The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-03-29
cLoTHEs ANp CIVILIZATION
Filipinos Soon Learn That They
Must Be Provided with
Proper Raiment.

Some information which has leaked
out from Washington is highly inter-
esting as showing the progress in civ
ilization made by our national wards
the Filipinos 1t all has reference to
new series OF special delivery post
age stamps that Is to be issued for
the use OF the Philippines. In design
ing these stamps, says the Troy On.
Y.) Times, care has been taken by
our government and the artists in its
employ to make pictures fit the situa-
tion. The idea has been to combine
utility with beauty, and at the same
time to compliment the natives by con-
forming as far as was practicable 70
their tastes and customs. A great
deal Of time and thought was spent
on these stamps, and it was earnestly
hoped that they would meet the
hearty approval of the Filipinos, sub
stituted, as they win be. for the old
stamps bearing the Dhiz Of the young
king Of Spain, which were constant
reminders Of a former cruel and un-
just domination
In way the design, which has
been submitted to the Philippines gov
ernment, does meet warm approval.
It's beauty and the compliment i'm
piled are appreciated, but 1t appears
that there is one serious objection.
The picture on the stamp is that Of
Filipino boy, clad in the light and
q 4rv "a ocbfnt, tvpfoa1 - A. vnsrd IA
mate and the customary scantiness Of |
attire attesting to the absence OF biz
zardy weather. This device was hit |
upon after much anxious reflection,
the notion being that no other would |
more exactly represent the fieet-footed |
Mercury who is supposed to hustle
around with mail matter in the is
lands, and the artists, uniting real
ism with symbolical fancy, rightly
concluded that in tropical region no
postboy could get rapid move on
him If he wer., handicapped by too
much clothes, That seems pertinent
and sensible,
Yet the Filipinos object to the mail
carrier because he is not dressed /
enough, although, as the officials Of
the insular bureau at Washington put
It, the attire is unusually complete
with the costumes of ma
Eives depicted on some of the stamps
Of Africa" 1t must be said that the
position taken by tie Filipinos does
great credit to them, however it may
IND ha CT Il /
hat stamp. The objections interposed
indicate that the Filipinos are rapid
y advancing in the right direction,
Tor is it not matter of indisputable
history that the higher the civilization
70 which men climb the greater is
heir attachment to clothes and the
more elaborate their wardrobe? The
Filipinos' own neighbors, the pictur-
ssque Igorrotes. have afforded a strik-
Ing example of this A large number Of
hem came to the Louisiana Purchase
clothed for the most part
n natures own garb. But they were
'apid learners, and they returned to
heir country deckad in attire that
would have been the glory of a rum
mage sale and the despair of a sec
midland clothing establishment.
And on their native heath they have
established themselves as sort OF \
that can put on airs be-
ause It no longer goes in deshabille.
They arc source of envy to their
Ieighbors and object lessons in the !
wrought by dress.
Such Influences are getting in their
york, as the Filipino protest against
he disrobed messenger boy on the
ostage stamps shows. The islanders
re becoming raore civilized and con-
want more clothes.
L