The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-08

cooler, or less warm, with the shell win
dOws than with glazed ones. 1t is Gus
tomary to keep the windows closed while
exposed to the sun, and open them again
for free circulation of air as soon as in
shadow, or in the evening.
The wise American, especially IN
Manila and anywhere on the low lands
along the bay, will follow the native Gus
tom of closing the window again at night,
to keep out the miasmatic air that rises
before morning from the swampy ground.
1t is because of this air that the natives
always sleep on the second floor and never
on the ground floor. All their huts are
constructed on stills not less than six feet
from the ground, for this same reason.
Failure to observe this universal custom
and necessary hygienic rule on the part
of the commanders who assigned quarters
to the American troops was for a long
time the cause Of a great deal of needless
sickness in the army. The path to knOwl-
edge on the part of American commanders
in the Philippines is strewn with the
graves of soldiers needlessly sacrificed to
an ignorance which would learn only from
experience. Even the native in his lit
tie bamboo hut opens and closes his win
dow with some reference to health. In
his case the window, instead of being com
posed of Shell panes, is made of a frame
OF bamboo filled in with woven bamboo
mat. 1t is, Of course, entirely OPAQUE,
but il serves the purpose of excluding the
hot rays of the sun in the day time and
the miasma at night.
IN THE LEADERS PRESENCE.
This was the sort of house into which
we were ushered to see the Filipino com
mander. 1t was SO grand and imposing
in comparison with the little one at the
IA1 htr
that we felt, what we afterwards learned
was fact, that the Filipinos had a poor
opinion OF us and of our commander, be-
cause of our Willingness to OCCUPY such
poor and unhealthful quarters and leave
the fllipinos in unquestioned possession
of the more elegant and far superior quar-
tiers in the town.
AT the head of the stairs we were met
by Col. johnson, an American adven-
turer who was serving on Aguina!dO's
staff. lie could talk Spanish, and / think
also he spoke TagalOg, and his expecta-
tion was to become parsonage of con-
siderable importance. financially if not
politically, when the Filipino Government
should be established. OF course. we all
looked upon him as a mere adventurer
That he was not a soldier was perfectly
apparent from his manner There was an
instructive dislike on our part for any
American who would occupy such a poSi-
ton for what appeared to be purely mcr-
cenary motives. Yet, to the credit of Mr..
johnson 1t must be said that he severed
his connection with the Filipin0s when,
few months after the fall Of Manila. il
became apparent that Agunaldo was or
ganizlng his army with the full intent of
attacking the Americans
10 Col. johnson we made known our
errand, and assured him that we were off,
GERS of the humble rank of Captain. and
were on no official mission whatever but
simply desired to pay our personal res,
poets to the General.
lie disappeared into the large room fac
ing the street, and soon returned with
the information that "El LibredOr" would
be pleased to receive us, and escorted us
into the presence of the demigod of the
Filipinos.
With Agunaldo We're several of his
staff, but all retired except Col. Alciand-
rlno, his AdJutant-General, who received
us gracl0usly and presented us to his
chief. He spoke enough English for us
to get along very nicely without an inter
prefer, and Col. Johnson retired. AguI-
naldo spoke only Spanish to us, using his
Adjutant as an interpreter
l met him a number of times after
wards, once socially at a large official
ban in San Fernando, but / never heard
him speak English TO any American
though by that time we had all learned
enough Spanish to express ourselves about
common things. ! have heard that he nm
derstoOd English, but if so he RETAINED
from using it in any communication with
the Americans, either verbal or written.
of which i have any knowledge.
My impression of Aguinaldo formed Mt
this time was one that was only deepened
by further opportunities of observation.
1t was that he was a shallow, vain man
of rather a bright intellect and consider
able will power. Intellectually | would
match half the privates in the ranks of
the Volunteers against him and the great
majority of the leaders of the insurrec-
ton. There is, however, n small number
of very intellectual Filipinos, lawyers and
doctors, chiefly residents of Manila, who
have won the respect and to a degree the
confidence of the Americans by their in