The Colorado statesman., 1908-05-09

They are harmless little creatures and
no one seems to mind them in the
least.
Housekeeping is rather hard for
Americans, for the servants are both
incompetent and lazy. Marketing has
to be done by the head of the house
hold and everything chartered over
has to be taken home afterward. for
nothing is delivered. This, together
with the strain of being constantly on
the watch against thieving, is trying
to the nerves of the newcomer
The Spaniards used to soundly whip
their Filipino servants, engendering
in them, as they believed, a whole
some fear and respect They have no
fear of corporal reproof from the
Americans, consequently are lazy,
saucy and worthless to the last de-
gree.
An American who has fairly good
servants, whom he has had from four
to seven years, was asked how he
managed it, and he said he resorted to
the old custom of whipping them,
with the result that instead of the con-
tempt most servants have for their in
dulgent American employers he has
their respect and affection. and moth
ing could drive them from his employ.
Some reformers might throw up their
hands and indulge in protest against
this, but the Filipino mind seems to
work on those lines, believing it more
comfortable to adapt oneself to exist
ing circumstances.
Native life in the suburbs of Manila
is the most unreal and fantastic | have
ever seen. 1t looks as if everything
were arranged for exhibition and moth
ing real or permanent. The little nipa
houses, smothered in groves of banana
trees, seem merely temporary orna-
ments. The women leaning from their
windows, cigarettes in mouth, look as
If posing for their pictures, and all
the sights and sounds are so theatrical
and brilliant that it seems as if there
should be sign up reading, For this
occasion only"
Much criticism has been rife in the
States as to Aguinaldos treatment by
the government. The opinion was al
most universal that a man who had
cost the United States so much in
lives and money should have been ex-
ecuted, or at least punished severely.
When one sees the Filipino people
and hears the opinion of wise old resi-
dents it is apparent that the govern
ment could have done no better and
had handled the matter with the most
farsghted diplomacy. Had he been
executed, in accordance with the cry
of numerous hot-headed stay-at-homes
who demanded it, he would have i'm
mediately assumed the proportions of
a martyr in the eyes of the people;
his blood, like dragons teeth, from
which would have sprung arms and
war, and a struggle indefinitely pro-
longed The emotional, irrational peo-
pie would have gone crazy with patri-
otic zeal, their blood fired by the hero
ic death of martyr, and the conse-
quences would have been too far
reaching to be counted.
But the commonplace, humdrum
farmer at Cavite does not appeal to
them in the least, for very little Of
hero, according to their ideas, can be
made of a man who ends his theatrical
career SO ingloriously.
Shorn of all attraction Aguinaldo Is
gradually losing his admirers, If he
has not already done so, and the
whole matter seems quietly dying out.
The policy of the government was
most wise, and though closely watched
there need be no fear, for his wings
are clipped and he will soar no more
as hero in the eyes Of the people OF
the Philippines.