The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-07-17
ARE
PROGRESSIVE

ngUllE COLI E
MARKED mel uERcE OF AliERl.
CAN CIV ALTON.
Surprising Changes IN the Habits and
Life Of the People Of the Islands
since Dewey Fought the Battle Of
Manila say-Ths European Mode Of
Dress Is Now Almost Universally
Adopted and Modern inventions Are
Being. Used very Generally.
WASHINGTON, July 16.-The con,
sulat reports just issued by the Blu.
reau Of Manufactures contain an in.
terestipg account Of how the people Of
the Philippines are adopting Western
methods Of life and progress. The In
4eresting article was written by Ray
mond E. Mason, an editor Of the Ma
Mia Times. The article says that
from the moment Admiral Dewey shot
his way into Manila harbor the destin.
les Of some 100000 Of hardly little
brown Fllipinos began to change, and
today they have money to spend. For.
merry they led an tndolent existence;
did not work save that which was alb.
solutely essential for the earning Of
their daily bread. To-day there exists
a new race Of Fillpinos.
Mr.. Mason says that, always a mu.
sic loving people, the Filipinos, no
matter what their tribal connections,
maintain in every little town a local
band, which plays always in the plaza
on Saturday evening and fiesta days
and in the Cathedral on Sunday. SO
great has the improvement in their
music been that the writer says few
weeks ago he listened to a perform.
ance by the Paranaque band, Of Cayite,
and the performance was such that
even sousa or a Godfrey could find
little fault with It. He says there is a
great opening for American instru-
ments in the islands, as now the bands
procure almost all their musical IN
struments from Germany.
Just as the japanese have done, the
Fllipinos are adopting the European
dress. Everyone, even the lowest
class, are beginning to wear hats and
shoes on Sunday. AMI there are thoas.
ands who follow the practice all the
week. While they have not become
accustomed yet to the stIf linen col,
lar, the Filipinos dandy always wears
a shirt Of the tennis or outing order.
The Fillpinos ladies of the upper
class have always dressed well, but
to the native pima cloth they are now
adding nearly every textile that Lon.
don and New York itself knows, and
a well known Manchester England
arm, which was established in Mania
before the war, now does more bust
ness in its drapery department than III
formerly did in all It's branches.
Not only does this apply to the large
cities, but the women in the country
have also taken to the European mode
Of dressing. During this year the big
firms in Manila have had orders for
number Of up.to-date bridal costumes,
and with such orders invariably comes
in order for a sewing machine.
Nowadays, too,D writes Mr.. Mason,
"the bride takes toothbrush with
her on her honey moon, but 1t will
take at least generation to induce
even the minority Of the population
to give up chewing the betel root
The Flipinos have always been fond
of beer. and the manufacture OF beer
in Manila is a monopoly enjoyed by a
Spanish company, but the FIliplnos are
beginning to like wine, and the Imports
from Australia are growing by leaps
and bounds. Formerly the native ate
rice and mummlfed fish for every
meal, keeping his poultry to fight
with, but now, thanks to the American
occupation, his menu includes beef,
mutton, rabbit, and vegetables Of all
kinds. Fruit he always had and al,
ways will have in plenty.
Under the Spanish rule the Filipino
never handled any other tool than a
bolo. with this he used to build hous.
es and lrrlgate his fields. Now, he be.
gins to understand the use Of hammer
and nails, OF saws and other tools. Ice
making and refrlgeratlng plants have
been built in Manila, and the putting
up of school houses and barracks all
over the islands by the Filipino hal
helped not only to improve the general
appearance Of the country, but to learn
something of the whites taste 6or
proper sanitation and good quarantine
conditions.