New-York tribune., 1901-10-28

Avg forced from me a letter the other day
c.,,,v a columns length viii see TO that
oi - usnra-that is 10 say. everybody who has
-.sos 10 hire. II he does not own. a carriage
fn.r wv. here in the afternoon. II is the one neu-
e., ground in the whole archipelago It is said.
- tbe civilian ana military elements freely
W.. W. where spaniard and native agree TO forget
n'.> ,sst and where even the 'insurrecto'' would
80 the pleasure Of feeling for the fifth rib
:, "Americanisto" Such IS the power OF
,e The only nationality not represented
-. onlv language not heard, az these gather
80. Is the Chinese. John probably is too busy
-'o,king. He never seems 10 take rest except
:, Eew Years and then he goes on a spree that
,..,s him the entire year. and would permanent
,r law out any other man.
-ha Tuneta with its circles Of countless car
SOS in motion reminds one OF the Bois de
s-logne tawdrihed If / may be permitted 10
:, the expression. The life and the gayety are
=. same but IN point OF wealth or in the dis
,.v NJ culture and refinement Il is by compari-
:, with the French pleasure ground OF course
.lv a wretched copy. In its democratic char
,,+sr however. lies its chief charm In this re-
,nect II may even be said 10 differ from most
rubic open air gathering places. which. as
,,,le are either Stunned by the slums or ignored
kv upper len Inc LQneIa. indeed, Is
s,,o.t Ike Derby Day. The beggar jostles the
,,ul,onaire. High officials drive side by side
18th hsberdasher's clerks. The victoria on the
-,,sb,ous Of which reclines beauty OF the per-
,sct spsnish type. is followed by q tumbledown
csrronstO with a pockmarked Cingalese. a
toullng Filipino swell on the latest road cart is
oor,pelled 10 swallow the dust OF a nondescript
vehicle that seems gorged with a mother and
her children. none OF whom. probably. judging
.-om the diversity OF their color, knew his
father II is a proniscuous gathering. 10 be
sure but II is one not without interest or, indeed
from which a good deal OF amusement cannot be
extracted. American government having great
ly improved the drives leading 10 the Luneta
having sodded the centre where formerly there
was nothing but unsightly dirt: having erected
tyo bandstands where there had been but one
wretched apology for a pavilion before and
furnishing two bands and concerts seven times
a week where previous TO our arrival there had
been only one band and performance twice a
week-you might reasonably suppose that the
natives craving for music would have been ap-
peased OF his heart touched by such considerate
concern for his welfare, comfort and enjoyment.
As a matter OF fact. am told, our course has
brought about neither the one nor the other.
Explain Il who Will; I can't.
" lle the 0tlNc dIOuuQ lDe LuNEld IN lIe az
,ernoon is one OF the chief diversions Of society
IN Manila Il is not by any means the only one.
In the absence Of theatres-the field is not con-
sdered for the present at least a promising
one for the return OF the opera company which
in the Spanish days gave performances, and
other places OF amusement are monopoized IN
the supposed interest OF the enlisted man by va
riety actors who ar home would only be per-
nitted 10 play behind nets-in the absence OF
respectable theatres. / say, dinner giving and
dining out take up the evening OF the American
element And II is curious 10 note the zest with
which the women have entered this field OF hos
pitality. One is disposed to think OF Washing
ton in winter or Newport in summer as typical
# not. indeed. the only places at home where
dinner giving and dining out have attained the
dignity Of a science. if not indeed an art. One
should come 10 Manila and see the material
with which hostesses here manage-and I refer
NOT 10 viands alone-with rare good taste and
judgment 10 create feasts that intellectually no
less than gastronomicany VIII forever awaken
pleasant memories Recently the Army and
Navy Club opened its doors 10 women, and since
then on two Wednesdays every month the
rooms are crowded with dining parties. I was
so fortunate as 10 be asked 10 join one Of these
the other day. We had just lighted our cigars
when the host remarked;
Poor Jones sat with US at the adjoining table
week ago. He was ordered south next day"
yes ne was a fine feIlow-none better" re-
marked my neighbor.
do you remember" said the major. when at
West Point"-
"Oh, what's the use talking OF unpleasant
things" broke in a fourth. "Our turn may
come next"
And so We dropped that subject The glasses
were filed again, the boy snuffed the candles
once more and the Filipino band in the next
room struck UP a ragtime tune. The bride near
by-she had been married that morning only
set her companions roaring by her ingenue re-
marks, and almost succeeded in upsetting the
equaainity OF the Chinaman who was handing
around the dessert. Amid all the gayety. though.
IL was a stern reminder that the insurrection is
not over yet NJ. @. S.