Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21
ROYAL GATE, MANILA.

been invaded at several points by military
barracks and other public buildings. and
the encroa chments are increasing; but there
is plenty of land left for parking and other
public purposes, and 1 believe the govern
ment intends to place all future public
buildings there and make a splendid street.
There are now an ice plant and cold-storage
warehouse, which occupy altogether the best
building in town; the government printing
office. the city hall. which is the ugliest
structure you can imagine; a hospital
botanical garden and little Zoo with
few foriorn animals, which seem to afford
the F1lipinos great pleasure.
The greater part of the open belt is
wel1-uscd playground, for cricket, base ball,
polo, tennis and all kinds of outdoor games.
Every afternoon at the close of business
hours hundreds of young men and boys go
there for exercise, and on Saturdays and
Sundays it is crowded with people of all
ages, both Americans and natives. The
Filipino is very fond of sport. He prefers 1t
to manual labor, and has picked up the
American game of base ball with a readi-
ness which confirms all that ethnologfsts
have said of his quick perceptions. Between
the playground and the bay Is the Luneta
an oval lawn with band stands in the CEN
ter and a broad sidewalk and driveway
around it, where half the population of the
city gather when the sun goes down to us
ten to the music Of bands, to fiirt and Cos
sip and cool off This diversion Is the physf-
cal salvation OF the weary during the hot
months, and the greatest benefit the span
iards ever conferred upon Manila was the
conversion OF the public execution ground
into this popular resort.
At one end Of the Luneta, protected by
heavy wire netting, are two infant trees,
memorials planted by Gov. Taft on the last
day he spent in Manila, and the Fifipinos
regard them with reverence. In centuries
to come they will bring their children and
their grandchildren and their great-grand-
children there and tell them of the great
ness and goodness of the first Yankee gov
ernor for Secretary Taft possesses their
affections as well as their confidence. They
esteem him as we esteem Washington, and
If they were Burmese or Japanese or other
kinds Of heather they would make him
god.
There Is a lovely boulevard along the
shore of the bay, with row Of palms upon
either side and a monument left by the
Spaniards at either end. 1t runs from the
Luneta to the river, about mile and Its
broad sidewalks are the favorite prom
enade
The Residential Quarter.
Beyond the open zone to the southwark
is the favorite residence part Of the city,
called Ermita, mixture of palm, or
"nipa," huts, as they call them. and pala-
tial mansions, and 1t has the making Of
beautiful place. Unfortunately, the streets
are very narrow. but the municipal officials
intend to widen them. and, indeed. are al
ready doing 80. Here most of the foreign
eE6 TeSlOes mere arc tnc popular CIuD6 ana
the Protestant churches. An entire block
has been purchased for a modern hotel,
another block for ant Episcopal cathedral,
and many handsome residences are now
being built 20 meet the demand of the
American colony. In the center of Ermita
is the Jesuit seminary end observatory,
American priest Of eminent ability popu-
larity and wide influence. He was educated
at Georgetown University, at Washington,
and was the first American Clergyman to
enter the Philippines Hah has been en-
gagged in educational work ever since ham,
mering American ideas irfto the heads of
the coming generation of Fflipinos
Beyond Ermita, stretching along the
shore of the bay. are the suburbs of Malats
and several little viIlagessof native huts,
with bungalows Of Amerfcans and Euro
peans lying between them. There are golf
club and a country Club and two military
encampments in that direction, and the city
is spreading rapidly toward them.
On the other side of1the river is the busi-
ness section of Manila, which will tell you
about at another time.