The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-10-12
paper Read Before the ChautauQua Circle.

A FTER five months of cOntin-
~ ual hiking on the Island OF
~ Panay, 1 finally received a
permanent assignment to the
9th Infantry, then stationed on Negros
Island. After many yards of the us
ual red-tape had been unwound,
departed for Bacolod, then the head
quarters of the regiment. On my ar
rival I reported to the sergeant major,
and was ordered to report to "B" COM
pany for rations and quarters. A
weeks rest and good feeding made
me feel as clipper as a young bird.
was then sent for and ordered to make
ready to leave by steamer for Duma-
guete, which is the largest village on
the island, located hundred miles
south. On arrival I was to report for
duty as private in Company then
stationed there.
The trip through Tannon Strait was
one of the most delightful experiences
of my stay in the tropics. Negros on
one side and Cebu on the other, either
one within a stones throw. Our
steamer stopped at Escalante, Binabog-
an. Bias and several other small vii
lages for mail, and to deliver rations.
This gave us an opportunity to visit
the shore for q few moments each
time.
Arriving at Dumaguete next day
reported for duty. The first sergeant
looked me over, asked me few ques-
tions, and informed me that had
come to the most desolate spot on the
face of the earth; and furthermore
that since the company had arrived at
that village, there had never been more
than thirty members together at one
time, every one being assigned to de-
tached service or hiking, which is
about the same thing. now realized
that 1 was up against the real thing, so
I wrote few letters home, cleaned my
equipments, went down to the market,
drank a few quarts of dnlce or sweet
TUDOR, and then awaited developments.
AS had served previous enlistment
in the army, I escaped most of the
duties that usually fall to the recruit,
such as cooks police, room orderly
and special fatigue, which gave me
some spare time to observe the sur
roundings.
Dumaguete is the second largest and
most important shipping point for
Manila hemp and sugar, in the south.
ern islands, the city of Iloilo leading
Much tobacco is handled here also, az
it is a port of call for the Australian
steamers on their way north or south
I might say that it was here had the
privilege of eating my last piece OF
juicy Australian beef for over year
The natives are about the same class
as those on the other islands. Among
the poorer class there Is much drunk
eness and little labor. The Spanish
element own most of the haciendas
and the Chinese attend to the CONNER
cial affairs. The native women are yer!
fond of fancy colors for their clothing
but do not give much attention to thei
houses. will say here that after leav
ing the villages, clothes is thing no
thought of. During the seven month";
that l was on detached service I saw
thousands upon thousands of them
old and young, male and female, with
out stitch on, just as nature mad
them. The native dish is rice an,
chicken which, in my opinion, is 81
elegant dish. The Filipino is the onl
person on earth who knows how t
cook rice. not excepting the Chinese
They have another dish which did nc
become so popular. It was Gale
guinea-moos. It consisted Of minnow
which were spread in the sun for
day or two, or until the aroma was de
lightful, then sour TUDOR was poure
over them, mangoe or two addet
: and it was ready to eat. Very few {
us cared for It however.
All kinds of tropical fruits, such 9
oranges, bananas, citron, and mangoe