The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-08
MISS ANNIE A. ROBBINS LECTURES
ON LIFE In THE HILIPPINES"

A good sized audience gathered in the
yesterday afternoon and listened with
great interest and pleasure to fine lee
ture by Miss Annie A. Robbins on Life
In Manila" illustrated by curios brought
from the Philippine Islands. Miss Rob-
bins was formerly chief nurse OF the
United states army hospital. She was
four months chief OF the First Division
hospital, Seventh Army Corps, Jackson
Vile, Florida, one and a half years CHIEF
OF Santa Mesa, United States army hos
pital. Manila, and has been nurse In Ha-
vana also In United States general hospi-
tai, San Francisco.
After devotional exercises and prayer
by Mrs. j. *. Barney, yesterday. Mrs.
f. III. Jackson, the president, presented
Miss Robbins, who at once made most
pleasing impression on her audience be-
cause OF an attractive personality and a
most agreeable form of address.
With n passing reference to our duties
and responsibilities In the Philippines Miss
Robbins passed al once to consider the
islands, the people there and their GUS
toms, manner of living and dress.
When we speak of the Philippines, she
said, we are apt to think only OF few
small Islands and of Manila.
There are 400 islands, which constitute
the Philippines. and Manila is a city OF
245.0oo Inhabitants. situated on one OF
these islands. We must realize however
that Manila Is only o~e of a number of
large cities in the Philippines.
Continuing. the speaker described the
climate of the Philippines, with its rainy
and dry season, similar 10 other tropical
countries.
The natives. she said. are not unlike our
American Indian race, with their dark
ell oil ri nd Eo,h,
hair.
Turning to the life and customs Of the
people the speaker described their primi-
tive ways OF living. cooking, etc.
Everything" she said, rs hand made;
there is very little machinery and that
is run by hand power They have learned
To utilize the materials all around them
for their common needs"
Miss Robbins then showed the quaint
Kitchen utensils used In the homo OF the
Filipino, such as spoons, dippers. cooking
utensils etc, made by hand from cocoa
nut shells or bamboo She showed. also.
n model OF their cook stoves which are
made from clay and the transparent
shells found on the seashore and which
are used as windows In the rude houses
OF the natives.
Miss Robbins showed also n model OF a
Filipino homie constructed OF bamboo and
explained that, I'm building their homes
the natives begin with the roof instead
| OF laying first the foundation. She ex-
planned also the quaint way I'm which the
Interior of these homes are made and
amused her hearers by showing that the
hen coop is on the top or roof OF the
houses and the barn yard beneath while
the living rooms are reached by ladders.
In describing the manner OF dress Of
the native women Mrs. Robbins was as
sisted by "A young lady who was present
In the typical dress worn by the women
in that far off land.
Miss Robbins showed models also OF the
stin bamboo hats worn by the men and
the quaint little hats worn by the babies
and all hand made I'm the Filipino home
She showed also the dress goods woven
from cocoanut fibre and the fabric was
artistic and pretty.
number OF knives and instruments
OF war were also shown all OF them for
midable in appearance.
The speaker dwelt az some length upon
the industries OF the Philippines and ex-
plained that they were an Industrious
people and that they were also well edu-
Gated along certain lines. notably along
the liHcs OF art.
Several crude examples OF their art
were exhibited. a number OF pictures
showing decided talent in painting The
speaker told also OF their excellent mu-
sical abilities and OF the really fine mu-
sical Instruments which they manufac-
ture.
Finally the speaker told of the religion
OF the natives and dwolt also at some
length. on the temperate outlook among
them. In the connection she told OF the
Introduction OF the American saloon In
the Philippines and It's debasing effects
In conclusion Miss Robbins brought WV