The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-14

/ does the Mexican in his sombrero. The
! long and has two edges. Sometimes the
/ hilt is handsomely carved, for the Fill
pino takes as much pride in his bolo as
| bolo is the Fiipinos badge Of citizenship.
Long trunks Of bamboo trees lie In
stacks on the ground. They are slim
poles, jointed here and there. some thick
enough to make stout supports. others
so thin that they are easily pliable and
can be bent and tied into knots.
Our Filipino carpenter squats himself
upon the ground-with padded plank
under him these chilly days. He selects
from the pile bamboo pole and gets TO
work with his bolo. Diligently he
scrapes and shaves. turning out curling
shavings that in his Cwn ;and he would
use for the making Of mattresses With
tedious care he continues scraping and
shaving with his sharp knife until the
bamboo is reduced to strip which bends
double under its own weight when lifted
by one end or the middle. Thus treated
the strip is used for weaving il the basic
plan Of the roof. \ lattice of these strips
IS laid on the unshaven bamboo poles as
supports, the poles themselves being fast
ened TO the hills and comb by strings
made Of a native grass or rattan cord
As a matter Of fact these poles are
sewed down, the needle being made out OF
piece Of bamboo. In some instances the
bamboo nail is used, being driven into
4 hole cut in the bamboo pole
The lattice work completed. then comes
f-a rrsr.
layer Of these broad, tough leaves. SINH
lar 10 the palm from which fans are
made. With his handmade needle and
his natural Understanding it also is
handmade. being shaved down from bam-
boo strips-he sews the thick thatch Sc
cUrely together.
Does it turn water? Single roofs some
times leak, the nipa roof never provided
II is properly put on, after the most ap-
proved manner Of the Filipino carpenter
II is rather slow work, but it is sure.
The native stands on scaffolding made
entirely OF bamboo, tied with bamboo
strings. If he happens to tear his trou-
sers he patches the garment with his
bamboo needle and bamboo thread. Ma,
ture is kind 10 the Filipino. What more
ing material. his furniture stock and his
clothes-repairing apparatus right at his
elbow?
During the snow blizzard in latter Janu-
airy the Filipinos at the Worlds Fair kept
indoors most of the time Some of them
were very much alarmed because the
snow continued to fall for nearly two
days. They We're afraid that they would
be showed in so that communication with
the city and necessary supplies would be
cut off. But as the islanders never saw
any snow until they came 10 ST. Louis,
their fears can be forgiven them.
One Of the large buildings already COM
pleted on the Filipino tract is the Grand
--estaurant. In front of this building
a Filipino band Of forty pieces viii play
during the fair. The roof is of bamboo
and nipa. The interior finish is in native
Filipino woods, some of them of extreme
hardness and splendid gloss.
The ''Intramuros," or walled city of old
Manila, accurately reproduced. is also
completed Visitors entering the Filipino
reservation from the main part of the ex-
position will cross a heavy. solid-lookng
bridge that spans the Inguua de Bay.
This is reproduced from the celebrated
Pucnte de Espana. crossing the Pasig
river at Manila. The substantial mason
~ is excellently counterfeited in star
and wood.
There are two other bridges across the
Lasuna de Bay, built Of bamboo. In the
waters near by are little huts made en-
tirely of native materials. thatched with
nipa grass. both roof and side walls. In
the trees not far away are queer-looking
houses. where the tree-dwelling Filipino
Will have his habitat.
The walled city is 250x3n0 feet IN dimen-
sion. The Agriculture ouiiding, in which
will be wonderful display of resources
of the island soil is 200 feet long and 10
feet wide. The forestry Of the Philip
mahoganies. tough ba-
nava and manave and many other woods
OF high commercial value-will be shown
in building lox75 fee,. Education &C.
cupies a building 150x50 feet. The Fill
pino government building is 150xlo0 feet,
and the native dwellings about the CEN
trail plaza occupy 1Oox1o0 feet. There Is
70 be a market place, where the natives
viii buy their provisions. sell their wares.
loaf and swap jokes just as they DO at
home
Every tribe will be represented. The
tribes Of the wild interior
VIII he seen. The dainty. dandy Filipino
Of the metropolis. Mania, viii be there !
in his gladdest sarb. Bewitching beau
ties OF dusky hue viii promenade the I
plaza. doubtless casting roguish glances- |
do the Filipinos fiirt2-at the American I
galIants who pass along"
The United States government is back 4
Of this Filipino exhibit Such IS the I
Of the thing that is IS called. F.
with excellent reason. an exposition with /
in an exposition.
CAPITOL GUIDE VACANCY.