Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-12-06
A PmlllPrlNf PtDAGo6Uf.
letter from a Minnesota Maa Teach-
ing In luzon.

Chas. Olson. who was one of the thous-
and teachers sent BY the government to
the Philippines several month ago was
a student at the university OF Mioneso-
ia, ,'and got we'll acquainted With several
OF the Little Falls boys who were study
ing there. Mr.. Olson has written to bis
! friend. Louis W.. Vssaly of this :ity,
from Santa Rosa, Nueva Ec,ia, under
date OF Oct. 5th, q letter from which the
foE0wiug extracts are taken: :. :
IL am located in the town OF Santa
Rosa in the province of Nueva Ecija,
about seventy miles north of Manila, IN
the interior OF Lnzon. The town has q
! pOpulatIonof between 5000 and 1000
satlves, but Judging from looks, it
dospt appear to have 500 inha abltan,s.
nat,ye nlpa roofs. There are no Euro
| who speaks or understands English, but
all anxious to learn.
got here partly hy rail, partly by
! wagon.
The nearest town where the,e . ia gar
rison OF soldiers is about eight mile, dis
tant.- Everyone had told me that the
natives were very treache: ous, aud
would cut my throat at once, but on the
contrary have found them very friendly,
and | believe the only people to- be
feared are the ladrOnes, who are mere
robbers and assault a native as quick II
! as an Americ; n. There are many OF
them in northern Luzon. but none has
appeared in this town since I came here,
We have had a mild tvphoon and with
it very much rain, 50 that the whole
country ia q great lake for the width of
about eighty miles, and twice as long.
The river is fifty feet abov, the usual
level ana around the house in which I
live there is seven feet OF water. 1t Is
not subsidiug.
[ nave teught> three weeks and an
satisfied with the results. but as the
American movement has just begun, it
too early to Judge of the ultimate result.
Old and young seem eager to learn En-
glish and take it for good sign, for it
shows that the people believe that Amer
lean rule is to be permanent, and there
lore wish to be r~adv fol the advance
that they expert. Without doubt they
are more entnusias tic over being taught
| English rheu they ever were 10 learning
Spanish. Less than 10 per cent of the
people speak or understand Spanish
with any degree Of proficiency, ard those
who do are among the priests ard the
more educated people. = ,-
There are many tribes in the islands,
each With its own dialect or language
In this province it is Tagalo, in the pro-
vince south of US it is fampan9a. and
to the north it is 1gorotte.
| VThQaa NQnnlo we'll hoinr a., rpor tn
learn English, are al intelligent c]aes
of people rs you will find ia any place
and undoubtedly the children here will
learn the English language quicker than
an American would learn a foreign
tongne in our schools at home. Many
| of the older Influential persons, are very
anxious To learn English. At preseut
am 'iv ng with the u. esident mAvor)
OF this town. who is a very Intelligent
and cultured native who was educated
in tie Spanish schools OF Manila, H. j.
more enthusiastic than anybody over the
prospects, Of (soon?) being able to speak
''Americano'' and studies very diligently
autside bueiness hours and keeps me
busy hearing him recite. The same il
true OF most officials and professional
men. Of course, among tue childrea itit,
partly matter of curiosity, but the OBJ
ject will be, as per instructions of Supt.
Atkinson, to 80 teach az not to bore the
pupils, but keep them interested, for "a
yet there is not, DOR can be, any enforced
attendance at school.
Whatever the result OF this project by
the government of educating the natives,
on it will depend largely the advance.
ment Of the people.
can't soy much in regard to political
questions, although living with q politi-
clan. The people seem tn be perfectly
contented with American rule aud in
fact With the natives here, it seems TO be
q matter Of indifference who rules a
long az they are left alone. But they
probably conceal their real feelings.
This section, which was q hotbed OF
ineurrection, now appears as peacafnl al
is possible with the occasional Visits of
the la'lru''e baud.
Tii- nm i:i!,nliti+'S are gOve, ned much
like our towu- m the States. probably
more like au INCORPORATED town. Each
town, or pueblo, a. it, +is caile1, has 1,
fpreside0ta, and is governed according to
. municipal code which has been enacted
by the o. s. philippine commission. A
certain method of taxation iscarried on.
The friars have a great deal Of influence
with the people. =
Az yet very little American or Earo--
pean capital has been attracted ID the
Islands, even though there 10 much valu-l
able unCul ltivated land and much rood.
mining and timber laud. The reason an.
pears to be the unsettled condition o.
the country and the lack OF good Il,
ties. Few OF the natives have records o
titles. aud are merely squatters on the
land they cultivate. Surveys are beipa
made aud validity Of titles aecertained,
kaftar which there will be rush for tha
fload. 49,. !. # . 1 ass s* =:
| There ought to be an opport unity 70.
cattle raising here. Meat is all i0poreed
from Australia or Amee1c4 Tie naNval
| live mostly o. rico ard consame litt1l
Emeat. but in time - insugn1es CON
herr, the demand for.nsGt vii b la.xe.
Al the meat the natives - u chicken,
tof which they bave pasatU, nd they zsat
great deai of graashoppsrs (4daixhl
troth.) = =. ~ 81 : s. 4 :z..s z.* .
There is no church here, although All
the natives alv 6 tholice. Sunday every
one goes to cock fights. and I also. for
there is nothing else to do. "a
II The mail come hors5 twino = uooh