The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-04
DIR. R. 7. OLIVER WRITES
SUPERVISING DENTAL SURGEON
SENDS HAT TO DIR. G. Z. HUNT.
He Also Describes. I'm an Interesting
Manner, the Kind of Life Led
I'm Manila.


DR.. George Edwin Hunt, secretary of the
Commercial Club, recently received Ma
Mia hat from Dr. Robert T. Oliver, for
merly a well-known dentist of this city. but
now supervising dental surgeon of the
army dental corps. with headquarters at
Manila. The hat came by mail. and made
a fiat package about six inches square and
three-quarters of an inch thick 1t is of
as fine texture as the finest of Panama,
and can be folded into any conceivable
shape without breaking the straw. Re-
garding the hat DR.. Oliver writes: "I am
sending you a little holiday remembrance
in the shape of finely woven Filipino hat,
soft in texture and similar to the Panamas,
which / hear are much worn in the States.
OF course, you cannot wear ii for several
months yet, but the spare time can be en-
ployed in deciding how you will have it
blocked, for it can be fashioned to suit any
taste.
These hats are made similar to the PAN
amas; that is, they are several months in
process of manufacture, and are woven
under water, but the material is not the
same. Filipino hats are made from the
delicate inner fibers of the young bamboo.
This one is the result of the labor of two
Filipino girls living in the town Of Balinag,
about thirty miles from here"
When the army dental corps was first es-
tablished. in the spring of 1901, Secretary
Root, Of the War Department. appointed
DIR. Oliver as one of the three supervising
dental surgeons. The other two appointees
were DR.. John S. Marshall, of Chicago, and
months were spent by these three in exam
lining applicants for positions on the corps
and in equipping the corps and determining
the details of its active work. In Septem-
Der. 1901. Dr. Oliver, who, by agreement
with the other members of the board, was
designated to take charge of that portion
of the corps assigned to the Philippine
islands, sailed for Manila on the United
States transport Warren. OF the trip and
of Manila he writes as follows:
"Our voyage to Honolulu was uneventful
and sad, owing to the death of President
Mckinley, which occurred two days prior
to our sailing. On the 18th. at sea, the
Warren's guns were fired at intervals dur
ing the entire day. and at IL o'clock in the
morning memorial service was conducted
in the saloon by two army chaplains. We
conveyed the first news of the Presidents
death TO Honolulu, and during our three
days stop there attended memorial serv-
ices again with the loyal Hawaiians, who,
within an hour after our arrival, had
| draped the city in mourning and issued
proclamations of sorrow.
1.-THE trip from Honolulu was quiet The
long days were passed in playing the var
ious games on deck and in various reposeful
attitudes in the steamer chairs. This con-
tinued until we sighted the first point of
Philippine land, Cape Engano, when, about
o'clock one evening, we struck the outer
edge of a typhoon and were compelled to
proceeded with difficulty. owing to the high
sea and gale of wind However, we final
ly entered Manila bay safely via the Boco-
Dewey passed on the memorable 1st of
Nav 1895
RESIDENCE IN MANILA.
Residence In Manila is not half so bad
as it has been pictured considering the To-
cation, the character of the inhabitants,
and it's size, variously estimated from
1900 to 100000 inhabitants. At present it
is making quite a criminal record. but that
is not surprising when one considers that
large proportion of the populace consists
OF the fiotsam and jetsam of the Orient,
plus certain bad element of beach-comb-
ing Americans who wander out here filed
with malice aforethought and bad whisky,
locking for trouble. Many of the Iadrone
and insurrecto element, also, finding 1t pre-
carious living in the provinces, float into
Manila to be lost among the other NOM
bres,' who, like the Southern COON all look
alike to the American.
1.-The means of transportation are meas
ly little one-horse car line that runs every
once in while and the carromatas, which
are worse than nothing. for whenever you
begin to rely on them they are sure to fail
you. The carbonate is a two-wheeled, one
seated vehicle with one horse The
'cochero' sits on small seat, placed where
the dashboard is usually located. The the
DRY of this wonderful contraption rests
upon an equalization of the weight of the
passengers on the seat back of the axle by
the weight of the cochero on the seat in
front. When two passengers ride the i'm
preston prevails that the poor pony will be
lifted clear off his feet and the whole outfit
thrown back somersault. There are not
enough carromatas for passengers to select
fat cocheros in special cases.
1.-THE calesa is a two-wheeled vehicle,
very popular with the Americans. 1t re-
sembles the old-fashoned doctors gig, with
the cochero's seat in the rear. This is the
style of vehicle / now have. / like it es-
pecially for the reason that / can do my
own driving. The Filipino cochero is apt
to overrate his Importance and drive reck-
lessly through crowded streets, to the det-
riment and damage of wheels, horses and
pedestrians.
1.-THE old city of Manila is very pictur-