The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-07
Filipino Girls of Upper Classes
Are Well Behaved, and Like
Their American Sisters Are
Fond of Diamonds.
Social Amenities Extended Be-
tween the Officers and the
Mayors and Justices of the
Peace-ManiIa Inexpensive

Lieutenant Donald Conner Of the United
States regular army who has been In the
province of Luzon. in the Philippines. for
more than two years and who is now in
Birmingham the guest of his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. B. B. Conner, has given The
Age-Herald the following interview on
the social conditions in the Philippines
and the social life of the officers Of the
army in that country.
Lieutenant Conner said
1.-THE experience of the army In the Phil
ippines have been so varied, and from SO
until the middle of 1901 so full OF I'M
pleasant conditions with It's surround
ings so unconduciye to times pleasantly
spent, that I will only speak of our last
years stay In the islands.
'Since Manila is the port of the islands
the city that the visitor first sees as well
as the largest-something of its recrea-
ton hours may be told. The conditions
there are distinctively apart and different
from any other point in the archipelago.
1t has been out of the hands or the pro-
vost marshal and into that of a council.
with an adequate police force, both
y
1t has become an Americanized city,
with American social customs. After busI-
ness hours the officer and civilian meet
together on the Lunela drives. on launch
parties up the Pasig river to Laguna de
Bay or out IN Manila bay. The latter two
are always moonlight trips with a native
orchestra In the bow, and are often fol-
lowed by a dinner and dance at the
Army and Navy club or on board the
flagship of the squadron anchord in the
bay. The Oriental hotel gives a bi-weekly
hop to Its friends and the Army and
Navy club have a ladies' night weekly,
where the visitors and their escorts dine
either in parties or couples, after which
they may dance or walk in the club plaza.
listening to the music played by some
military band.
Life Is Extravagant.
"This life is a little extravagant for a
southerner with only his pay and results
in a number of applications for services
| IL the prov l:.s being passed IN by the
general commanding and likewise an I'm
expected return of those visiting Mnr;la
from some distant port No natives are
in attendance at any of these little en-
tertainments in Manila. Americans with
their wives, daughters and visiting
friends, together with few from the
English colony are there from whom the
desired nImner Is drawn.
This of course, does not include the
open receptions given by the governor
general or members Of the civil commits
sion. These are generally big affairs and
taken advantage Of by wealthy natives
and Mestizas for displayment of thous-
ands Of dollars worth of jewels on their
persons. They come in their native cos
tune made of beautiful pima (pinyah) or
just (hu-sej) with short sleeves about
two feet wide and fairly sparkling with
diamonds, many of them heiresses to
large fortunes. I wouldn't attempt to
compare their beauty with that of the
American girls over there, If for no other
reason than this:
An Officers Experience.
"Once a wealthy family In Pompongo
province gave dance at his country
home, a house worth probably $4,000, and
invited several American girls and Of
ficers, and afterwards one OF the or
ficers present wrote home and was try
ing to tell his family how beautiful the
daughter of the family was, stating that
even $3.50 Ohe daughter of an OFFICER
of high rank with her peach and cream
complexion large blue eyes and golden
hair had no advantage in locke over the
beautiful native. His family thought that
thte public would be interested in that
fact and published the letter and the
young officer awolSe one morning to find