The suburban citizen., 1901-08-24

ten fruit with alacrity. After several
minutes of excited jabbering. during
which no blow was struck, the Filipi-
nos were allowed to 50 and the Chi
nese disappeared from sight again.
The Filipnos try to he very clean
In their person and clothing. l believe
that they all take at least one bath
week, although could not see how
they derived much benefit, as they
used only cold water and seldom any
soap. The dirty paslg River Is lined
every morning with bathers of both
sexes. The laundry women are also
out in force, and 1t Is a sight to see
them beat the clothes into cleanliness.
They use a fat club as remOrselessly
on fine shirt as they would on a pair
Of overalls. All clothes look alike to
them. For nearly a 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 fox
their luxuriant hair. l would not call
it beautiful, being too coarse They
soak 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
Gerful properties 1 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 tho
assault by the troops. l was aston
ished at the lack of interest taken by
the natives. We were wild with ex-
element, but the natives looked on
unconcerned. There were several
thousands of them living in the vicin-
ity, but very few were interested
enough to walk a few yards to the
beach. Many Of them had their backs
turned from the river
regard the Filipinos n very moral
people when it is considered what a
|
falthless wife Is seldom heard Of and
l 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
countenauced by the Fllipnos, and the
few who have taken the step have
| been ostracised by their people. The
fist American soldier to take unto
himself a native wife was a hospital
! corps man, stationed at Cavite. He
or she made an unwiso selection, as
the alliance proved TO be a 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. l rather like their 5tyle Of dress,
which do not believe will last many
years under American rule, as Manila
now contains several hundred we'll
dressed ladies from America and tho
natives will become dissatisfied with
their flowing garments crd copy after
their white sisters.
The Spanish ladies Of Manila always
appeared to me to be over-dressed
and very awkward in their carriage
when walking, which they rarely in
dulged in, however. Their favorits
pastime is carriage riding or the Lu.
meta after sundown. They always so
barehcaded 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 l have ever
seem They carry their heads as proud
as any queen. This grace is inherited
and practiced from baGyhood. 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 wear
no tight shoes and many none at all.
This peculiar gait has been largely
acquired by carrying weights on their
heads, at which they are exceptionally
adept Fhcy can carry immense loads
upon their heads. 1t is very com.
mon sight Of Manila TO see n native
milk womal rushing down the street
witt u beer bottle full Of milk bal,
Onced on her head.