The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1906-07-21

A Manila landlord in trying to rent
his house said it was located in the
aristocratic district of San Miguel. He
was stirring up hornets nest, but
didn't know it, There are people in
Manila who object to San Miguel be-
ing termed the district of the 400.
Until this time few people ever knew,
and a majority cared less, that Ma
Mia could boast a really aristocratic
section. Those who did were proba-
bly, of the American colony living in
Ermita. There the cream, SO 60
speak, Of the American contingent re-
sides, that is the commanding general
of the Philippines division and those
of the big government salaries, and
It has always imagined itself the arts.
tocracy of the city. perhaps more
through penchant it hats for paying
about SO per cent. greater rent than
would be required elsewhere.
In Ermita the houses are huddled
together like stampeded steers in a
roundup, but the neaness of the sea
shore and the Luneta, Manila's Bois
dc Boulogne, the cleanliness OF the
district and, incidentally, the high
rents, are what attract the American
to this select western center of the
metropolis. But the landlord was
quite correct in saying in his rent ad
that his property was located in the
arstocratic neighborhood of San Mi
guel. the literal translation of which
is Saint Michael, for here true east
ern aristocracy, what little there is
in the capital, quietly resides.
The landlords of Ermita are Just
rich enough on the average to own
expensive houses, but poor enough
TO need to rent them when Americans
can be found that will pay double
what they are worth. But In San
Miguel the conditions are somewhat
different, There the citizens are
wealthy beyond the state of becoming
landlords, regardless OF the lone own
er who wanted to hire out and who
was crafty enough to advertise an
aristocratic atmosphere as drawing
card to the susceptible. Here the
Roxases, the brewing maGnates and
other families of great wealth live
when not touring continental Europe,
or globe-trotting in general Thei
vast wealth quite cOuntcrbalances
the high rents paid by the aristoc.
racy of Ermita, and then they have
one other claim upon the title which
handcaps the aspiring denizens of the
sea shore barriO. This other claim
lies in the fact that the governor
general has his home there-the
White House Of the Philippines-and
has had since long before American
occupation.
But so much for Manila's aristoc-
racy and the hombre who brought up
the subject through a desire to rent,
and TO the subject Of the lnsular
White House. which Is locally known
as the Malacanan palace, located on
the banks Of the Pasig in the heart
OF San Miguel. Malacanan is ma.
tive name and means in tersc English
the hang out" or rendezvous of the
fishes. but the exalted official who re.
sides there Is far from being a fish in
the sense that the American term i'm.
plies. why this name was given the
place is not known, unless II was
because OF its proximity to The river,
The executive mansion at MALAGA
IL ,t4tt1tlgr]v kpnufn
the palace, would hardly be dignllied
with the name in any other country
unless IN some Of the toy republics in
the Caribbean. The new command
ing generals residence recently
erected In Ermita at government cX.
pensc far cxccls II in exterior magnl'
fcence, but the interior and the
grounds about the military manson
can hardly favorably compare with
the domici,o OF the governor general
But the name Of palace generally sig
nifieg a grand and imposing structure,
fit for kings and their Tx, yet this
cannot conscIentously be said OF
Malacandn The buildings proper are
long and low squatty and fiat but
covering vast amount Of ground as
IL to make up in area what they lack
In height. All the roofs are OF or.
binary, implanted galvanized iron or
Of red tile, while the walls are either
Of adobe stone or native hard woods,
the place thus giving, with its well.
lept lawns. shrubbery ana drives
more the appearance Of shooting
lodge or some sporting prince than
anytAjng else to which It can lie com