The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-01-01

s ON III !
{LUNETA !
By EMMA l.. FOSTER 3

Copyright, by Ford Pub. Coz

We were on the "Luneta," in a lit.
tie caromata driven by a native co
chero. Manila bay. with it's 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 "Luneta" between five and seven
in the afternoon is one of the most
interesting places in the world. We
hicles of all kinds whirling past with
their varied occupants present q vivid
and unique 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 p~ompadours;
Cinnamon in silk and fine linen driv-
ing the fastest horses obtainable:
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,
when my eyes rested for 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-
can 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
coiled low on her neck and fastened
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
n worth knowing in Manila.
"Ah! it would take some time't to tell
you the story" she said, musingly.
ut is interesting, however, and, if you
wish, we shall drive on 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. Affair." off the waters
| of the bay became the color of dull
| copper Our caromata sped along
| through the soft light as through a
| mist. On either side of the road was
a 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 TIE 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, nan or what
net.
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
were 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 u%nenviable 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 was,
She must work for the madre and let
the other children go to school,"
Pressed for an explanation, he said
that her father had given her to him
in payment of a gambling debt of sc
pesos. She had worked faithfully all
these years, but the debt was not yet
paid when the Americans came along
and made her free, and now poor
Pedro had to pay her five pesos q
month besides feeding her, and he
could not think of sending her tC
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 il
you will let Theodore come to school,
The old man thought awhile. Five