The Glenwood post., 1909-12-04

This complete makes the most eH
pensive gown known
One ballroom gown worn at the Taft
inaugural ball in Manila cost $4,000
ts3OOO of American money!; another
$4,000. jeweled in half pearls, crusted
all over the waist of the gown, and
strung in lines vertically down the
skirt.
The pearls are from the islands.
Many of the Filipino women wear
pearls in ropes about their hair to the
value of 100000 to 100000. These
pearls have been transmitted by their
parents, and are badges of aristocracy
Thus the family will do without real
necessities, indeed without house. to
keep the family pearls or to obtain
them.
The young belle learns to play the
native guitar, and always the piano.
The natives construct an instrument
OF the bamboo. 1t is like our flageolet,
flutelike in tone. From this the most
plaintive of notes are drawn.
These Filipino women cluster dia-
monds around them as buttons may :
be seen on an American gown Dia-N
monds about their bodies large as the
usual pearl bodice buttons are fixed
to them as if sewed on These are the
result of years of accumulation, and a
family asset to be held and trans
mitted.
Women Wear Stockings.
Only in presence of the Americans
or
little naked feet. cased in a sandal,
are free from covering, and though
the body is in pearls and diamonds
and the sandals are of silk adorned in
topaz and beads. the feet are naked
The head is always without a hat, a
silk or pima shawl or mantilla
woven in silver threadings being used
as cover. White are the mantillas
for the young; black for the old.
When the girls are girls white must
be their gown colorng; as young
women before marriage. pink. red and
violet; after marriage, gray, the badge
of suppression or subjection; when
grown in age. black is the only per-
missible color. Thus by the dress the
status is ascertained and age known.
These women have the most musical
voices in conversation have heard in
all Asia.
The humber people dress character
istically of their station. The men
are barefoot, with white or yellow
loose, baggy trousers, shirt with
tails" hanging over as pajamas and
any form of hat heard Of seen or
capable of being worn, native straw
prevailing.
The women also are barefoot, or
wear straw toe sandals, red skirt, yell
low waist of plain material, adorned
in all colors of ribbon or dressings
known to art, of common fabric and
cheap design. Thus they walk the
streets, carrying massive loads on
their heads. as the negro women in
the south.
Lower Glass Gay.
These lower class people, as they
walk, or, if riding, crowd in dozens on
the cart or little galesche or hack,
mutter as they go, laugh and smoke
cigarettes. Women, when old. smoke
cigars and puff like a smoke stack in
Chicago.
The wife. when she works. supports
the husband He Says home. directs
the children. sleeps and prepares the
house rooster for the pit at the next
Sunday gambling cockfight. He has
taken all his wife's earnings and lost
it; it matters not. She gives him the
remainder, or he sells the house
furnishing for more money to bet.
What the horse race Is to the French.
the bullfight to the Spaniards, base
ball to the American, the cockfight is
to the Filipino; only there are no
amateurs. all are professional gam
blers in the cockpit.
| 1t is the stock exchange gambling
in Manila among the population. The
winning rooster is the hero. 1t is put
before horse or dog and always along
with the child. The cock is the sacred
bird. No worship of the pigeon I'm
Russia or dove in Italy can compare
with that bestowed on the game cock
in the Philippines, particularly when
the bird can wear a steel garland
kill it opponent.
Thus from throwing pennies on the
sidewalk by the children to the game
cock pits on Sundays, the play with
cards indoors and dominoes In clubs,
the Filipino is languishing Shd con-
slant gambler. trifling with chance
at every opportunity-never trusting
to industry or energy.