The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-07

iHd1 MS nome paper had gotten Into
the possession of a Manila editor and
there was the whole letter published.
word for word. That might have been
his honest opinion but Iexpect that he
is on record as saying that it was all a
joke.
In many of the provinces 1 think that,
all in ALL the conditions and advantages
tend toward a more natural and more
truly pleasant existence. Existence is the
proper word, for where the desire and
longing to be back home in your own
country and with your own friends is
ever paramount within you, when these
months until such a time is possible is
even at its best, looked upon as only a
period to be passed over as rapidly as
possible. that condition can only be piet-
ured and described by existence.
Regiment In Luzon.
MY regiment served its entire time In
the provinces. We were lucky, though,
in getting one in northern Luzon and ~
ing along the China sea. The regiment
occupied eleven posts ranging from fve
to twenty miles apart, with good wagon
roads connecting, so that quite an as
sembage was possible, and all national
holidays and birthdays in the regiment
were celebrated. The quartermaster
would turn out his dougherty and light
spring wagons, and there were two sail
boats owned in the regiment, and with
these filled with hay for the ladies and
what officers that could possibly get
Paway, with the rest horseback, we would
start off and lunch with the officer In
command at one time, take him and &c
to dinner at another town, with a boile
that night and a late start the next
morning for another point, and have 9
weeks trip. No one bachelor officer wal
expected to have the necessary means OF
entertaining so many at once, so all in
vitations ended with a request that each
person bring his or her bedding. knife,
fork spoon. cup and plate. Sometimes
we would take a meal with the presi-
dente (mayor) of town, and we would
always have some of them present at
our dinings and dances, which they
would appreciate immensely. We finished
up one such trip by going on camp hunt
into the mountains. taking tents, etc.,
along four ladies of the regiment sharing
the outing.
Three Days Affair.
ION last last Christmas the officers Of
my battalion gave a three days enter
tainment to the people living in the dis
trict occupied by the battalion. On the
night of the 25th we gave dinner to
the president and justice of the peace
of each of the seven towns that we were
occupying and gave them baked turkey
that had been shipped on ice from Aus
tralia, cranberry sauce from America,
celery from Hong Kong. apples from
Japan, with the first Ice cream that they
had ever seen in the province
Later on the ladies' came and we fin
ished up the day with a dance, There
were always from five to fifteen nice
Filipino girls in each town. Most of
these have been educated In Spanish
converts In Manila. They are extremely
polite; never leave home except under
the guardianship of one of their family,
and If they smoke at all It's at time
when no stranger or visitor is present.
They speak Spanish. some Of them have
Spanish songs and except during the
siersa are always neatly attired and
ready to receive company. In their
homes they are most hospitable, some
thing to eat, dring and smoke being Of
fered to visitors shortly after their ar
rival.
Native Girls chaperoned.
70 INN a11f
unless accompanied by an elder member
of their family. and never go out Of theii.
sight alone. They adhere most strictly
to the Spanish social conditions. On the
arrival of the Americans In the islands
the F'ilipinos only danced Spanish dances,
pollxas and fast waltzes; now there are
many who can only sance a two-step and
a slow waltz.
Formerly they danced barefooted in
fiat-bottomed pair of slippers, with osly
little covering across the toe; now they
have stockings and French heel slippers.
One officer. IN order TO encourage their
learning. bought the SHOES. ETC.. for the
twelve girls in his town. The girls that
form this class are generally Spanish
Mestizas. and not the pure Malay. The
fact that the army has intermingled with
these people, have eaten with them and
danced with them, has tended largely to
increase the growing feeling Of friendli-
ness now existing between the two peo-
pie For this very reason, carried step
further-matrimony why the ISLANDS
so long were loyal to Spain. and many
claim would have so continued had it
not been for a corrupt priesthood.
THE fact that no officer has yet mar
ried Filipino is commented on by them,
and they are smart enough to guess why.
and 1t is not to be supposed that any ma
ton or race relishes such an unspoken
reason. Many officers have attended their
little functions with no other desire than
that of furthering Americas general plan
of gaining the friendship and confidence
CT the Filipino people. feel sure that the
Filipinos respect and have a friendly
feeling for the army, and that the rela-
tionship between conqueror and con-
quered were never as pleasant as those
at present between the United States
army and the Filipino people