The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-09-02

shipped half way round the world and
has just recently arrived in exception
ally good condition. It is made of red
nara, or Philippine mahogany, and Is
OF light claret color shading to slight
ly darker, has natural finish with q
high polish, and is strikingly grained.
This furniture shows the ability and
deXterity of the natives in their work
as well as their capacity to learn.
Thep turn out only manufactures of
the best quality and of the highest
Tade of workmanship. They depend
entirely on local material for their
output and the Filipinos are taught
the value of native raw material and
products.
The policy of the government from
the very beginning has been one of
preparing the Filipinos for industrial
efficiency. In the schools this is prac
tically noticeable. Due to the favor
able system of organization an indus
trial and vocational program of educa-
ton has been put into operation which
reaches down into the very primary
grades of the public schools and starts
the boys and girls on an industrial
career that tprns them out productive
members of society.
In addition to making use of the fine
lumber found in such abundance. 9TH
er products of the country, the exist
ence of which in many cases was
scarcely known to the Filipinos much
less their commercial value appreciat-
ed. have been put into the hands of the
pupils in the schools and under the
guidance of the native teachers and
the supervision of the American teach
ers made into products for the markets
of the country.
In the variety of natural colors and
of shapes and uses no
baskets in the world can surpass
those produced by the pupils of the
public schools of the Philippines. They
make hats in durability and texture
equal to the Panama hat. Indeed, |
many of the so-called Bankok hats |
come from the Philippine Islands. The |
Filipino girls of the public schools |
make lace and embroidery which |
equals the finest quality of handmade |
product of Europe. Many other prod
lcts such as mats, slippers, cloth, ETC.,
more local in character are made in
he industrial classes of the public
chools.
A noted educator from the United
states, after inspecting the work of
he Philippine schools and the indus
rial features in particular, remarked
hat, Other nations one of these days
'ill be coming to the Philippines to
ee how the educational triumphs have
cen won
Bilibid prison at Manila is consider
i one of the best industrial schools
" adults in the world. 1t is not con n
let labor in the accepted sense of the
ord. Very early in the history of =,
merican occupation of the Philip =
ne Islands an industrial department
Bilibid prison was established. Each
isoner is permitted to select such EN-. s
oyment as he can best do; other
Sc he is assigned to some work. but
Oh one must learn a trade or voca-
n. 1t takes them away from their d
environment for several years
ere they might become confirmed =
minals, a menace to society, and
'den to the administration. Most of ppo
IN went into Bilibid prison irrespon- tn
lie and incapable and are turned out All
cient workmen and law abiding cit 70
rs OF the community in which they WI
}. ~ Str
Is a relic of the Spanish times all DO
woods in the Philippines are divid- n Is
by law into four groups. The group gTT'
has been slightly changed since Oh
erican occupation, but it still fairly full full
the preference of timber
rs. Nara is always placed in the st.
!, or highest, group in the classifi- 4 /