walking, which they rarely in
dulged in, however. Their favorite
pastime Is carriage riding or the Lu-
meta after shutdown. They always go
/ bareheaded or with a lace mantilla
over their raven locks. They greet the
occupants of the passing carriages
with proud and naughty stare
The native women are the most
graceful walkers that 1 have ever
seen. They carry their heads as proud
as any queen. This grace is inherited
and practiced from babyhood. 1t is
an interesting sight to see a mother
going to church accompanied by sever
al little girls, all dressed alike, and
walking in the same step and with the
same graceful carriage. They weal
no tight shoes and many none at all
This peculiar gait has been largely
acquired by carrying weights on theil
heads, at which they are exceptionally
adept. They can carry immense loads
upon their heads. 1t is very com
mon sight of Manila to see native
milk woman rushing down the street
with beer bottle full of milk bal
anced on her head.