Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-02-17
LETTER FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
Continued from last lUeek.

streets IS the Chinese cargo carrier.
On his shoulder he balances a bamboo
pole, at the ends of which hang the
articles he wishes to carry. In this
way Chino was seen carrying six
teen heavy parlor chairs. Even pia-
nos and safes are moved in the same
way. A Filipino woman will carry
basket of fish on ber head, dozen
| chickens in one hand and some cakes
in the other and smoke cigar at the
same time. The Manila tailors, dry
goods merchants, grocers, hardware
dealers, Filipino, Spanish, German,
Chinese, American and English, all
reaped good harvest from the army
| of American teachers, who were ad
vised to buy their clothing, cooking
| appliances, and three months supply
of provisions before leaving for their
stations. The orien tai way of trading
was best represented by the Chinese
peddler. John offers an article for
sale. You ask him, "How much?''
He answers zone dollar half gold
how much you?" If you offer him
seventy-fv cents Mexican he will
probably say, "All lite" and hand
over the article. 1t should perhaps be
explained here that all money in cir
culation at Manila, other than United
States whether Spanish, Filipino, Jap
anese, Chinese or English coins from
Hong Kong and Strait Settlements,
goes as Mexican or at one half the
value of the corresponding coin
in United States currency. The
Spanish dollar, called the peseta,
is thus worth $3.50 gold and the
media pesetG, as large as the
American half dollar O.25 gold. The
pesetd is about the size of the
r United States quarter and is
f worth $O.1O gold. If Mr.. Bryan
: were teacher in the Philippines
= and had to take his months pay
, in 'midiH pesos" as has been my
/ fortune, think his high opinion oi
2 silver would fall with cold and sick
ening thud.
a Filipino theatre is worthy of one
visit. At the "TedtrO AurOra" the ac-
3 tors and actresses are Filipinos anC
n the plays are given in Tagalog. The
l piece given when / attended had {
medieval setting and was full o
Y long and wealisome monologues.
D prOmpter or reader sat behind a semi
circular screen at the 'front.' centr
9 of the stage. The office of this per
g son was to re ad the lines in an under
n tone before they were given by tn
. actors, This method of course re
n tarded the action of the play and he
e cessitated twice as much time for it
7: presenta ton. Between the acts
= brass band discoursed very creditabl
Is music. The several bands and or
- chestras which l heard in Manila a
played without music. After the la:
u act of the play was over an acrobat
le exhibition was given by dozen Fill
le pinos. In feats of tumbling and baI
lg ancing they showed considerabl
IS skill. The floor of the theatre VIZ
'e the ground. On each side of tt
w stage were the boxes, which were es
ld pecially reserved for the friends
the actors. Most Of the audienc
both men and women smoked durir
80 the performance. This custom, whiC
ne also prevailed at the other theatre
or has since been forbidden by city o.
3, dinance.
m One of the prettiest streets of M
es Mia is the Lunetta, running along tt
gs beach from Gale Real to the AnC
'S' monument. On each side of tt
Ie street is a row of partially grow
p palms, set out at regular interval
ed At night the street is we'll lighted
~ row OF arc lights. This is the pol
nor ular promenade and fashionab
te driveway of the city. On this avenu
at too, is the band stand, where concer
iao are given nearly every evening
bo the different regimental bands. E.
or cry program closes with "The St
on Spangled Banner" While this S
-. lection is being played all the soldie
or present stand at "attention" wi
uncovered heads. Filipinos, Chino
a Spaniards and every other class
no 20 people present instinctively follc
M the example of the soldiers by r
moving their hats. This custom ca
ger not fail to impress the Filipino mil
ich with feelings of patriotism.
va. The oldest and most aristocrat
on part of Manilais that portion call
ent The Walled City" The houses
it this section are built of stone. Th
t is are low and massive. Nea rly all
in them have an open inner court a
ob- grated windows. Dingy cathedr
The and spacious converts are numero1
IL l. r,