Mexico weekly ledger., 1914-07-09
FROM MEXICO TO MANILA


Manila. PI.. May is, "A. FRIDAY.
Dear Ledger
So many people have written me
TO tell them OF our little trip to
the Philippines. so for those who are
really interested I am sending these
few lines to tho the Ledger which
makes II much easier for me thar
to undertake individual letters. Our
Journey to Frisco was very comforta-
be and in passing through seven
States we saw some very beautiful
scenefy-california, OF course, be-
ing the most attractive Of them
all. 1t was all and o than we
have always heard and n only re
gret was we didn't have more time
there before sailing. 1t seems
impossible to think Of how San
Francisco was destroyed in 1906 and
to see the wonderful city It is now
On Thanksgiving Day at ] o'clock
sharp we sailed away through Gold
en- Gate Harbor on the Pacific
Rfail,s largest liner IS. s. Manchuria"
and here we spent four weeks Of
perpetual enjoyment. Just a word as
regards the steamer. She was a
monster, being ESQ It. long and her
general displacement 27.0o0 tons, She
was beautifully equipped throughout,
and on the toughest seas tossed very
little. We had the honor OF being
seated at the Captains right so
we were among the few who learned
to know Captain. Being a
~scotchman, he wac very abrupt, in
dependent and frank, and above all
a wonderful commander. having been
at sea thirty-four years. We exper-
fenced only a few days Of very
rough weather, but there was not the
least bit of anxiety among the pas
sengers as long as we knew We were
in Capt. Dixon's care. On board we
amused ourselves by playing shuttle
board. deck golf, tennis, baseball
we even had tugs of war. Then there
was that delightful swimming tank
where every day before arriving IN
Japan we could take a salt plunge on
deck ein mid.Pacific." All kinds oi
fancy dress parties and masquerades
balls and musicals were planned fol
the evening, so It was Just like one
grand ho~use-party all the time. Or
the sixth day after sailing we ar
rived in Honolulu, II. J., and
think without a doubt It could b
termed the garden spot of the world
The motoring here was fine and the
!. palm roads we're enchantingly pic
~turesoue. OF course, we had to Sc
I. that lovely Waikiki Beach where tn
: surf riding was about the thrillini
est thing I ever saw We went u
the "Pali'' and saw the Diamond
Head, and, oh, SO many ~interestin
things. The residential sections wei
/, perfectly lovely and those dear lit
cottages Just made, you feel like yc
: wanted TO stay there forever. It WI
a perfect Paradise and it was vii
heavy hearts we sailed away u
next day. Here we dropped ov'
one hundred Of our passenger list,
from there on the crowd BEGAN
more congenlal as most all !
naming on board were bound I
Manila. We we're followed by thou
ands OF sea gulls far out Of Hawai-
and it was wonderful to see {
natives dive for coin. Ten days me
found us in "Fair Japan as II
-. commonly called, but WEI failed
see the o%fairness" of II for We we
- altogether very much disappointed
the entire country. We spent ca
I o day in Yokohama, Toxic, Kobe .
- Naiasaka and It was in Toxic we y
messed SO much poverty and {
60 tress. or course, the shops W
very alluring and we were eager
purchase many pretty things
,th. | only landed the usnal garment
III ~.Japanese kimono, On entering
the dry goods stores we had 70
move our shoes, which seemed "a.
"A. odd to us Americans, but we ui'
re- mlhu 'ha' ~ wo.o nh
Then the ~rick-shaws were au
nv the %iolliest sport have eVer \
an. enced and We used TO ride Tor ~
in those funny little rigs Just tor
run we mug. tna.o
curiosity 10 Nne .hsna
IN. when we went into the SHOPS
vir. street for blocks would be crow
was almost knocking each other a
with 70 get . hiihipse 4,
anne Americans" A great many OF
,am. people left the steamer at
hoea homa catching her IN hooe ~
him. getting an opportunity 10 see !
of the interior o. japan pus