The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-05-02
LETTER FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
c. Il. Shafer tells of The Doings In
Cavite.
U. S. Naval Station, Cavite, P. l.


Dec. 1901.
A week ago Sunday went to Manila.
The occasion was the opening of the
new temporary chapel of the NJ. E.
church and they were naturally very
proud of it OF course it is plain. The
thing that attracted me most was the
mating used on walls and ceiling. 1t
was simply ! inch strips of bamboo
plated and for change it looks as
we'll as plaster. They were very anxious
to get it done before DR.. Stuntz went
away and guess they had big time
the night before and early morning to
clean up and arrange things. The house
was filled. Rev. Stuntz has now gone to
the U. S. to remain about & months.
He will raise money for college and
bring his wife and children back with
him. While was over to Manila and
could not get back till evening | used
opportunity to go out to Bilibed, the
prison and penitentiary of Manila and
the Island. OF course we saw no one.
working but were simply in sleeping
room or dormitory of the white
prisoners. The beds were of bamboo,
regular Filipino bed, instead of a
woven mat or surface for lying on,
these had nothing but strips of BAMBOO
running lengthwise about inch wide
and inch thick. While this is of
course better than board it is not a
"soft snap anyway.
Christmas has passed off quietly.
Stayed at home ate good dinner and
supper. thought how you we're per-
haps eating stewed snowballs and fried
icycles at home, On Xmas eve the
town grew lively and masqueraded
around in costume. Part of it was
similar to the parade of the fiesta
guess the natives rather like to dress
up'' on occasion. Tonight there is a
grand all to be held here in Cavite.
AS no mail will go out for several days
anyway will defer comment on the
event until "After the Ball. think
| mentioned that it cost $1,000 Mexican
to be member" l declined.
Thursday End intended to go to
Manila awhile yesterday p. m. to at
tend the Y. M. c. ia. New Years re.
ception there but did not find out till
too late that the p. N. boat did not run
so was disappointed. could have gone
over in the morning if | had known
OF course there was nothing going on
here to attract one except game of
base ball in the p. %. The day was
mostly cloudy and spent most of my
time in reading. We were favored
with good bountiful nourishment
again though the duck was tough. We
had some left for supper and wouldn't
be surprised if it turned up in hash in
a day or two. The Commandant had a
reception in the evening from 4 to 6
He is quite nice man. On the last
mail received my Spanish books from
Chicago so [ can study if the spell takes
me. | have relearLed all | thought |
knew on the ship. The Insular Govt
no longer takes Mexican money at 2
for but for the next months at least
it will take s2.l0of Mexican to equal
81 gold. The post Office too has
adapted it and still they will not accep,
Mexican for money orders payable in U
S. Before it went into effect | bought
about $50 or s22 Mex. of stamps card:
etc. so | will have enough to last me
while here I guess. 1t will be al
awful nuisance for the p o. people a:
we'll as for patrons. l tell you there
are some sore and aching heads LATTER
the ball'' due to the abundance O.
liquid refreshments. | understand
there will be an extra assessment tC
meet the bill. am ''gladder" thar
ever that am out of it. There wa:
quite large crowd out and they al
said they had good time. | heard
the band play while lying in my bed
They talked of having it in our house
but didn't. A notice is posted now
that mail will leave Manila on the 4tt
and 18th inst so | am afraid this will no.
reach you the 1st of Feb. Sometimes
they make good time though. I'm no
asking how you spent your Xmas anc
New Years for | know You'll write
it. We had q real warm day again to
day. My thermometer was about 81
degrees. We also had nice rain las
night. l do not know if | have re
marked that thunder and lightnin.
| are rarely experienced since I an