New Ulm review., 1905-08-30
''UNDER The BANANA TREES
Mrs. Anderson Writes Interest.
ingly of Philippines.
New Ulm Lady Does Not Take
Kindly to Spanish Cigaretts.
IsObligedto Decline Native Honors
at Public Demonstration.
Arayat, Pampanga, P. 1.
T,,1v 1G 1OOS

Arayat, Pampanga, P. l.
July Is, 1905.
EDITOR REvIEW:-
| States mail has been very slow in
reaching me, no papers OF any kind,
owing probably to my change Of ad-
dress. Upon my arrival here learned
that was to be stationed at Arayat,
Pampanga, thirty-6ve miles north of
Manila, instead of at Ilocos Norte.
Since my departure from home,
nearly three months ago, have wit
messed scenes SO foreign to anything
we even dreamed of in the states. No
descriptions can picture as wildly the
actual sights, which must be expert
enced to be fully realized. My long
sail across the Pacific has been ex-
tremely delightful, and remarka BILE for
its absence of rough sea. We were
somewhat anxious before reaching
IYokahoma on account of the Russian
fleet, and for awhile did not know
whether we were going to Vladivostok
or Manila.
We all breathed easy when we
sighted the coast of Japan, Memorial
day and were at our second port when
the famous battle between the Russian
and Japanese took place. The Japa-
nese were beside themselves in cele-
brating this victory and SO were few
Americans that were caught in the
enthusiasm. 1t was quite an excite
ment to be riding in a jinrikisha at
night among millions of lanterns and
yellow paraders with their kindliest
feelings manifested towards us, and
with a feeling of perfect safety on our
part.
Here in the Philippines I met still
other customs among the people, and
am very glad to learn the people better.
They seem very eagerfor an education,
and welcome gladly the advent of two
Americana maestros (teachers.) [
have fifty pupils, ranging from ten to
thirty-five years, doing second and
third grade work. Later l shall give
you a minute description of our school
and school work. ..
People live in bamboo houses, as no
doubt you have seen at the worlds
fair. The roofs are thatched with
nipa palm something similar to the
material OF our palm leaf fans, and
prepared in strips one foot wide and
two or three feet long. With rattan
these are tied to bamboo poles that
form the rafters. We have no win
dows but wooden slides that open and
close as we desire. We do not need
to close them to shut out rain, for the
caves are very low and about three
feet wide, and the wind seldom blows
severely. So we have our rooms quite
open continually. We have no pro-
lection OF course, against mosquitoes,
which are quite bad at this time of the
year. Beds are protected with net
ting, as otherwise sleep would be i'm
possible.
Banana trees are thick about US and
it is quite a sight to see a banana
flower unfold. They are about foot
or SO long, of a red color, and hang
downward. The petals near the stem
open first, and expose row of small
I bananas, then the next pair of petals
open and exposes another row o1
. bananas, and SO on till all are open
/ The leaves are from six to twelve
feet long, one to two feet wide, with g
strong midrib running through the
center. At first the leaf is all in one
) but the wind tears it from the midril
{ to the edge in strips about an inch o.
less wide, making an old leaf lool
somewhat different to a new leaf. 4
new leaf is very valuable to the natives
as wrapping paper. We often see tn,
natives stopping on the street, ant
with a bolo, a long knife they carr,
with them, cut off a piece of the leaf
the length they desire. Sugar grass
hopper, little fish, snails, rice an,
other small purchases you wish t,
make, are handed to you in banan.
t leaf.
People are inveterate smokers here
: Upon our arrival here the first nigh
t our landlord made US a call. III
? kindly passed around his cigarette
5 and was very anxious not to pass th
) "senora' by.
! One of my pupils while calling upol
me, offered me cigar, Girls ant
boys and women as we'll as men smok
! freely on the streets. We have beel
trying to break up the habit in schoo,
; but so far only succeeded in it's non
use in the room.
At fiesta the other day, which W,
attended, and which was held in homo,