La Junta tribune., 1902-02-26
,m,,,,,,ss LETTER.
Will lswis Writes Of Experiences In
Our island World.

\ VIII Lewis, who lett La Junta
last summer for the Philippines to
teach school, is now located in
Basey, Samar. He says: 1.-The
TRIBUNE reaches me all right, and
! enjoy il very much. had not
INTENDED to wait SO long before
writing. but shall write another
letter in week or so. We have
been having some rather exciting
times here, and my next letter will
tell something OF them." The let
ter is as follows:
BAsEy, SAMAR.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,
December 20, 1901.
Upon arriving IN Manila we
learned that by cooperation of
the civil and military authorities
accommodations had been pro-
vi3ed for us in some vacated army
barracks. This WAS only another
foretlought which those in author.
ty had all along shown in our be.
halt, but 1t was especially appre-
ciated, for the prospect OF having
to look after our baggage, hunt up
suitable lodgings and pay the
excessively high prices demanded
IL Manila would not have been
especially cheering. AS it was.
however, everything went very
smoothly. The barracks referred
TO are in that portion OF Manila
known as Ermita, southeast OF the
main city. The Buildings, or most
OF them, are constructed OF BAN
boo and nipa in true Filipino style.
Some are OF more durable material,
having been built by the Span
iards as exposition buildings.
For this reason the barracks are
yet spoken OF as exposition bar
racks.
As soon as we were comfortably
settled in our new quarters. Super
intendent Atkinson called us to-
geth.r and addressed us. He
spoke in very hopeful way of the
possibilities OF our new work. He
firmly impressed upon us the
idea that in spite OF the hard work
before us-the meeting and solv-
ing of new problems of every kind
mot everything is dark and dis
couraging even in the Philippine
Islands. Several meetings OF the
teachers we're held, and we were
told what to do here-what to eat,
what to wear, what to drink, how
to deal with the Filipinos and
many other very interesting and
Instructive things. Our advisers
were all old timers here, many of
them having been here year or
more, and none OF them less than
six weeks. One day we were hon
ored by an address by Senator
Beveridge, of Indiana, who hap
pened to be in Manila at that time.
He told us that never had il been
his good fortune to behold more
inte lligent looking audience
than the American teachers
then assembled before him. He
was particular to emphasize the
fact that he is not given to fattery.
n In two or three days after our
arrival the task Of assigning teach
ers to their stations began, and
considering the number OF cases to
be disposed Of, this work was
despatched in remarkably short
time Only little over week
was required. In order that the
L superintendent and his assist
ants might be aided in making as
signments, we were allowed the
privilege Of fling statements re-
garding our preference of locality
and companionsbip. For some
time j studied. as best ! could,
the question Of the comparative
desirability Of the various provn-
ces and islands. ! had no reliable
guide, however, almost every island
aud province between northern
Luzon and Zulu archipelago being
recommended by people who