Evening star., 1901-02-09
Their Action in Philippines When the
Insurrection Started.
SERVED IN FACE OF GREAT DANGER
Aguina|do and His Followers as
Collectors Of Taxes.
LIPINO EDUCATION N

Written for The Evening Star.
If the Chinese of Manila had not come
forward and offered their services when
the insurrection broke out two years age
February 4, the American army Woulo
have been in bad straits. Previous 10
the outbreak the United States had sew
eral hundred Filipinos at work in the store
houses of the quartermaster and commis-
sary on the water front. The morning
after the outbreak not one of these men
reported for duty, many Of them haVins
joined the insurgents. Messengers were
sent to the representative of the Chlnese
laborers, who acted so promptly that with
an hour the water front was swarmlns
with chattering Cinnamon on their carts
hauled by the water buffalo, thus saving the
day.
When the Filipinos saw that we could
get all the Chinese laborers necessary they
emerged from their hiding places and re-
quested to be employed again.
The Chinese are at all times craIty
took trip through their quarters IN Ma
Mia the day after American occupation and
found several English flags flying from
every house. They had thrown themselves
on the English consul for protection.
Every regiment has its Chinese litter
bearers, whose duty was to carry to the
field hospitals the dead and wounded. act
ing under orders of the hospital corps
Their work was at all times dangerous,
and have never seen a report that dld nc
praise them for their bravery and willing
ness All the commissary carts hauling
provisions to the front were driven by
Cinnamon, who were guarded by a few
soldiers. These small details were required
at times to make long trips of several days
in a dangerous country, to reach their COM
mand
The Chinese hate the Filipinos and the
lack of affection/is reciprocal. Aguinaldo
sent out notice that all Cinnamon caught
helping the Americans would be shot. Thls
order was enforced to the letter, as the
number of Cinnamon who have lost their
lives in our behalf has been very large.
No mention of them is ever made In the
dispatches of casualties.
The Chinese population Of Manila Is esti-
mated to be about 10000. / have been
through their quarter many times and only
saw one woman Of the race. 1t was only oy
accident I saw her as she peeped out OF the
second-story window. There are plenty of
children in Chinatown, and 1 suppose there
are many women hid away in those dark
holes, but they must be very bashful.
Intermarriages With Filipinos.
A large number of Cinnamon are married
to Filipino women. Their children look like
Chinese as the boys are compelled to cul-
tvate the queue. The girls are frequently
beautiful. They have the brightest eyes.
and 1 could never understand how they re-
tanned their beauty, living, as they did,
in those foul-Smellng holes.
There are many Cinnamon in Manila who
are reputed to be millonaires. l was told
that one of them, who was naturalized
Filipino named Osario. paid Aguinaido
$40 900 a year to protect his property, which
was scattered all over the islands. Some of
his property was confiScated by the govern
ment, but was afterward returned to him
upon long investigation through the Brit
ish consul. 5't-- Is IL
The Chinese drivers were very humane
toward their water buffaloes, and would go
hungry themselves rather than see them
want for food. These animals naturally live
in the water. and it did not look right to
see them hitched to those heavy carts.
They must suffer intensely on those not.
dusty roads. If kept too long out OF water
they go mad and act like man with the
delirium tremens. Whenever a., driver
reaches the Pasig river he always unhltches
his buffalo, which Immediately starts TOT
the water, where 1t swims around until
tired or compelled to return 70 IT'S cart.
When turned loose at night, after feeding,
they bury themselves In the water with
| only their nose outside.
The buffalo has been greatly beneilted py
the advent Of the army mule, which has
| taken it's place to a great extent. saw
| the first mule landed at Manila and that
| unpainly animal looked beautiful to me, as
1 had not seen one Tor over year. uiey
E-they do here. In fact, do not believe cii-
mate has any effect on him. l have seen
| him on all Of our island possessions plod-
ding along in his independent way. cave
him the government ration and he will dc
| the rest The Filipnos would gather
| around him at first like children at an ele-
| nhant show, which probably amused him
but he gave no sign that IL the rniipp,nes IN ,,ea
| make about four of the native horses
| which he did not condescend to notice.
Educational qualifications.
| Senator Towne is recorded as saying that
| 80 ner cent of the Filipinos can read and
| write. If this is a fact 1t has come to
! mass within the past year, and no doubt
| there has been more education dispensed
within that time than there was in ten
wears previously. I spent thirteen months
| in close contact with Fifpinos OF all classes
and 1 found them as rule denseiy ignor-
ant In Manila they can all write their
| namas or rather every one that l tested
| This is generally the limit of their edu-
| carton. They are perfectly satisfied to quit
school after they have mastered the lntri'
! cacies of writing their own names, specl'
mems of which they are always pleased te
| exhibit with many fourishes
The children, I must say, are very apt to
learn and when l had occasion TO observe
| ranidly. There Is a large number Of little
| girls who peddle peanuts on the Escolta
These tot. cry their wares in English and
|
| a Noticeable accent. 1t Is not wise to cause
their displeasure, for If you do. they have
ali the roast" expressions at their tongues
end, which they shout with fiendish delight
IAN American, who had lived many years
| IN Manila. told me that there were many
schools in Manila under Spanish rule, and
! that it was impossible to get the children
| to attend. The average attendance Of a
school which could accommodate fifty
Scholars was about ten:
The average Filipino has no capacity fol
mathematics. He wilt tell you that figures
to nenmanship, and Manila has today sew
erai thousand natives who can write like
| conner plate There fs a clerk in the depo,
| commissary at Manila who has been con-
stantly employed since our occupation. He
has been a clerk all hfs life, having worked
for the Spanish goverAn1ens previous to the
war. He is an excellent copyist and writes
a beautiful hand, but utterly worthless as
an accountant. There are exceptions OF
course, as quite number shave responsible
positions in the banks. q
Labor coin,ditien..
| vicious system of supplying government
labor has been allowed to flourish under
our rule, which should be abolished. An
American gets contract at 81 per day
Mexican money; he pays the laborer 7(
| ... o,a ,>ocLafS ~ The IahorerS are all