Barbour County index., 1907-04-17
copyright, by Joseph b. Bowles. }


The wife of the late Gen. Henry W.
2awton was in the truest sense her dis
tingufslled husbands associate and COM
panion during his adventurous army ex-
periences: While devoted to her husband
ume to interest herself in the families of
Tho soldiers of the garrison. An intelli-
GEM observer, she has gathered large
lnnd or experiences of the most interest
sng kindly
My personal knowledge of the wom-
en- OF the Philippines is limited to
those OF Manila and the surrounding
towns. Considering the times, condi-
lions and opportunities, my circle of
friends there is not inconsiderable
and whenever the occasion offered
found their kindly hospitality and gen
tle courtesy unfailing. The Philip
pines contain many different, distinct
tribes and dialects, which l shall not,
however. touch upon, but give my own
experience and observations.
As in every other country, the wom-
en- Of the Philippines are divided into
classes; the high-born ladies who are
bright and attractive, dress daintily,
possess their horses and carriages,
live In luxury, entertain sumptuously
and find life altogether agreeable; the
middle class-perhaps the happiest
for there is no "noblesse oblige"-who
are independent, unconventional, COM
Portable; and the poorer, whose cares
and clothes are few, labors light and
habits extremely simple.
l was brought in contact with them
all and found much to interest me in
each
My introduction was to the sweet
faced. gentle-mannered nuns of Con-
cordia. who so kindly and cordially
offered me shelter upon my arrival in
Manila. when the recent uprising in
the town rendered it dangerous for un-
protected Americans. While many of
them were natives, l fancy quite a
number were brought from Spain, but
so long ago they had easily acquired
the habits and customs of the country
which under Spanish rule was, after
ali. much like their own.
The convent, several miles out OF
Manila. was beautifully situated
among tropical shade trees, with fine
where one always met with a hospit-
able welcome. In prosperous times
before the war"-this grand old con.
vent was supported by from 600 to 500
pupils Now there were only 40 desti
tute 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 1 soon became an 'in
innate" learned to know and love the
sisters there and shall always remem
Der most gratefully their kindness and
sympathy.
Among the many converts in and
about Manila there are two more thai
! knew weil-Santa Isabella, in the
walled city, where my little girls at
tended school for a short time, and the
one so picturesque on little island in
the Pasis, near Ayala bridge. We are
still wearing garments made by the
busy fingers there. and the three ras
dolls. over whose trousseaus these
nuns and even the visiting padre de
rived much amusement, are treasured
In the family as tenderly as ever. Fo,
pretty dolls Of bisque. paper or ever
rag are unknown in that country.
My children were profoundly strucl
with the 'nothings" In the way O
toys to be found. They were intensel,
amused one morning at Santa Isabel;
at the interest created by some large
handsome paper dolls just received
from home. Taken to school for tn,
recreation hour. they delayed tn,
opening of the entire school, Will,
nuns and pupils alike gathered arount
and enjoyed for the first time this-t,
them-novel sight. Ny little girl
stood on a platform and changed th
costumes of these dolls and were Quit
as entertained as their friends.
The lower class. whose lives are s.
simple, whose wants are marvelousl
few. whose occupations are varied an
singuiarly suited to them, intereste
me strongly. They are apparently a
happy living in the end of casco an