The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-12
FROM THE FAR EAST.
Prof. Geo. N. Briggs Writes from
the Philippine Islands.

Prof. Geo. N. Briggs, formerly of La.
moni, who with his wife, formerly Miss
Carrie Judd. received appointments as
government teachers in the Philip.
pines, has written the following interest.
ing letter to Mr.. and Mrs. Newt Judd,
of Garden Grove:
SuRIGo, M1NDANAo, P. l., Dec. IA.
Dear Folks at Home: Your welcome
letter of some weeks ago was received a
few days ago. We are at present en-.
joying the best of health and happi-
ness, and although it is only little
over q week until Christmas it is as
warm as ever, and we can sit here and
look at the green grass and trees, hard
ly realizing that it is winter at the place
we still like to think of as home. And
to speak of home recalls to mind con-
versation Carrie and l had the other
day about when we should count on
making trip to what the boys call
Goods country" and we about decided
that if nothing prevented we would
plan for such visit year from next
summer. However, that is long time
in the future and of course many things
may happen before.
We have been having considerable ex-
citement in political way here lately.
Both the provincial governor and the
provincial fiscal (attorney), both ma.
tives, were removed by the civil com.
mission for neglect of duty and malad-
ministration of Office. They have both
gone to Manila and an American is now
on his way to take the place of the gov
ernor until his case is examined into.
He is married man and Carrie is very
anxiously awaiting his arrival with
hopes that he will bring his wife with
him and thus have another American
woman In town. The money question
is the most serious thing we have to
contend with at present as we are paid
in Mexican currency and it is depreci.
ating very rapidly at present, the rate
now being 81 U. s. currency, for $3.50
Mexican. AS we can not buy any U.
s. currency here of course we lose every
time the Mexican takes drop, which it
is doing every few days. The insular
government is reported to have lost over
81 100000 gold within the past few
months because of the depreciation OF
Mexican currency. We are all hoping
congress will do something to relieve
the money situation over here during
its present session.
With one of the most fertile countries
in the world there are great many ma
tives hungry for the absolute necessaries
Of life because they are too lazy to
work the little that is necessary tor a
most bountiful harvest. The people
here prefer to go hungry rather than
work a little. One OF the greatest draw
backs to the development of the coun-
try is the matter of labor. The native
thinks it the highest type of folly to do
any work when he has q little rice or a
few dollars in the house. As long as
| they feel that way about work and con-
gress will not allow the Importation of
Chinese or Japanese to do the work not
much capital is going to be invested
here by anyone.
The chief product of the Islands is, of
course, what we know at home as Ma.
nila hemp. 1t requires no cultivation at
all. All the work is in the gathering of
it and the natives go out and gather for
a few days, thus getting enough rice to
last them short time and then they
rest until that is consumed when they
repeat the operation. l have no hopes
for the present generation, but if the
work of the American government ac-
complishes what believe it will for the
next generation 1t will give an impetus
to business and morals such as the
Orient has never experienced.
Yours Truly,
|