El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-24

THEY TAKE SANTA CLAUS'S PLACE IN TIL
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,
Like Him. They Are Givers of Gifts Filipino Children
Put Out Their Shoes Instead Of Stockings-How
the Americans Celebrate Christmas in
the Archipelago

they get to bed about 10 o'clock on the
morning of Christmas day.
Two Weeks of Festival.
During all the period between Dec.
"a and Jan. 6, inclusive. there is more or
less continuous festival. Religious pro-
cessions march through the streets, and
on Jan. the most conspicuous person
ages in such parades are the Three Kings
themselves is to saw, men attired
in flowing robes and crowns, to repre-,
sent them. Commonly the nativity is
depicted in the procession by represen-
tation, in miniature, of the stable, at
Bethlehem, with the Virgin and Child.
This, often very elaborate, is carried on
the shoulders of bearers. Many people
follow who have made special vows to
at least one band of music. The Fill
pinos are extremely fond of bands.
Americans Cling to Own Customs.
One naturally asks, what do the
Americans in the Philippines do at
Christmas time? The answer is simple
enough; they celebrate the occasion
much in the same way as they do at
home. Turkey? Why, yes, indeed. The
bird may be had in the markets of Man.
ia at a price only slightly higher than
that asked for it in the United States.
Up to the period of American occupancy
in the islands, turkeys were reared by
the natives mainly to serve as gifts TO
the good priests, or friars, on festive
occasions. This custom still prevails.
But they are always obtainable at Yule-
tide, either the fresh killed article, or
else in the frozen state from Australia,
whence the mutton and beef required
by our people in the archipelago are
fetched in enormous quantity by steam
Slips specially equipped for the pur-
pose. Our officers and soldiers in the
Philippines pay only cents pound for
mutton and s cents a pound for beef.
Think of it, in these days of expensive
livingl
Have Christmas Trees, Too.
When it comes to Christmas trees,
Americans in the Philipnines often have
them. But fire and pines. which grow
only at high elevations in the noun
tains, are not usually obtainable. A
tree-fern makes fairly good substitute.
After all, the chief essential of a Christ
mas tree is that it shall be an evergreen,
and in our oriental archipelago all trees
are evergreens.
But what is Christmas without plum
pudding? Or without a mince pie?
Naught, indeed, perhaps. But, happily
for our people in the Philippines. they
can buy all the material they want for
such pies and buildings, put UP in cans
and fetched directly from home. in the
United States. Every company in every
one of our regiments stationed in the
islands, quite as matter of course,
enjoys these Injuries at Christmastide.
Americans Mostly Soldiers.
The great bulk of the American pop
ulation in the Philippines at the pres
ent time is either military or closely re-
lated thereto. 1t will probably surprise
most people to learn that there are
now in the islands $4,000 of our troops.
One-fourth of this number is stationed
at Fort Mckinley, just outside of Manila
Somewhat more than one third is on the
island of Luzon. Somewhat more than
another third is on the island of Min
dinao, and the balance is scattered over
the Visayan Islands, principal among
which are Cobu, Pananv and Negros.
The Native Scouts.
We have 5000 scouts in the Philip
pines. They are natives, differed by
Americans. In addition, there are $500
native constabulary. The scouts and
the eonstabulary are widely distributed
over the islands; the American troops
are assembled, nearly all of them, at
few posts. At these posts Christmas is
always celebrated. with an enthusiasm
only the greater by reason of the fact
that the soldiers are far away from hirne.
Not only do they feast right merrily,
but, the climate permitting sucn sports,
they indulge in baseball, pony races, and,
where there is cavalry, in polo as well.
The socalled Christmas ship" is the
army transport which leaves San Fran
cisco for the Philippines, November 5. 1t
reaches Manila about December Sin
plenty of time to distribute to Americans
all over the islands the multitude of gifts
sent to them by loved and loving ones
at home. Rene Baehe.