Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-12
PHILIPPINE WOMEN.
Men Let Their Wives Do the Work
But They Are Very Affectionate
Nauortha1asa

But They Are Very Affectionate
Nevertheless.
Interesting views from a woman's
standpoint Of certain phases of the life
cf the Philippine women are expressed to
her many friends in Atlanta by Miss
1lcrmione Mare who has just returned
from the Islands, where her fathers posi-
ton as chaplain of the United States
army called him for many months.
We were stationed during the most of
our stay in the Philippines said Miss
Mare recently. Sin Pampanga, one of the
northern provinces, and the people with
whom we came principally in contact
were Of the middle and lower classes. Be-
lore the war there had been many fam
HES OF the wealthy and aristocratic class
there, but their beautiful homes had been
curned by the Spanish and they had
moved away to Manila or to other cities.
The governor ard judge with their fam
lies lived in Pampanga, but for the most
part the people were not of the leisure
CIass-that is, they are not of the class
which we call idle, meaning those whose
financial condition is such that work is
not necessary None of the Filipinos
deem work necessary, and, therefore, they
are all idle or comparatively so.
What work is done among these two
two classes, at least, is done principally by
the women, and the principal work is
;ne cultivation of rice. In Panpanga
rice, bamboo and bananas are the chief
srowths encouraged, and it is the women
who give these things the little care they
need. 1t is not at all unusual to see Il
man with his wife on the streets, the
wife carrying a baby and perhaps some
other burden, and the husband bearing n
rooster under his arm. As a consequence
Of the fact that the women are tha
luhorers and the men spend their time
letting on cock fights, the contrast in
he male and female physique is opposite
to that of the white race. The women
are sturdy looking-broad shouldered,
broad hipped and erect. their backs mas
cune in STRENGTHENED the men are frail,
stupid and puny, even their hands frail
aud slender. all OF them apparently and
actually fit subjects for consumption.
The men let their wives do the work,
hut they are very affectonate, rs they
can well afford to be. 1t is easy 20 "a
ress and say sweet things. and so the
women. as far as words go, are treated
we'll
Their domestic duties are simple. be-
cause their homes and their lives are SC
simple. The houses are bare, and there
fore. there need be little cleaning done
hut the houses are we'll kept and the peo-
pie are also neat in person.
The women make their own clothes.
as a rule, but they do no other hand
work. There is some embroidery at times
on their waists, but even this Is often
imported from Germany. 1t is not nm
usual, too. to see a woman on the streets
her lose flowing waist of handsome ma
terial and carefully made, and her skirt
Of the cheapest cotton goods and in a
remarkable state of limpness and neglect
over thin skirt, sometimes with shape
less train. they sometimes wear piece Of
black cloth merely pinned about them
two corners tucked in at the waist II
front and the others hanging in points or
10 no
sandals. which they carelessly slip off theil
heels when they are seated at ease. ant
hats we're unknown to them until they saw
those Of the Americans, who by the way
enjoy the Philippine custom Of going
bareheaded. Since the advent Of severa
hundred American teachers. hats are being
more commonly worn by the Americans.
THE social life Is quite gay, dancing
being the favorite amusement. Many o
OF the young men play the violin or thu
guitar, and at frequent intervals famil.
parties which are quite large because
everybody seems to be in some way re
lated to or connected with everybod.
else-are formed for a dance, and the!
have their own pretty square dances ant
the same waltz we know. In the square
dances chairs are brought for the lade
to sit upon while the opposite member.
of the set are dancing. and the young
men very chivalrous in their atten
tons at this time When the dance il
over, however, their partners usual!
leave the girls IT. their seats on one sid
Of the room, while they talk among them
selves in another group. The same thin:
occurs at dinner parties. The girls sit Il
rows facing one another and the mel
til; among themselves, occasionally join
in" the girls to say few words to then
whom not actually at the table.
The F1lipinos are very fond Of tn
theatre. and although in the province
ho of Nd oNtr of
-'rikng ability, being natives of appar
tntlv medium education, the native
Yourselves seem well pleased
The education of the women OF thes
classes. which would be called workn
classes in an Industrial country is neg
looted. Many of them are sent to tn
converts, but as a rule their education
weak and their accomplishments meagel
The only native women of superior GU
ture l met there were speakers and mu
s!cians at demonstration commemorat-
ing the deeds Of Rigal, beloved patro
and ! was told that these women wer
actresses there for tho occasion.
The native women In the PROVING
where we lived did not call on the Amel
lean women, whether from prejudice c
custom could not discover. In som
parts CT the islands the women did e,
change visits, but in Pampanga. eve
when the Philippine young men. who cr
ioyed calling on the American girls wei
asked to bring their sisters, the sister
declined, and It was difficult, therefor
TO learn Of their lives and thoughts an
roaIipoa,