The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-05-04

" |
toys to be found They were intensely
amused one morning at Santa Isabella
at the interest created by some large,
handsome paper dolls just received
from home. Taken to school tor the
recreation hour, they delayed the
opening of the entire school, while
nuns and pupils alike gathered around
and enjoyed for the first time this-to
them-novel sight. My little girls
stood on a platform and changed the
costumes of these dolls and were quite
as entertained as their friends.
The lower class, whose lives are so
simple. whose wants are marvelously
few, whose occupations are varied and
singu,arly suited to them, interested
me strongly. They are apparently as
happy living in the end OF casco ana
keep house with the same ease as
those who live on land and occupy
picturesque nipa hut OF small proper
tons. whose roof seems elastic. II
sometimes covers so many heads.
These women take in washing, ped
die dainty fabrics made of their fruit
ffibers, make bamboo mating, sew or
embroider. Some with large nat bas-
kets of fruits and the invariable betei
nut, done up neatly in spicy leaf
held together by lime paste that evil
IDENTIFY renders it more palatable, move
from place to place as occasion re-
quires and squat patiently In the snade
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-
patton to many of all ages. | was as
tonisned to see little girls OF not more
than nine or ten years with the defr-
ness of experts roll cigarettes and
cigars and shred tobacco; while not
few pretty little babies, each clothed
only in short pima shirt, crept around
as the mothers worked.
| Hundreds are employed in these
large factories. They obtain theil
food for few pennies from neigh
Dor conveniently located, whose busi
ness it is to furnish them with pro
visions. l have often watched with
great deal of interest the keen reiisf
with which they gather around the
central figure who serves the chosen
dish from quaint pottery with cocoa
! nut ladle, amid indescribable chatte
and undoubted enjoyment. WheI
everyone is satisfied they repair Il
their homes for the necessary siesta
The hostess clears up her dishes ant
follows their example and the corne
: becomes quiet and empty until even
/ ing, when the gay scene is repeated.
Their cooking is done out OF door
I under a bamboo or matched nipa avn
! ing, which protects them from bot
t sun and rain. Many time has tn
! odorous Whit of choice tidbit, COZ
:, sisting of spoiled fish and garlic, foun
r its way through our drawing roor
windows from the nipa shacks OF on
1 next-door neighbors.
d Several times l had occasion to b
Q friend and extend to them kindness
}, for which they were most grateful
t They showed their appreciation In o.
: casional neighborly gifts of nativ
l. fruits, a few fresh eggs when the
0 were scarce In the markets, or som
l. Filipino dish which was both daint
n and palatable and which l always r
r turned with a typical american de-
cacy that pleased them very much.
. These women are thrifty, kind
! hospitable, appreciative, music-lovin
. social, peaceable and clearly. TIL
!, last from their own point of view,
- grant you, and confess to having see
them deliberately take their sanda
q of at a muddy crossing. wade over
u bare feet, which they then slipped In
le the sandals, and continued on the
Z way. This and many similar instanc'
le reminded one that in principle thu
a were not unlike a certain
Young lady OF Crete,
le Who was exceedingly neat
,v She stood on her head
. When she got out OF bed
,e To keep from soiling her feet.
Ell Notwithstanding all this, shall
ID ways maintain they are clean-frc
DR. their point Of view. And on this 81
N ject. upon which have had many
guments, feel well backed up by t
* example of good old Scotch woms