The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-08-04
America In the
Philippines
Ili.-EVERYDAY LIFE IN
MANILA,
BY FREDERIC ], HASkIN.

Manila-The Amerlcanization of Manila
has resulted tn radical changes in the
everyday life OF the people of the Phil
ippine metropolis yet the Americans who
live here have in turn yielded much 20
the Spanish and Filipino customs as we'll
as 70 the exactions of the climate. The
american population OF Manila Is only
about 500 out of total Of more than
quarter OF a million, but their lntlu-
ence is manifested everywhere.
In the days Of the Spanish regime the
city reached point where it was almost
as great IN population and commerce as
II IS now, but the conditions of life were
very different There were no sewers. no
gas, and but few electric lights. Until
1854 the streets were lighted with oil
lamps. There was one short horse car
line, ana the various sections of the city
were almost out of communication with
each other
The AmaG,aus have constructed sewers.
have lighted all the streets, have built
iorty-fiVe miles Of good street car lines.
ana nave knitted the various sections OF
Jne CITY into one. One-fifth of Manila
city IS enclosed in the ancient walls. Vet
70 the Spaniard and the Spanish trained
liplno only the walled city-"lntra-
muros lis Manila. Other sections are
designated by other names. In the Span
ISL DAYS the mOat around the wall was
Ilited WITH water and at night the draw
bridges We're hauled up and the gates
shut The Spanish families preferred to
but other Europeans and the Weather
tllplnoS sought homes outside.
rive years before the Spanish-AmeriCan
war the total American population Of
Manila was tOur-a lone quartet Of Amer
lean business men. There was a large
American business house there but its
clerks were nearly ali English. The Eng
iish colony was comparatively large and
influential, as il is now. and the English
club was the center of that portion Of
social lie which was not purely Spanish /
inc Manila club. sometimes called the
English club, continues to be the center
Of the commercial and business life of
the city. After the fashion of the Orient, I
much business Is transacted al the clubs
AZ the luncheon hour and the English !
cluo has retained its asCendancy from the
old days.
Club life means much more in the
Orient than it does at home. The Amer
ltan IN the United states is of all mel F.
the least dependent upon club life. If I
ne belongs to a club il is for pleasure !
only and II is usually looked upon as a /
JhlnE apart from his serious interests. In I
the orient, clubs are the Centers in which I
men OF european and American birth I
gamer apart from The AsiatiCs among
WnOm they live. The club furnishes not I
only amusement and social advertisement /
out 1t Is also the engine through which /
the pressure Of the opinions Of the white /
coIony IS impressed upon the ruling pow /
Coming to Manila the Americans readily
4
and Navy club was the first American 4
club 70 be organized. tt soon lost an 4
Z resemblance to the ordinary army post /
OFFICERS club and became an important /
feature in Manila life. including OFFICERS
or the civil government as well as of the I
military in its makeup.
Nowadays the civil government is more
u uiileIOuSIy represented a the University .
club. where everybody gathers for tbe
Cocktall hour which Immediately precedes {
clnner- Dinner is usually served at s /
Q clock. so that the late afternoon gather
llss TAKE place after people have had
their drive. the ride, the walk or the game /
OF polo Which comes as soon as the heat 4
Of the day declines.
non and social life at the Columbia club
an institution fathered by Bishop Brent.
or the Episcopal church There is no
cocktail hour q the Columbia club. for
y -I ~ a teeJolai institution, bus there is a
DC uLul clup mouse, a fine gymna stun. a
swimming pool and other attractions of
tue same order. AS a rule the club
haolt IN the Orient is not calculated 10
~ eooG fellowship. exile from home and
,Is emit system has been known to pe
the un0olng OF many q young man r,
: udIu AGAINST tnat evil and at the same
,me 10 furnish the features OF a club
which are necessary. BishoD Brent or
sanlzed the Columbia club
me Elks, he Germans. the SDanish
4nd 1hs tliIpinos also have clubs Of their
.
which VIII be the EandsOmest club i'm
Mania. 4 new club. 10 be made nm uf
Americans and FllipinOs. is being orFsn-
@ed now IL probably will bave a great
n- luence upon the course Of affairs IN IN.
SANDS, as 70 viii bring Americans and
educated EulplnOs together in relation I
which Is now unknown.
me American colony In Manila has
ADOPTED many Oriental and Spanish rrr-- /
toms, Every man has a personal boy
Nno looks out for his comfort The hoy
5 patd salary OF ten pesos Five dol
arsj a month ard in consideration there
pr ne Is valet messenger. body servant
B SICsta. and just after The midd4v limos I
practically all of Manila is asleeD. OnIv
4 'herlc2n stores and shops keep open all
lay. an t1- others are closed from he
10 2 o'clock AT the lunch hour. when
me streets of American cities are always
busy, the Manila thorouEhfares are as
luiet and deserted as if il were mid
eight
The theatre doesn't amount to much
n Manila because it is so FAR away.