New-York tribune., 1902-11-02
FILIPINO TYPES.
ISLAND WOMEN THEIR DRESS AND
CHARACTERISTICS SOAP AT
PREMIUM.

From the Filipino point of view. says teacher
in the islands THE color line plays only small part
in defining social status The possession Of white
blood is by means considered an acquisition
10 boast of. and pure natives pride themselves
the possession of that name. Even the more
intelligent women though apt imitators OF Span
ish graces and customs. never wholly lose, their
hold on native WAYS. For instance, the same
woman who night gorgeOusly gowned ana
covered with diamonds. may he seen receiving at
a function in the home of the highest official IN
the islands. the next day appears sitting on the
counter OF one of the innumerabe little stalls that
line the street gowned in blue calico ana wearing
sandals without stockings, and smoking cigar
ette She seems equally at case in both places
for the simple reason that she is accustomed 10
both kinds of living. incidentally. her own nome
is probably palatial and she herself charming
hostess Al heart. however. native is always a
native.
But there are as many varieties Of native
women as there are tribes the islands Inc
Tagal woman, for instance. Is no more llAe u'le
Icorrote than an American girl Is like sioux
Indian squaw. The dress of the lgorrote Is more
picturesque than that of the Tagal. and IS usuahy
made of coarse homespun. Igorrote women are
the griniest of the islanders. and their condluoh
does not seem likely improve, unless some SORT
of household reform is brought about by the men,
For Igorrote women do not believe IN co-educa-
ticn in any degree. Only boys are sent to schooi;
girls are allowed cultivate potato patches anu
'chOre S-'N
foreign languages considered unbecoming'
Unaware of any deprivation, the lgorrote woman
takes all this matter of course
Perhaps her Indifference is partially due TO the
fact that she is not burdened with household
cares In an Igorrote house. in fact, nobody cares
Igorrote houses are little more than places TO
crawl in out of the rain. There no chimneys
and the smoke from the fire wanders around IN
leisurey fashion until il finds way out Tor ltsel
The faces of inmates of these novels are rarely
clean except after enforced exposure in heaVY
rainstorm
But they are honest these lazy. picturesque
people Not long ago Commissioner Moses took
5000 from Manila TO Benguet. and deposited II IN
bags on the front piazza the civil hospital Ihere
it remained for weeks. wholly unguarded' Noe OF an an
way with the smoke and other accretons 1hey
"ft is said however that the younger Igorrotes
are learning to use soap Such @ aSp arioiS 5ers is
constantly borrowed Sometimes, in self,defence'
al w6ch is no no small matter in many parts Of the
PhPPneS as IS soap aco9r is 0S5 IN the matter of cean
is keeping pupils IN the sGnoShG%Se on n 6bect as
il ne saSes SaiiohSa them mn much t t trouble
"A teacher tells story of one little chap who wa, was
really too small stay away from nome az nlsh''
Though he four years old, it had never , 9s &C.
eSrred to his epsa No ade and gave him little
shirt or slip. which reached about 10 ms Knees;
day ayu but S when leaving the sshoohouse took it on
and folding It very & GaPeiny m tb nexT day as it
wouid get SO dirty at home The Igorrotes. say
the teachers who have had experience with sew,
eral tribes OF the Fipinos, are the smartest ana ana
most tractable of them all. The wild look on tne
fsce o the ICorrote woman the picture is due TO
fear of the camera rather than natural feroclty.
.'The Moro woman is one Of the most picturesque
in Ali the islands This is partly due 10 the tact
that she the sorong, or homespun pIankSc
yroyen Nm stripes large plaids In which briSnt
reds and yellows the qredominating colors. NO
matter how high the temperature these heaVy
blankets are donned, though American women are
somewhat reducing the number. by purchasing
them as souvenirs Of their stay in tho country and
using them as draPery in their houses at home.
.'The Spanish halfcaste shown in the accompany
ing Illustration is a type commonly in Manila
and the larger towns. Many OF them are TO be
fol:nd in converts also-oI phans whom the friars
are caring for and educating An odd custom pre-
walls as 10 the disposition Of these charges. Any
man who can proVe himself able 10 provide for a
wife may 90 10 convent and look at the girls or
uestlzas II he that pleases him. he may
meet her ard make her formal OFFER Of marriage