The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-06-19
FiIipinOs at the WORLDS Fair

murderOus council of war against an
opposing tribe, though there were no
outcries of hostility. The low and quiet
tones were more suggestive of gossip
at 5 o'clock tea, but then, again,
there were no EXPLANATIONS to indie
cate scandal-mongering No lecturer
was on hand to make explanations.
The men didn't sit on the ground, but
on their heels, the broad bottoms of
their feet being ample to balance on.
fhe posture looked uncomfortable, but
usage had made it easy and that way
or sitting down was common through
out the village. The talk OF the men
slowly became a mOnOtOnOUs song, but
without an appreciable tune, and when
that was over they arose with the
gOugs and sticks ID. receive the women.
The reception was not demOnstrative.
The IgOrrOtes are eXpressiOuless at all
times, yet il seemed as If these men
blank faces took on a tinge OF contempt
when the ten women. who had been
sqUatting on their heels at one side of
the arena, came listlessIy to the center
They were a short, fat, uncOuth lot,
calculated TO make you content forever
after with the worst that our stage can
give In the way of old and ugly bale
They wore shapeless tuniCs and graC
less skirts, with no rings ON their nm
gers nor bells ON their toes, nor any
peCt to see i'm the sex anywhere and
everywhere on earth. They seemed
stupid, spiritless. utterly purposeless.
Two who had been smoking laid their
pipes down, TO be taken up when their
dance should be over.
The wOmen's performance was more
like real dancing than the mems had
been, yet still had no great activity.
They posed and swayed, singly, in
couples and finally iu a se=etette, slowly
and laZily TO the humping of gougs
and the Whacluug of a drumhead
drawn. over the end of a hollow log.
They held out their arms with the
palms upward, but without the slight
est gestieuiatiou, while their feet were
inert and their visages gave forth mo
CLEAN of intelligence. An obese old
Waddler had little of the air of lead
eTship and suggested a Filipino carl
cature of a chaperOu-
The most pliable two IN the party
paired of with men and ail four put ON
red and white cloths, So euvelOping
themselves that sex was disguised eX-
cept when the fabric parted 10 show
mans legs full length or a. WOmans
only 20 the knees. This dance con-
Veyed "a dim meaning and was vague
ly pautOmImio. Each carried "a square
yard of red cloth and waved 1T before
his or her partner. as though In am
OTOus negotiation, the suan in pursuit
and the woman in retreat and, when
she had Coquetted all she wanted o.,
she dropped the cloth. but whether that
meant acceptance Of her sutton or 're-
lection wasn't clear Anyway, it was
The sign to- cease. But the action was
apathetC and dispassionate. The ell
max of the ballet was solo by one
who may be regarded, / suppose, as the
premier danseuse, because she dis
.-r 1g9.l.a Q
parting a tremulous movement 90 the
heshy portions of her body, as the orr
entail cOUehee creatures doc, j suspect
ed she hadn't been accustomed 70 that
but had learned it in order 90 give
touch of human animation TO the show.
A big gong was struck not far away
and the men of the company ran out
of the theatre as IF an alarm OF fire
had been sounded ana each feared that
his own hut was iu flames. There had
been no sucn commoton iu the enter
talnmeHt. The fact IS that the signal
Tor an issue OF Tati0us had been given
ana the rush was 90 thu cOmmissaTy
Kitchen. TO each man dish of hot
beef and rice WAS given and with it ne
hurried huugTily home which was one
of the novels that compose the village.
Most of the structures are enclosed
breast high only. with a thick thatch
of straw overhead, and therefore look
more like show booths than usual
dwellings Visitors gathered around
them and stared an the occupants 1t
was apparent at once that not the best I
looking OF the women, but the worst /
had been shown iu the dances. The
only reason / can think Of for such a
reversal OF the civilized custom in
choosing show girls" Is that the men
deem themselves Apoilos, set are not 4
SO confident about 81 as % bringing 4
Neuuses forward in competition. I saw