Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-14

u
but made steady by outriggers on each
side. which prevent turning over. They
will carry heavy loads and are provided
with sails. In good wind fast time is
made.
The governments is by commission
appointed by the President of the United
States. an assembly elected by the ico-
pie, the first called the upper" the last
the lower" house.
Each island has a governor and ncces-
sary officials each pueblo or barrio its
own officers, generally elected
The constabulay is the national police
and subject to the insular government
only. there is also a provincial police un-
der the orders Of the governor and each
smaller division. has it's own police. un-
der the orders % the proper officers. \
great many people talk about these
police dctachments much as We do about
our own. forget The good they do and con-
denim their mistakes. Ne are a very
impatient people, much inclined to expect
that in u few years the native police will
attain an excellence which Il large pro-
portion ~ our own people deny to their
now guardians.
the islands. of which eighteen kinds arc
indigenous to this country.
There arc also many kinds Of fruits a
part of our country but the most of
them can only be enjoyed there The
mango and mangostccn are generally
considered the most luscious and are in
great demand
woods r
ietes. while pine and maple have re-
Gently been found on the island Of Mn
doro. Most Of these woods are very hard.
many 80 heavy that floating is difficult
making Transportation to places where
needed. very difficult. There are 80 spec
les from which rubber, gutta perchd or
gums are obtained.
From hemp is made cordage. and from
the fibre sinamay. a beautiful dress fab
ric Is woven, also a cheaper one called
q oaca. by mixing this fibre with silk,
just cloth is woven, a fabric dear to the
heart Of woman. From the pineapple
pima" is woven and from various plants
and grasses numerous articles of use and
ornament are woven.
The products in addition to hemp, are
rice tobacco and other articles.
Tho many flowers have not yet been
classified. nor is it yet known if those
growing wild and closely resembling our
own are indigenous or transplanted.
There are few animals. the wild hogs,
and goats being best known To us. A
very small deer roams on some of the
| Islands.
The birds Of prey are numerous. In
all there are 80 species Of birds, of which
80 arc peculiar 10 the islands.
Snakes are not So numerous as might
he supposed. but Of these Tho pythons
cobras and rice snakes are most frequent
| is noted.
Fishes are nnumcrable, both in kind
and quality.
As for insects, language fails of suiiici-
cnt elasticity To record the proper
views of the sufferer from these pests
OF the minerals. coal is the most ad-
Vanccd toward commercial value. Tho
government has a plant in Luzon from
which much is expected. of numerous
others none seems to have much beyond
the trial stage.
Life in the islands is most interesting
to "A stranger. because everything is
done so differently from here. We
bundle on many clothes Those people
take clothes off. The less they have to
tote the happier they are. When they
ride it is in two wheeled vehicles most
~ They live largely on rice we on
meat. They live in houses built of BAN
boo and nipa leaves. airy and generally
we'll raised from the ground,
The American need not find life so hard
if he follows many of the customs of
tho better classes, being careful to drink
no water not boiled or distilled eating
| uncooked vcseta bies or fruits only when
sure no disease can contamnate.
In these days nearly all the necessities
and many of tho Injuries We use here
are obtainable there and one can live
with comfort with the exception Of two
drawbacks namely mosquitoes which are
present 800 days and ants which like the
poor are always with one.
These Islands and these poor people
have come to us as world power: We
can no more neglect them than We ne
slect the children that come to us in
dividually. We are bound to provide the
best officials for them as We provide the
governcss, the servant and the teacher
for our own. They are by nature tract
able. hosptable and easily managed.
They have no traditions, no literature
no general language. Most Of them are
DIS 'llliufffl, tulbAloIdI. Sflt'fphS, hlIlOIS
cruel, happy or sorrowful as the mood
compels but with patience. justice, firm
ness and cvenncss of control much may
be done with them in time. Such is our
great responsibility and as we judge so
shall We be judged.
OTHER SPEAKERS.
Other speakers of the evening were
Major W. A. Mercer, the new command
ing officer at Fort Ethan Allen. who
| spoke Of some of his experiences during
% years service in the West. and De-
pa rtment Commander c. f.. Beach OF the
q. A. r.. who spoke of the condition Of
the organization and its plans for future
work Music was furnished by Romaos
orchestra and the exercises were brought
to a close with the singing OF Amer
ica.
MONTREAL AND QUEBEC.