The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-08-30
THE PHILIPPINES
Greater in Area and Less in Population
Than First Estimated.
Frederick J. Hsskin in The Sunny South.


scribed for hot climate cen live ia
the Philippines with almost as much
immunity from disease as If he were
residing in the United States. This
is proved by the record kept by the
army and navy officials both in times
of peace and war. CT course q person
may quickly become diseased from
dissipation or disobedience to the
sules governing tropical diet. Tie
use Of liquor in hot climate is ener-
waiting, this can easily be overcome by
frequent sojourns in higher or cooler
region.
The great necessity for education
in the Philippines is shown by the
discovery Of the fact that less than
10 per cent Of the entire population
could speak common language. It
was supposed that the majority of
the people understood Spanish, but
this has been proved incorrect. Il
vas the policy Of the friars to learn
the language of the people rather than
to teach their own, 80 they could in
terpret the law arbitrarily. There
we're many people counted as literate
who could speak some Spanish, but
were unable to read or write it. AS o
sesult of the educational system now
in vogue throughout the Islands the
bulk of the population will soon be
able to affiliate by means Of the Eng
lish language.
There are now $4,000 children at
tending echool in the Philippines. A
few less than thousand American
school teachers are engaged here at
the present time and they have about
five thousand native teachers assist.
ing them. The number Of American
teachers will gradually diminish as
the supply Of natives eligible to en-
gage in the work increases. The diff
cuities encountered by the frat Amer
leans who came here to teach can
hardly be described. They succeed
cd Spanish instructors who taught the
pupils to write upon banana leayea
with pointed stick. The process Of
counting was to cut notohes in q piece
Of wood. Some of our teachers had
| 70 build their own school houses, man.
ufaoture their own benches, and then
work for months without states, books
or other material. Those who could
not procure building material con.
Quoted their classes under shade
trees. III Il. .I@s s.. 5ss .s Y s.
" Some critics have insisted that too
much money has been spent upon edu.
oational work, but that con tention can
hardly be justified. On account Of
the the natives having SO long been
amenabl, to the influence iof the
Spanish fliars, they are more easily
controlled by the school teachers than
by either the civilFor military ;authori.
ties. The rural teacher In tho Philip.
pines 10 the natural leader Of tie COM
munity, and his functions are SO 3snu.,
merons and 30 novel as to Be on;te
outside the Limitations Of the same
sailing il tho uuitsd States. He ID
appealed TO in cases Of oppression, he
settles political disputes, lp[,rreesides.
over All functions, superintends the
b building gil Of roads and bridges and has s.s
even been called uponto assist ia dis.
persing.. bandits. That the people ,s, are e,E
sn;xious { 70; Ilg1l for edueationis shown BY the
fact thatthe attendance ii SO per cent
',i' of The enrolment ae oonpsred m n With ii h VA n
per cent lin the United States The
[, wisdom Of the broad educational
9 .mpaign inangurs.sd BY General
/ e { Vie We is becoming morsim important eyesry
asy. S5: S9 .i5 81 S,s'E
There is little variatyin the n 4, sperma: 81, :
nent q occupation of tho q Filipinsols.
Forty per cent 81 the men are farmers r
The 3 women are very IND ustriouulss,, 81 aud
are especially clever. at spinning and
weaving. With tho crude ,,i,tt q Mind 81 of
\ looms they manufacture most / ;s s;xauis. ia .
az ise fabries, ana m axe hats, mats and
carpets 'of an exceeding ane qu,.lity.| Il.
The ssltslrns Of the resent censua SHOW
that 9 che a portion Of Romen5 engaged al, |
10 remnlulner nj eratiye oconpati on. 1. ins m sl,el |
Philippines more shan double those |
5siimilarly employed .in the Upitedi
States, and three times j gyrreatsr yr ,tbar! |!
nseither orto III or CUBS. Tbsi 81
esnnt of 10 earn sss saho owed sthas
the RilipinoB begin vofk 81 When 81 Iysryl s
yonns 81 { Qnl lll email port ion toss s the!I
fsma S sals lsAs lsA pnlation ssospts work m asl
I dotzssti q :sa ssryants this being a lina sfI
eBssSS alfnoas snsitsly non,a plisss |
by shay men sssat sdifHeultyp 3 y,ss m 80
psriensed inS clsssi Il Mug il ,hc ys,iona |
cecupati ions because III III 4 the M B !; ;te,depsyI