Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08
e3AIuTuzG Gu4g Or On ME q DWAlI

ing the euphonious name Ponciano Ramos.
This particular person. the major says.
has a talent for American profanity that
amounts to genius
Another genial soul was sergean.
known as Lamper. a person who had he
been born in the United States would
have developed. into a predatory financier.
Concerning this latter soldier the major
tells a story. characteristic of the traits
of the Filipino
American camp leading by string a
sleek. fat and highly indignant pig. He
was approached by Lamber, who inquired
the price of the animal.
"Twenta pesos" replied the peon
Lambers eyes rolled wildly in pious
horror.
.Twenta pesos.'' he calculated. wat YOU
tink, man? Twenta pesos. All foolish
ness.
The peon was obstinate. He told feel
ingly of how he had reared that pig when
child (when the pig was a child. that is)
and how he had cherished il and attended
its slightest wish. By seventeen saints
he swore that that pig acme OF
porcine perfection. At twenty pesos he
said he was practically giving it away.
Suddenly while the poems back was
turned Lamber grabbed Ramos by the
coat and Whispered in his ear.
You TAXA dat man away" he ordered.
you buy heem drink. ] maka dees
peeg seek"
est thirst -annihilating establishment and
Lamber proceeded 10 work. Getting
piece of bread. he soaked it in Holland
gin The bread wickedly subord
mated. SO far as taste was concerned. to
the rum. The pig. evidently a creature
of catholic tastes. ate the mixture and i'm
ten minutes was as gorious!y intoxicated
as any self-respecting pig could wish. He
commenced to get giddy, and after Sc
verely contemplating the delighted Lam
Der for moment rolled over on his side
and went to sleep.
Just then the peon returned and beheld
his valuable pig lying on the ground.
Lamber walked up to him and shook his
fist vehemently
$50 dis Ga way you treat Americana"
he shrieked: you sella oa seek peeg for
twenta pesos Git out queek.
The astounded peon walked over and
kicked the sleeping animal heartily. The
pig, being by that time completely under
the influence of unrighteous stupor. only
grunted happily and wfnked humorous
eye Lamber then relented so far as TO
offer to buy the pig for two pesos. ex-
planning deliberately that the camp could
use his fat for grease to soften their
shoes Joyfully the peon assented.
And that night" says the major. those
men all had pig meat for dinner. | didn't
learn of the incident until months after I
wards, or / should have punished the men
for their trickery with the pig man. It's
a good story though
Natives Practice Discrimination.
Discrimination is second nature to the
Filipino Ladrone and PuIajan. says the
major. 1t is natural gift A Pulajan
can lie with a sweetly cheerful expression
that is very irritating.
One day a ragged Individual marched
into the American camp with the an
nouncement that he knew that Otoy the
famous Pulujan cheftain. was dead He
offered to take the American troops to
the spot where the chief had dropped
Calling out company the major start
ed to the place where Otoys body was
supposed to be lying. The peon led those
troops wild chase over mountains and
rivers, through thick jungle and swamps
until the provisions were nearly gone
During this time no discovery had been
made. None of the prophecies of the
peon came true. At length the truth
was forced from him. ana 1t was learned
that his whole story had been a fiction
This is but a single example of the
natural duplicity of the Pulaj8ns.
when fighting with such men," SAYS
the major. 1t is best to meet them with
their own weapons. Their own people
understand them. Thus the Philippine
scouts are ideal soldiers to combat with
the treacherous Pulujanes and similar
tribes and bands I.
The major's men seem to like him sin
cerely. their fOndness in many cases be-
ing pathetic. Since he left the islands liz
has received many letters from his little
brown soldiers. teillnS him OF their re
gard for him in English that would be
ludicrous If it were not pathetic Read
ing these letters the major is remind
ed of certain scamp formerly In
his battalion who was to be cashiered
from the army Shortly before he was
drummed out of camp the soldier-if lie
can be called soidier-wrote the follow
ing epic for the ma jors delectation
To him who do bravely inspire
give great heart treat aud am glad.
Him he inspirati
Which make him good man me.
Oh dear major, let me 10 have pleasure Of be-
holding
Fright light that do inspire some more
DO chuck soldier from military quick
Let him stay and get inspiration.
They are wonderfully bright" SAYS
the major. wonderfully bright and capa-
BILE. They learn the English language
quickly and are ambitious. The man who
wrote that poem got a dictionary | SUP
pose, and hunted expressions that lie
didn't understand. Yet his meaning is
clear"
Maj. Rowland says that the Philippine
Islands are wonderfully beautiful. their
natural resources beyond calculation. the
people of the higher classes are progress
sive, and he predicts a great future for
Americans in the far east.