The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-09-16
nY mas. HENRY w. LAwToN.

NY MRS. HENRY w. LAwTON.
Copyright, 1906. by Joseph B. Bowlesl
(The wife Of the late Gen. Henry W.
Iawton was in the truest sense her ais
| tinguished husbands associate ana COM
panion during his adventures army eA-
periences. While devoted to her nus
band and family she yet could aiways
| ilies Of the soldiers OF the garrison. An
| intelligent observer. she has gathered
| a large fund Of experiences of the most
| interesting kind)
NV personal knowledge of the wo-
men OF the PHILIPPINES Is limited 10
| those of Manila and the surrounding
| towns Considering the times. condi
| tIons and opportunities. my circle OF
| friends there is not inconsideraoie,
| and whenever the occasion offered l
| found their kindly hospitality and gem
| tie courtesy unfailing The Philip
pines contain many different. distinct
| tribes and dialects. which ! shall no.,
| however touch upon, but give my ow"
| experience and observations
As in every other country. the wo-
| men of the Philippines are divided into
! classes; the high-born ladies' VINO are
bright and attractive. dress dainttly.
possess their horses and carriages i've
| in luxury. entertain sumptuousiy ana
find life altogether agreeable; the MD
|
| there is no 'noblesse obiige"--who are
independent. unconventional. comfort
able: and the poorer. whose cares ana
| clothes are few. labors light and habits
extremely simple.
was brought in contact with them
ali and found much to interest me IN
each.
| NV introduction was to the sweet
| faced. gentle hammered nuns OF Con-
| cordia, who so kindly and cordiaiiy
| offered be shelter upon my ARRIVAL IN
/ Mantle when the recent uprising IN the
| town rendered 1t dangerous for unpro-
tected Americans. While many OF mem
were natives. / fancy quite a NUMBER
were bfought from Spain. but SO long
| ago they had, easily acquired the nab
/ its and customs of the country. wnicn
under Spanish rule was. after all, much
/ like their own.
The convent. several miles out OF
Manila. was beautifully situated
among tropical shade trees, with hne
/ grounds and an imposing entrance
where one always met with hospit-
| able welcome In prosperous tines
| "before the war"--this grand old con-
| vent was supported by from 500 TO 500
| pupils Now there were only forty oes-
| titute girls. whom these good women
| fed. clothed and sheltered by the labor
| of their hands.
This was also the case at Convente
de Paco. where I soon became an IN
| innate" learned to, know and love the
/ sisters there and shall always remem-
| Der most gratefully their Kindness ana
sympathy.
/ about Manila there are two more that
/ I knew welI--Santa Isabella, In the
| walled city, where my little girls at
| tended school for a short time, ana the
one SO picturesque on a little island in
/ the Pasig. near Ayala bridge. we are
/ still wearing garments made oy the
1 busy fingers there. and the three rag
doIls over whose trousseaus these nuns
/ and even the visiting padre derived
1 much amusements, are treasured In the
family as tenderly as ever. For pretty
| dolls of bisdue. paper or even rag are
unknown in that country
My children were profoundly STRUCK
with the 'nothings" In the way OF
TOYS to be found. They were intensely
amused one morning at Santa Isabella
4 al the interest created by some large,
| handsome paper dolls just received
from home Taken to school for the
recreation hour, they delayed the OPEN
ing of the entire schol, while nuns
ana pupils alike gathered around and
enioyed for the first time this-to them
novel sight. Ny little girls stood on
a platform and changed the costumes
of these dolls and were quite as en-
tertained as their friends.
The lower class, whose lives are so
| simple, whose wants are maryeiousiy
| few. whose occupations are varied and
| singularly suited to them, interested
/ me strongly They are apparently as
happy living in the end of casco and
keep house with the same ease as
those who live on land and occupy
picturesque nipa hut of small proper
lions, whose roof seems elastic, II
sometimes covers SO many heads.
These women take In washing, ped
die fancy fabrics made of their fruit
fbers, make bamboo mating, sew or
embroider. Some with large fiat bas-
xets of fruits and the invariable betel
nut done up neatly in spicy leaf held
together by lime paste that evidently
renders It more palatablc. move from
Mace to place as occasion requires and
4 SQUAT patiently in the shade awaiting
customers.
The stalls in markets are also kept
principally by women, some OF Whom
live right there with their families
Then the cigar factories furnish occu-
patioas to many OF all ages. was
astonished to see little girls OF not
more than 9 or 10 years with the deft-
ness of experts roll cigaretts and ci-
| gars and shreds of tobacco; while not
a few pretty little babies. each clothed
only in a short pima skirt. crept around
as the mothers worked.
Hundreds are employed in these large
factories. They obtain their food for
a few pennies from neighbor con-
veniently located, whose business 1t is
to furnish them with provisions.
have often watched with great deal
OF interest the keen relish with which
they gather around the central figure
who serves the chosen dish from quaint
pottery with coeoanut ladle. amid
| Undesirable chatter and undoubted
enjoyment. When everyone Is satisfied
they repair to their homes for the nee
essary siesta. The hostess clears up
her dishes and follows their example
and the corner becomes quiet and
empty until evening, when the gay
scene is repeated.
Their cooking is done out of doors
under a bamboo or matched nipa avn
ing, which protects them from both
sun and rain. Many time has the