Omaha daily bee., 1912-02-04

from Tar and wide TO see them Every
school now has its own base ball team.
and the teams OF the various provinces
come together and compete. Indeed, base
tall Is almost as much o national game
in the Philippines as it is In the United
states. Il Is played by the soldiers, aud
il Is they Who have taught the FiliptR0s.
The bureau Of education is now work
ing oct plan to introduce organized
athletics among all the students coming
rnder its control. II will organize Pub
Tic schools Athletic league, which viii
make study of the physical needs Of
the studegts and minister to them. Pub
lie Fairgrounds viii be opened up and
gymnastics made part OF every school
course. As Il Is now physical training is
carried on in many Of the schools.
The popularity OF athletics Is TO be seen
everywhere. Manila has an amateur sth-
letie federation Of which the governor is
president. There IS basket ball league,
and there are cricket clubs and polo
clubs. The governor is crack polo
player Now ard then toe city has a
carnival, and at the last one 800 men
were registered as amateur athletes.
This athletic work is not confined TO the
Finpinos. The lgoroues now have
base ball team and other savage tribes
are taking up sports, All this is In stuk-
ing contrast with the conditions when We
took possession OF the Philippines, At
that time there were practically no ath-
letics, and the better classes had a sort
Of contempt for physical exercise.
Our New University.
There were several colleges at Manila
when We took hold OF the islands. and
each had long list OF studies. They
were mostly connected with the classics
and church history. but os 10 practical
education along modern lines. that was
unknown. While was IN Manila Wis.,
it'd tho University OF st. Thomas, which
was founded about ten years before our
Pilgrim fathers landed on Plymouth
Rock. and also the College OF 81. Joseph.
which was established by tho Jesuits In
i60i. and al that time endowed by the
king Of spain with three professorships
OF N0.0oo each.
but little value to US as far as elvlizing
the islands was concerned. Some OF their
graduates became teachers. but the real
workers among the Filiplnos were those
who had been educated outside,
II viii be different with the University
Of the Philippines. tho act for tho es-
adjustment OF which was passed by the
assembly at Manila in isS. This pro-
vIdes for an up-to-date university with
colleges OF arts. science, medicine. law
and engineering. This school Ia already
well under way and plans for university
building are being prepared. Some Of the
colleges have already been organized. The
medical school was organized In 1907 and
has already had a number Of graduates.
It has gathered its teachers from the
physicians OF Manila and the big hos
pitfalls. IL gives u course which includes
two years and a half OF hospital work
The colleges OF liberal arts and engineer
lng were opened In 1910. and 4 college Of
law has 3ust been organized as an out.
growth Of the law work given under tbs
auspices OF the Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION. Members OF the PhIlippin,
commission and Judges Of the s,iprom,
court are teaching In that college. Their,
is also q school OF fine arts affiliates
with the university, and this had 70
students last year The university vii
have course Of four years and II vii
in time be one OF the chief institution
Of its kind in the far east.
| FRANK O.. CARPENTER