The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-25
CHILD LIFE IN PHILIPPINES.
Little TagaIogs Who Have in Them
the Markings of American Citizens.

Rev. w. c. Clapp. in Spirit of Missions.
The first impression which l gained of
child life in the Philippines was when our
launch was coming from the steamer up the
Pasig river toward the custom house at
Manila A Filipino woman was washing
her baby on the deck if one can call It
that, of one of those long, curious wicker
covered barges. called cascos, used as light
ers to transfer freight about the harbor.
And since then we have not been obliged
TO seek for glimpses of Filipino child life
Here in Manila the Tagalog accent on
the second syllable. please) or Mestizo boy
is everywhere. and his sister is with him,
or Just around the corner. And they have
very good times too. Is il not some thing
10 cause a sober thought that one should
often see the artless, smiling, dimpling,
Iomping childhood OF a people stiffen into
a grave, severe. sphinxlike stolidity in ma
ture life? 1t is a charge which cannot be
of it, East and West. If we lose our SYM
patty for children and our likeness to
them. what share can we have of the joys
in heaven? That Is why one may be glad
sessions child eyes that attract one and
child voices that are musical The mis-
sionary in a new field is looking for the
portions of the soil which are most prom
ising. The Filipino boys laugh calls at
tention TO the exact spot Rebuke not that
laugh even If IL be only about some child
ish sport but cherish il, prolong IL, reflect
il. transpOse it into the eternal praise
around the throne.
1 have been looking at our cohero and
his family. He is not really ours. but he
lives downstairs. We can peep through the
lattice-like floor OF our little Dining room
and see them eating their meal. all perched
on one bamboo bench. There is the
COchero and his good wife. then there are
two little cocheros who especially interest
me. The younger one is but a baby yet,
and postpOneS the full tide of childish glee
which. / trust. may be his a little later on
The other is a study. l shall say that he is
three years old. His body Is thin and
brown. His garment is one, simple, alb
breviated diaphanous. He has a queer way
of sitting down on his heels, not in the
excruciating manner of his japanese broth
err who kneels: the Filipino squats. II is an
impossible attitude for the normal Anglo
Saxon, but any little cochero, like all the
generations Of cocherOs before him, does 1t
easily and by preference. l hear this little
fellow at his boyish pranks in and out
among the banana trees. and then l see
him in the attitude described. with pursed
lips and earnest expression studying out
some child problem in mechanics with
straps and blocks. Little cochero Will grow
fighting as ideal pastime, or he may IN
der better influences prove what many are
denying, that the Fflipincs are capable Of
our view of child life in the Philippines
would indeed be but a hasty. superficial
firm impression IL We were TO be content
with its picturesqueness. Little Jose and
Manuel come rollicking out OF school. with
their yellow-covered American First
Readers under their arm. Good morn
ing" they call out 10 me, If TO expert
rnent with what they have just learned
from the New England teacher. who stands
in the doorway looking after them. Imme-
diately they lapse into Tagal, 10 be sure
but the solemn thought induced is that
here YOU have in embryo American citi-
zens with all the possibilities ol success or
failure connected with so high calling
In the schools which our government is
everywhere establishing throughout these
islands English will be taught. and by and
by the higher branches, sciences and arts.
embodied in a system OF high schools and
colleges. The question arises. what rela-
tionship Will this purely secular training.
enforced with all the prestige OF a mighty.
superior nation. bear 20 the religious
thought and practice OF the rising genera
ton OF Filipinos? And IL seems inevitable
TO answer that the effect must be to break
down Inherited customs and traditions
will be shaken. The Old cochero will be
half admiring. half mourning at his precO-
cious. English-speaking offspring. who has
learned that the most progressive people IN
the world do not think II necessary 10 go 10
church every Sunday, whatever else they
may do.