Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-10

where covers were laid for seventy peo-
pie. The long table was prettily lighted
and decorated with palms and flowers and
fruits and the various courses were ele-
gantly prepared and served. Filipino men
do not sit at table with the women. They
stand behind the chairs of the ladies and
wait on them. The American officers,
however, sat down. / was placed beside
the wife of the presidente. who was hand
someIy gowned and gorgeously bedecked
with diamonds. Il made mental calcu-
lation that she wore about $20, 900 worthy
She knew about as much English as 1
know of Spanish. So even with the aid
Of two languages our conversation was
hardly animated enough to attract atten-
ton. After the dinner, the dance. or bale,
the same as one of our balls. Several Of
the native young men wore the regulation
black dress suit. and most of the young
women wore pretty gowns of silk or just
"a fine native fabric). and some displayed
the family Jewels. The occasion was the
most elegant affair that l have ever wit
messed in the way of Filipino entertain
ments. 1t was a surprise to all of US and
much enjoyed.
LEARNING IS FOR THE PRIESTS.
A very noticeable thing in all Filipino
homes is the complete absence of books.
Though many of these people are able to
furnish their homes elegantly and provide
themselves with almost everything they
want 1t Is the rarest thing that they have
a library. / have visited in the homes of
all classes of F1lipinos in different parts
of Luzon. and have never yet seen one
with a library, If / except one place In the
Province of Pampauya in the north, which
contains probably fifty volumes and some
pamphlets: all out of date and of little
value. OF course, there are books in the
converts, instructive Autographs of
the saints in Latin and thrilling theoIogi-
cal essays by the fathers of the church.
That Is another story. This absence OF
books in the homes is due. I am told by
a well informed Filipino, to the embargo
$50 to speak, placed upon reading and
education by the Friars, backed by Span
ish civil authority in former times. If
a native bought books or manifested any
unusual interest in reading he became a
marked man. He was suspected of being
in league with Masonry, which the church
disapproved; or he was endeavoring to &C
quire too much learning, and learning
was for the priests. Thus homes have
been kept barren of books. families de-
prived of one Of the greatest pleasures of
home-life and the people encouraged or
even made to sit in mutual darkness. The
Fflipinos are learning that all this Is to
be changed now.
CLIMATE IN PHILIPPINES DELIGHT
FULL
The rainy season is about over, and now
begins what the natives call the cold and
dry season; to be followed in March, April
and May by the hot and dry months. You
may be surprised to learn that the sum-
mer months here are not as hot as at
home. While last summer in New York,
Washington. St. Louis and other Amerf-
can cities the mercury was playing around
! 100 degrees in the shade and sunstroke
was a common occurrence the highest
temperature at this place was IS degrees.
And we are on the 18th degree
of North latitude, or about 7S5
miles further south than Key West.
Florida. The following table, from
| records kept at the hospital here. shows
the mean average temperature by months
at two daily observations: