The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-08-12
Worlds Fair Notes.


lHeraid's special Correspondent
One Of the most interesting places on
the Exposition grounds is assembled
the PHILIPPINE reservation.
The bridge leading TO the walled
city Of Manila is crossed by a constant
stream Of people. II is interesting TO
note the development Of the PHILIPPINE
as shown in the different villages.
From the small sized, naked Negroto
TO the most highly educated Visayan
is surely quite a step in civilization.
The educational display Is very credit
able and as musicians they are not 10
be despised. | was much interested In
the orchestral music, if such il nigh
be called, Of the Moro theater. Just
imagine a small, square, shed-iike
room, around the four sides OF which a
platform extended on which were two
rows Of benches without backs. The
entire center Of the Don was the Stage.
The ground was covered to depth Of
several idches with sand, and here
were performed the imitation wal
dances Of the chiefs and other dances
by the women Of the tribe. But the
orchestra was a novelty. 10 differed
from most modern orchestras in that
il was composed almost entirely Of wo-
men. The principal player, a big bux-
ON woman, was dressed In a bright
colored shawl shaped garment, draped
tightly about her body from the waist
down. The rest Of her costume con.
sisted Of light shirt Of some kind.
She was generously bedecked with
bracelets, etc. This talented lady was
seated ON a bench a bout six inches
high and fiat; on the ground before her
instrument, 1t vas similar in appear
ance 10 a duclime. about threeior four
feet long, and in the center Of each
cross bar was a protuberance in shape
and size like a call bell. There were
eight bells the octave Of the scale) on
the instrument, six Of which she used
10 play her mOnOtonous melody and
two in the bass were played by another
woman. At the left Of these, were
two Others, a man, the only m in the
orchestra, and a woman. Both played
instruments looking likefa common
nail keg with a drum head. The man
played his by striking il with the open
palms Of hands, the woman played
hers like a drum with two sticks. Be
hind the first two players were suspend
ed several gong like instruments, only
one Of which wa played the day had
the pleasure Of hearing this novel
orchestra. There were no stringed in-
struments Of any kind. The music
they played had both rythm aud
melody, and was used TO accompany
the dances. Ii vas mOnotonous IN the
extreme, the same thing being repeat
ed over and over again.
The dances Of the Women TO this
music consisted Of a slow sliding move
ment Of the feet on the rug or mating
placed on the uneven sanded ground
aud a turning Of the hands from the
wrists i n time with the feet. IL was
all slow and not ungraceful. All the
performers were dressed in the bright
est Of satin clothes. One big, burly
Moro was resplendant in a full suit OF
bright, blue satin. IL was gala day at
the village for Cardinal Slttoli was ex-
pected to pay them a visit and every
one was bent on doing and looking his
or her best. One little fellow wa dress
sed in a stripped satin suit that made
him look like a gigantic snake. An
other chief wa fine in a crimson satin
suit.