Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-16
Soldiers Impressions of the
Philippines Are Ably Told

typhoons and hurricanes, on the |
south by cannibals and earthquakes
Moro l. and on the west by sharks |
and smugglers of China sea- The inter
ior of the islands is made up principally |
of mud and mountains. The total |
population of the islands is about |
100000 carabou and water buffalo, |
5000, coo people and 100000 ROSTERS |
or 5000, 900 people 100000 are in
surrectos. 100000 are amigos, friends
at the muZZle of a gum and the rest
are Chinese gamblers and carameta
drivers. The climate is pleasant for
mosquitoes. fleas, lizards, bats, ants,
tarantulas, scorpions. centipedes,
sharks and caribou. The malaria
fever is SO prevalent that on many oc-
casions the islands have been shaken
| by the vibrations of its inhabitants.
The Filipino sometimes CANDLES
| by backing the rapidity of his chill
against that of his neighbor, just to
change off by way of variety on dis
ease, being cholera, leprosy, smallpox,
dhobie itch and the bubonic plague.
The soil is very rich and produces a
|
hemp, rice disease. instructions and
! odors. The natives are very indus
trious, their occupation being cock
| fighting and stealing. The beautiful
sunshine is a glare hotter than the
hinges of 'Hades.' Common Filipino
flowers would drive hyena to a glue
! factory for a change of smell. The
| beautiful ferns have thorns that would
leave a hole in a mans hide as
though he had been gouged with a
pump handle.
The mystic mountains. Just take
g Springfield rifle and 100 rounds of
ammunition, blanket. shelter half,
roncho, haversack. canteen and three
days rations and hike over the noun
tains. and if you can extract any
poetry from that | would like to see
the situation. The waving palms are
well represented by Mark Twain as
picturesque people are a little pin
headed, brown-skinned class.
Here comes a couple just married.
They both haven't on enough .drapery
TO pad crutch. The Filipino hog is
about the most intelligent animal. 1t
is about one-third nose and is a dis
grace to the Arkansas razor back.
They are too human-like for me to go
into a restaurant and call for pork
chops The chickens are all 'ath-
letes.' A common five-year old west
pointer would not make a breakfast
for a Filipino chicken. If you wish
to eat one of them begin cooking it
about "a hours before you are ready
to serve it and then chances are it will
be so tough that you will not be able
TO stick fork in the broth.
Vino (beno) is the principal drink.
1t looks like alcohol and tastes like
the business end Of a live wire. A
'beno' jag is the next thing to an
1electrocution. The natives wear no
shoes and make tracks in the sand
like cub bear Their dressing cos
tune consists of knee trousers and a
bamboo hat.
THE most refined senoritos (ladies)
are very becoming and beautiful
They remind me of creole captured
in the everglades of Mexico. Their
costume consists of skirt that hangs
to the knees and fits like a large
grain sack thrown over fence post.
Also waist with sleeves in it like
q barrel. 1t reaches within about four
inches of the top of the skirt.
"The towns (barrios) are aggrega-
tons of bamboo shacks full of fleas,
caribou cur dogs. cats, pigs. chickens,
flies and mosquitoes, and the family
all sleeping on terms of equality.
Children under IL years of age wait
until next year for clothing. The
principal diet consists mostly of fried
rice and fish, fish and fried rice,