The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-12-03
WrSs~W~s>~1NsA~1Hsf
ON THE !
LUNETA
Copyright, by Ford Pub. Cos '
By emma l.. FOSTER
~"~~N-~sNe~~eA

uiiNtu ny d native CO.
chero. Manila bay, with its historic
associations, rippled before us. Boats
OF every description lay in the harbor.
from great passenger and commercial
steamers to native canoes and bancas.
The "Lunesa" between five and V
IN the AFTERNOON is one of the most
interesting places in the world. We
hicies on all kinds whirling past with
their varied occupants present a vivid
and unlque spectacle. Army officers
In becoming white uniforms or hideous
khaki with fair American women ac-
companying them; dark-eyed senoritas
with mantillas waving about their pa
trician faces; picturesque little Fill
pinos dressed in native costume: dain-
ty Japanese women in kimonos and
with smooth glossy pompadours;
Cinnamon in silk and fine linen driv-
ing the fastest horses o~btainable:
these and other sights make up the
gay whirl of an afternoon on the "Lu-
meta"
We had driven around several times
watching the people as they passed,
"hCh "s SycS ISStSu lOT a moment
upon the regular features of a big,
broad American, looking twice as big
among so many midgets. At his side
was a little Filipino woman in Ameri-
a costume, which in itself would
have attracted attention. She was as
pretty as a picture in her white or
candle gown. Her abundant hair was
-@;1AI lou -, h.. --I 81 ..-
with a knot of crimson ribbon that
made the 'tresses look as black as mid
night.
Who are they?" ! asked.
My companion knew almost every
one worth knowing in Manila.
"Ah! it would take some time to tell
you the story" she said, musingly.
1T is interesting, however, and, if you
wish, we shall drive out in the country
and | shall tell you about them"
The sun was just setting as we
passed through the walls of the city.
Nothing in the world can rival the
beauty of a Manila sunset. The sky
a moment before had been an ocean of
azure, with thousands of little white
islands dOtting its surface. Now the
west was ablaZe with the wonderful
gOld-red Of the flames. Swiftly the
glow crept on from island to island
and the blue in the background
changed to gray. Afar of the waters
of The bay became the color of dull
copper. Our carOmata sped along
through the soft light as through a
49, o. .tll, = e H., ,l,l u.a,
e tangle of bamboo and mango trees.
The rice fields and fishing ponds of
the natives stretched away in the dim
distance. The soft breeze from the
water: the ]wondrous tints of the sun
set: the stiffness and beauty of the
tropical evening cast a spell over us.
1t was a time for story telling-fairy
tales, ghost stories, rOmanCes or what
not.
My companion began:
The broad-shOuldered American
came to the Philippines some years
ago with his sister. They were or
phans. reared by an uncle. and both
we're teachers. They separated in
Manila. each going TO a native village
to teach Filipino children. The girl
found a small colony of %cOngenial
Americans, who made it pleasant
enough for her, but the young man
was set down in a "barrio," where he
had the unenviable distinction of being
the only American.
In a Philippine village, after the
padre comes the school teacher, and
the natives will do for an American
school teacher what they will not do
for any other American.
He had a school room full Of chill
dren of various shades of brown. They
were easily disciplined, always re-
~spectful and eager to learn.
One day. in passing the nipa shack
of one Pedro, he noticed a pretty ma
tive girl standing in the doorway and,
a few days later. dropped in to ask
old Pedro why she did not come to
school.
She is our slave" he said, cor a
She must work for the madre and let
the other children go TO school,"
Pressed for an explanation, ne said
that her father had given her to him
in payment of a gambling debt of so
pesos. She had worked faithfully all
these years, but the debt was not yet
maid when the Americans came along
and made her free, and now poor
Pedro had to pay her five pesos a
month besides feeding her, and he
could not think of sending her to
school.
Where are her people
All dead now. Nobody but Theo-
dora left"
See here" said the school teacher,
81 will pay you five pesos a month If
you will let Theodore come to school,
The old man thought awhile. Five
pesos a mouth would be something,
and there was very little work now
that the children were no longer ba-
bies. So it was agreed.
Another dark-eyed girl in native cos,
tune took her place among the children.
She spoke some Tagalo, some Span.
ish and a little English. She was an
ant pupil and learned rapidly. Many
times each day the masters eyes
sought her face as she bent over her
books. and sometimes her dark eyes
would return the glance, and then she
would bend closer over her work and
her fingers would tremble and a pretty