The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-06-28
AMONG THE FILIPIN0S.
An Interesting Letter from Soldier
of Uncle Sam to a Chanute Girl.
CEBU, P. l., Jan. 3, 1901.
Miss Bertha Hansen, Chanute, Ks;

Miss Bertha Hansen, Chanute, KS;
Friend Bertha:-Your letter receiy-
ed this morning. Needless to say l
was glad to hear from you again. Glad
to hear you are all well, as it leaves
me at present.
As YOU wished me to tell you OF the
Surroundings and people here, L will
as | see them. [ will write you or
Americans who are on this side OF the
world, and tell you how things are
progressing in a military manner as 1T
appears to me.
Filipinos, after one years residence
among them, are not at all strangers
any more. We have become entirely
used to them, and | believe they will
become the everyday American one
can meet anywhere in the world.
When | first came to Cebu 1t was Ger
tainly a very much rundown city and
far behind the times, but now they
have gotten far enough along to play
golf and football There is also BIZ
cycle club here with over 500members.
A wheel which costs one in the States
1926 can readily be sold here for $50
pesos, or $75 gold. All money, you I'M
derstand, is reckoned at Mexican value
in silver, a peso being worth 5O cents.
The streets are being paved with
carrel stone. This is formation,
which, when cut, resembles marble,
and is also used for building purposes.
There is no doubt hut that the sleep
ing energies of Cebu have awakened,
and can liken its activity only to a
Western boom town. The plazas and
III tn, rly n hQAn rnarrunUP0
and the flowers in them now are Ger
tainly as beautiful as those at hrst-
class flower show.
A circus arrived from Fancy Island
the other day, and the Filipinos are
happy. A circus calls up the same
emotions among them that it does 10
the unbleached population who reside
nearer home. -
Christmas week was the time when
the big fiesta took place. Christmas
properly begins December 24th, at
II 80 D. M, in Cebu. The bells of a
half dozen large cathedra!s In this
town rang out loud and strong at that
time. 1t was the signal for all to
come to church. The Americans went
to the Bishops Cathedral on the Gale
Infahta, and just at 11.40 p. m. the
| Cardinal of the Viscayas held mass.
At IL M. | saw part OF the Passion
PLAY | had never read Of. In the CEN
ter of the pulpit, just in front OF the
altar, there had been erected a mang-
err. and in this was Sonora Dolores
Rallies, the most beautiful Spanish
woman ever saw. Just as the CLOCK
in the church tower struck the first
bell of IL, Jesus was brought forth IN
the emblem of a doll, and this, in
commemorative OF the birth or CHRIST,
ended the ceremony. The cathedral
was Illuminated by 4,300 candles. and
the Star of Bethlehem was formed
by some arrangement of calcium jets
and made TO twinkle as il by magic.
! It was certainly most extraordinary
spectacle to all Americans present,
and its biblical connections made IL
all the more interesting. On Christ
mas day there was a long parade OF
floats, etc, made up OF figures repre-
sentIug the saints, and the same was
repeated at night with the floats all
ablaze with candles. After the pa
rade came the giving OF presents and
the feasts at their homes. party OF
our band was invited to the house OF
Pablo Rodriguez for dinner In the
evening, and the host did bis best, l
am sure. to make us forget we were SO
far away from home on Christmas
day. Thank you, we had turkey
Company G OF our regiment had a
bad engagement December 10. Five
OF our poor fellows were killed and
several wounded. E. n. Stark, OF
King City, was cut in the left lung
with a holo, and dangerously hurt
At present, however, he Is GONZALES
cling. as he Is here in Cebu at the hos
pital. The insurrection is not at al
over, In my opinion, and 1t is for nc