Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-07-26

Only a few of this tribe are here, and
the tribe itself is said to be dying out
from sheer weakness.
The next step is represented by the
Igorrotes, of whom there is qnite vii.
lage. They wear scant clothing-indeed
there is hardly enough of it to cal
scant-live in little nipa-thatched huts
without any furniture to speak OF, and
eat dog meat, but though of small
stature they are physically of fine ap
pearance and appear to be capable Of
development.
The "fierce Moros," as they are called
have acquired somewhat higher degree
of civilization and clothes, and theii
houses, though matched with the in
evitable nipa, are constructed with some
attention to what the educated man has
learned to consider as comfort. There
is quite large Moro village.
The higest type of civilization rep
resented here is in the Visayan village.
The houses are frail in construction, but
the place is clean, and the people neat
and well dressed. A band plays, regular
performances are held in theatre, and
weaving, hat making and other industries
are carried on in native fashion. The
processes look primitive beside the
machinery of the twentieth century,
but they turn out very good product.
The centre of attraction was and is
likely to remain in the Igorrote village,
for several reasons. 1t is one of the
largest of the native villages, and in II
o,o o., bo oaan N 70 oo l;vin0 In yrin tive
savagery, but capable of being brought
to better things, and made to possess
the blessings and the burdens of civil
cation, which in itself makes them in
teresting. Every hour they have one of
their tribal dances, which is done to the
accompaniment of an Internal racket
made by beating metal drums, and
always draws crowd.
1t is alleged by the wicked st. Louis
papers that there is another reason for
the popularity of the IgorrOte village.
Just about the time we reached there it
was announced that President Francis
of the exposition had decided that the
costume of the Igorrotes was INSULT
cient, and had issued orders that they
must put on clothes-not to an offensive
degree, but something like swimming
trunks. The papers said that there was
Immediately great rush to get into the
village before the order could be carried
out. How that may be | don't know,
but it was certainly havinga good patron
age.
The costume of the male Igorrote, to
which objection was made, consists OF
placid smile and what is known as e.
String-and the name itself gives about
as good description of the garment Gf
garment it can be called) as l could do
in a dozen lines. 1t puts the bathing
suit joke way out beyond the surf, but
did not see any of the fair ladies among
the spectators turning away their blush
ing countenances, or even peeklng
their fingers. That was the
hottest day we had while we were at the
fair, and | don't believe there was any
one but envied the savages their cool and
airy costume.
1t was afterwards denied that Presi-
dent Francis had issued the order quoted,
but the matter continued to be discuss
ed in the papers, until finally it has been
that no less an authority than
President Roosevelt, the court of last re-
sort, has given the very sensible decision
that the Igorrotes shall be allowed to
continue in their native attire. Certain
ly the idea of taking these people, sup.
posed to represent their true manner OF
life, out of their own costume, and put
ting them into sort of semi-Christian,
abbreviated bathing suit
style of attire, which is neither fish,
flesh, nor good red herring, is about as
inappropriate and absurd as anything
that could be devised.
In due time the Igorrote, under the
beneficent influences that we shall bring
to bear, will put on trousers and trouble;
he will wear lot of unnecessary clothes,
and may even attain to the discomfort
of stovepipe hat and high collar. He
will leave his simple, careless life for
the complex joys and sorrows, the &C
and accidents, the privi-
leges and privations, of civilization. But
not until after the st. Louis fair. While
that lasts, let him chew his dog meat
and wear his G-string in piece.
A, E. 4.