New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04

Enthusiastically. ARE just the iovcliest peo-
pic on the face of the earth. They arc
beautiful 20 look al and charming to tax
10. with the sweetest dispositions OF any
PEOPLE ] ever knew. Come. YOU must see
MT collection the first thing.
So. still talking joyously of the charms
Of the Bacobos. she led the reporter down
into tho Philippine Hall in the Museum Oh
Natural History. for she is the Miss bene-
dict Miss Laura Watson Benedict 10 DC
exact who has returned from her WISH u
Uncle SANS new proteges with such i
fine collection of native lares and peha'eS
that they have been purchased eratefuliy
nv the museum and fill all the left hand
side Of Philippine Hall
"of courec YOU know she explained
"tbat nv 8agobos are not at all IKE 'he
peorle in the northern Islands. VINO nave
heen so influenced by the spanish posses'
sion M people live eight hundred mi'es
soutl, of Manila. In the southern part VI
the island Of Mindanao, which IL next "
the larges. Of all the Philippine group ne
island Is mountainous and quite inaccessi-
HE. N that few civilized people have ever
been there. The natives speak pure Md'a!
di,Iect. without touch of spanish ha'
20 go 10 them through the jungle. WIN NY
guides cutting q path for me. ana was
the first white woman they had ever seen
Vet they treated me beautfuiiy linen
manners and social customs are charming
You would call them savases. suppose
hui tcli YOU they ere so refined b! hd'u'
thai | felt We were on the same sociai
plauc all the time The only barrier was
Language. hut 7 soon learned that.
.'of course. the methods Of their soclct!
arr different from ours. The spirit is the
.smo-opIy finer. ! sometimes think. FOL
tre,auce-of course. il Ia funnyit was just
a sweet bit of courtesy on the part ~ TIC
,bieftsin's son when he found parucu'
,arlN tender piece of meat on his plate tc
wick II ont and give il 20 me, and' oi
. course. ! accepted i; in the spirit in when
# VAS given We had boiled potatoes too
Sor supper that first night as We sat on the
9oor in tire chiefs tent and the whole
! Samily insisted on taking turns IN peehns
,rine As they used the one knife whicl
served for all the necessary operations 81
che household did not enjoy those pota
liked potatoes in their jackets-it was
American style. They respected my pc
ruHarities. az did theirs. and we go
Alons beautifully.
Yes. was all alone with them. | went
out to study them. not sent by any institu'
zion. but iust because | was interested in
Them All my life had been watching for
y new field in anthropology 10 work UP,
N-ktf ,.nnQ gn
interested I'm the exhibits OF these people.
4 vas with them two years, but could
ea.ilv have stayed ten--there is so much TO
learn about them. and it must be done at
once. too for soon civilization Will be
reaching them, and then all their beautiful
customs will be lost and they will be
spoiled. Civilization at first always takes
away the best in a people. and gives them
only its baser clements-immorality greed
and dcceitfulnesS.
what are the people like? Well, they re
beautiful. The men are slim and straight,
and with faces of fine FORM clear cut ana
intelligent--not ike the lower savage
types at all Ana the women? Well. ala
march ~ the suffrage parade the other day
but | won't admit the women are bit
nicer than the men. They arc pretty ana
plump and they have dear sweet e%-
preston. They thought | was queer
specimen. 7 suppose. but they were always
gracious and eager 10 tell me the things J
wanted 10 know.
In Philippine Hall the reporter was
shown cases full Of dull rcd garments with
soft vsvv designs i'm black and white. ana
cases full Of beads and brass VERY.
These comprise the Bsgobc costume. B"i
hear Miss Benedict describe il.
Their co.tume is so picturesque. she
cried. and beautiful because IL Is aprrp-
priste. II never changes only grows more
beautiful wish the increasing skill OF the
women who make IL. for fashion neN ei
changes. They dent have - have new
fs~hions iust to keep the mills going. the
way va 40.
Tire skirt T. plain like bag. II just
soes around TIC ninS The folds are gath
cred together IN 'front.' and doubled over ~
,he ,op. so mat .hoy STAY quite firm. Then
she woman wears this little straight Jacket
with short sleeves. II leaves little rim
Of bsre brown skin a, the waist but tha'
q sn r.sht. II hsrronzes with the soft
rcd ~ tho garments. Round her neck arc
all 'i'e chains Of beads She can get. eight
ton sometimes. faSlfhFh 10 'h' "
th.ss - nor toothbrish. See. here is one
iu this casa bunch OF long black bris'i"'
fror, some animal. The toothbrush Is Al
ravs handy AMI after every meal the
woman Just brushes II gracefully across
her teeth. That is why their teeth are 50
tcautiful and white. The women cover
their arms with bracelets. OF course. arc
carr. little headed baskets with their en-
brodery. and bic baskets over their backs
for BRINGING IN com from the fields.
These strings Of rafa with knots tied
jn Their, arc Tie native memorandum books
The number Of Knots represents the NUM-
Der ~ DAYS before the engagement. and the
owner cuts off one knot every day. Wher
they are all gone he knows It's time to 60
hunting or start his soSing or mail his
vife's letter when he goes 70 town
'Of course al the weaving and BEADING
OF garments IL done by the women ] have
a few specimens Of unfinished work. show
ting different stages in the processes. but