The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-10-31

| tract from the mystery and fascina-
ton of old Manila.
Among the many very interesting
things is the weaving of native
cloths, which is quite an industry. The
| higher class goods are the Pima from
the pine apple fibre, and "Jusi'' made
| from the banana fibre Both of these
gauZe-like materials make beautiful
| gowns and it is often richly embroider-
ed by hand. Some of the women are
skilful goldSmlths and gemsetters, tax
ing the rough gold through all the diff
ferent processes of metal working in
| scientific manner, executing their own
designs on the precious stones and
metals, and Offering for sale beautiful
ornaments of garnets, amethysts and
sapphires set in gold, or enamelled sill
yer wire. The cigar factories give en-
| ployment to thousands of men, women,
and girls. Tobacco is strict monopoly
of the government, and during the har-
/ vest the employees are carefully
watched to prevent thieving. After
the leaves have been gathered in from
the plantations, they are placed in
heaps under cover to ferment, then
sorted according to size and quality,
and allowed to dry, and finally taken to
the main factories, In one of the larg-
est of these 1000 Filipino's are employ
| ed. Hundreds of women are sitting
about on the floor hammering the
leaves with mallets On block to give
them polish, while others are engaged
in rolling them into shape, and prepar-
| ing them for market.
The dress of the Filipino women con-
sists of a 'falda, skirt, well fitting, and
a train which they fold over toward
the front and hold as gracefully as any
of their American sisters, disclosing a
stitfly starched petticoat and bare
ankles, the feet, or toes rather, thrust
into 'chinillas"- "a tapping sole with
toe-piece of bright velvet. or woven
ibre-which they manage in some
unaccountable way, running up and
down the ladder like steps to many of
the houses, never losing one off even in
the gayest tripping of their 'vailles."
With the skirt is worn low necked
"camisa'' - blouse-with short, full
sleeves, the feature of the whole CO.'S
tune being the PAMELA" large
square of the gauZe-like fabric often
gaily embroidered, or glistening with
spangles, folded in three tucks and
placed lightly 'kerchief-wise about the
shoulders, reminding one somewhat of
a Spanish ruff. All have beautiful
hair long, heavy and glossy, black as
ravens wing. This is often worn loose
ly flowing, with combs at the sides of
the head, they appearing to have con-
siderable pride in the length and beauty
of their hair, but when dressed for
walking or driving the couture is quite
elaborate, being high waved pompa-
dour, with beautifully coiled Phyche
knot, and numberleSS combs and pins
glistening with brilliants and gold trim
mings The men adopt American
clothes very readily, but the women
! cling to their old mode of dressing. The
large number of school boys look very
neat in their white duck suits with
fancy shirts, collars and ties, straw
| hat, and white or russell shoes complet-
| ing the appearance of the youthful
/ AmericaniZed Filipino. The old 'hom-
| bres'' mostly adhere to the trousers
and shirt of native woven cloth, the
| flaps worn on the outside, reminding
me of the Apache Indians among whom
we previously lived for two years. The
Indians, however, wear moccasins, while
these people seldom wear any protec-
ton for the feet.
What we in America call half-breeds,
and the British in India half casts, are
here ''mestzos." The more common
VI THESE are HlAeu spanish anu flllplnO
blood. There are also many Chinese
"mestizos," and many really beautiful
girls one sees here among the Spanish
and English "mestizos." The manner
in which the young Filipinos have re-
sponded to American instruction has
been both surprising and gratifying.
There are now numerous fine school
buildings in the city, and from one to
three for educational purposes in nearly
every town of any size through the
Provinces while many of the wealthy
families are sending their boys to col
lege in the States to be graduated
Here in the islands much of the instruc-
ton is necessarily primary. The course
covers three years instruction which
the children are able to get at any time
between the age of six and fourteen
years. The studies usually consist of
the English language, arithmetic,
elementary geography and singing and
drawing, in which the native show
unusual ability. The boys are also
taught gardening and simple tool work,
the girls sewing, cooking and house
keeping. Both sexes receive good
physical and character training. The
/ teachers strive to win the confidence