The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-10
THIS FILIPINO WOMAN
COULD SPEAK ENGLISB
Representative Green Tells
of Visit to Santa Cruz.
PLEASANT REMEMBRANCES
Congressman Charmed With Those
Whom He Met-Tells of His Unus-
ual Experience to His Fellow Dem
ocTatic Members.

Very few members of the House can
say they ever had the pleasure of talking
to good-Iookins Filipino women who
could speak and understand English. but
Representative Henry D. Green Of Penn
sylvanfa is one WHO has enjoyed this
unusual experience. L occurred last
year during his visit to the Philippines
In the House Democratic cloak room
recently, surrounded By a number OF
his colleagues. discussing the probabIs
effect of the Philippine civil government
bill. which 9assed the Senate Tuesday
evening. Mr. Green grew reminiscent.
and. speaking of his visit to Santa Cruz.
in Laguna province, he said:
Il had never spoken to native wo-
man, and after dinner at small hotel
kept by a Chino. left the quasi hotel and
crossed the street to q very humble
shack, where, en- the ground floor, cigars
and cigarettes were sold y very neat
and quite pretty native woman stood be
hind the window sill. used as counter
Priced the Wares
in my veay best Spanish priced her
wares. Imagine my surprise when she
replied in a very sweet voice. Excuse
ne, sir; I speak English With pride
she informed me that her sisters, and
her nieces, and cousins. also spoke Eng
fish bought cigars and cigarettes. and
offered her cigarette, when to my as
constituent she said, I never smoke,
nor do my sisters. nieces, or cousins
Begging ber pardon, I asked how that
happened. pleading that il seemed to be
common practice among the Filipino
women Her answer was Not among
the better classes More inquisitivs
than polite. l asked why she had not
acquired the habit, and she very sweetlg
informed me that her father did not ap-
prove of his daughters smoking. as he
considered 1t unIedyIike, and added the
statement. We always obey our parents.
This girl was a fuII-blooded Tagalc.
Was / not right in changing ny mind
about the Filipino being savage and
not fit to govern himself7 / introduced
Senator Bacon and Representatives Mer-
csr and Jack and DeATmond 20 the
young woman. and during the couversa-
ticn she informed US that the American
military bands played good music, but
rarely played we'll
when asked whether she played and
sang. she, without hesitation, said she
4 &. arsi when requested to sing fer us
she said il we would step into the ground
floor room adjoining the store she would
play and sing Her replies were frank,
modest, and gracious. with no egotisTn or
false modesty. We entered the room and
in a few minutes her niece, a girl Of ten,
and her cousin. q girl Of about eight.
came in with harp and violin
In Sweet Voice.
THE cousin began with. to our utter
establishment. a song OF the civil war
which 1 had not heard for ten years,
John Browns Body Lies MoldeTing in the
Grave The niece followed with March
ing Through Georgia'-in as good Eng
Iish as I have ever heard-to our amuse-
ment and the edification of the Senator
from Georgia; and my little Filipino ac-
quaintance, and I hope friend. in the
clearest and sweetest voice sang that
most difficult of American patriotic
songs. the |Star-Spangled Banner She,
at my request. also sang a Spanish mad
rfgaI and O Tagalo national air in as
fine style as I have ever heard anyone
sing
When our party lett next Gay lhe
army ambulance loaded up before the
hotel, and in the presence OF cur party
and the garrison officers, with perfect
modesty and good taste she gave NE her
little brown hand and IN farewell said
I so sorry my good friend leaves
hone he always be we'll Have you ever
received 4 more gracious or graceful
parting? Never will forget that pretty
IittIe brown-skinned Tag2lo lady, and I
will cherish her memory always
Has His Doubts.
Il often wonder whether these are
the kind of people whose homes We have
burned and lives we have taken-whose
fathers and mothers and loved ones we
have dishonored, mangled, and tortured
in our cruel and bloody struggle to es-
-abIish and maintain the doctrine OF
Imperialism. to the Justification Of our
boasted motto Of liberty and independ-
snce. the dishonor of the flag Of the
free. and the disgrace Of our Christian
teachings
Green. if 1 had been in your place,
emarkcd Representative Howard Mulch
er. 81 think I would have brought that
Young woman with me 10 the States.