Norwich bulletin., 1910-02-28
NORWICH TOWN
Letter from Rev. E. H. Smith Gives Graphic Account of Prosperity and Progress in ManiIa-sunshine Club Meets.

In a letter from Rev. Edward H. Smith, written s Dec r2a 2a ls 1909. hd1 from most enjoyable journey in every way, entirely without accident or mishap. It has indeed been restful and all that our good friends wished for us." The following is an account of their stop at Manila:
 A visit of even few days to the capital of the Philippines gives oppor- tunity not only to see many most in- teresting things, but also to reveal some of the problems the American government and people face there. Our mistakes and they have not been few, have been largely due to our assump- tion that the people and the conditions were the same and must be treated the same as though they were in America. Fire Department and Electric Roads. This has aften worked out very ad- vantageously and given Manila some commanding attractions in the east. We found. for example, most efficient fire department, well distributed over the city and with fine equipment The electric street railway service was all that could be wished for in the most up to date city.
 4 Model Market.
 The central market was a model of its kind, and receives high praise from experts in the work of supplying the needs of a large city. Under that great roof one can secure everything from live turkey to preserves. fruit, postry. meats. vegetables and cooked food of all kinds The model state prison, where $500 prisoners are not only confined but taught some useful occu- patton and given training in band drill. school and gynlnastic work; where there are no cells. but well arranged dormitories. They have today one of the best examples of institutions of it's kind.
 Evidences of Prosperity. To one who knows something of the 1fe.I fs4 14a eastern countries, the people of Ma nila presented the appearance of being more prosperous. Of having more mon ey in their pockets. than either the Japanese, Chinese or Indians. How ever humble the home. it is the ex- ception that the young people do not come out in the morning In thin, clean. white. starched clothes. straw hat and polished shoes.
 Catholic Men Attending Services.
 On Christmas Sunday we attended one of the great cathedrals. which was filled with hundreds of worshippers, and of the crowds a large proportion were young men. If such was the case in the scores of other churches on that day, and we have no reason to believe otherwise. then a larger proportion of the people of Manila attended service than in most of our American cities. It was certainly good to see the hold that the catholic church sas upon the multitude of the people.
 Christmas Exercises in Schools.
 It was our privilege to attend the Christmas exercises of one of the large city schools, where some five hundred pupils from the poorest part of the city attend. Instruction is in England, and all the exercises were such that we could understand The school was built one story high about a great eirs- cular playground. Tn one room of girls two Filipino young ladies were in charge. Christmas pictures and dec orations made the room gay, and the little girls of about 12 years were re- citing Christmas poems and singing Christmas songs. In the class. Of elder boys a debate was in progress on the question: Resolved. That the farmer is more serviceable to the country than the merchant It was a good debate for the boys.
 In the last room we visited a class of thirty boys were holding an oId-fash- toned English spelling match. One half of the school lined Up against the other half Aside from the wideawalSe. most promising and inspiring feature of this school was the bright, cheerful. gentlemarly bearing of the teachers and the atmosphere of the school that they cerated. The schools of the Phil- ippines. if this one was a fair example, are deserving of. all the praise they have received.
 Proud of Our Possessions.
 All in all. one could not come in con- tact with the people even superficially for four or five days without being proud of what has been done for their uplift. and of the splendid record that has been made during the past ten years.
 Personal. and General.
 Mrs. Fields and her daughter. of Montville spent day recently at the