The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-21

~ Luzon the cloud hung cordillera
Il divides to east and west before
II sinks abruptly In the sea, en-
closing the great valley OF the Cagayan.
a dim. far of region II has always been,
OF which the good folk Of Manila spoke
with vague words. as old men on the
hills OF Spain used to talk OF Ultramar,
that unknown somewhere into which
their sons were forever disappearing.
And even the people OF the valley did
not know II. At Aparri on the coast
where in the old days the bales OF to-
bacco were piled like houses along the
sandy streets in the shipping season
the busy labOrers would tell you that
II all came from up there" with a wide
sweep OF the hand toward the south
You took "A canoe and went southwark
for days. between gray forests where
the parrots screamed and monkeys
climbed lazily down the crecpers to
scoop up water in their tiny hands, and
you found tuguegarao sleeping on the
bluffs. pcrched high and safe above the
river. and men told you Of the wonders
to be seen up there"
And then after lazy days and days
polling upward past endless fields Of
corn and tobacco. you came to IIagan
and the clerks in the Offices of the
Compana General told you of the great
plantations up there" And then mos
men wearled Of the Journey and gave
up the quest OF up there" before they
had gone half way.
They should have kept on, for the
real up there" Is the wonderful place
they had heard Of land Of magnificent
space, great stretches or plain and roll
ing hills. And In every little valley H.
"A forest, where deer and wild toars and
buffalo hide. And all the reaches Of the
river and the clear mountain streams,
the pinacanauancs, are covered with
Clouds Of ducks. And everywhere Is
tobacco--in the fields and in the houses.
and in the big Hat bottomed boats, the
barangayanes, on the river
There Is "A stretch OF country where
II seems the rich, deep, warm soil can
never tire Of making things grow-to-
bacco and corn and flowers and canes
and grasses and bamboo-so men have
called II la Flor de la Isabel" the
flower of the land OF good Queen Isabel.
IL Is very quiet region, but there IL a
charm in the broad fields and the hot
sunny air and the wild hunts over
plain and hill, and the expeditions now
and then in search Of gold In the distant
purple mountains where the wild men
live. The valley grows upon one til
one forgets the hills OF Spain and the
people he knew. and even the nearer
delights OF Manila and stays on up
there" TIL he passes from the world
which had already forgotten him.
Sometimes they emerged for mo-
ment. and even came to 81 capital for
the Christmas festivities. lean, bronzed.
bearded men who wandered silent
through the gay crowds. How should
they speak when they knew nothing
OF all the gossip OF the town-the ball
~ his Excellency. and Don Fulano's pro-
motion. and the match between young
Diego and the Generals daughter?
But let two OF them meet In a cafe.
and they could talk readily enough
over the tiny glasses OF cognac, though
always in that quiet. self-retained way
which all men OF the open have.
"B-r-rgh. It's chilly here; 1t would not
he like this In the valley" NO. they
will be planting now. And the river is
rising: the young daredevils will be
having great sport shooting the rapids
at Alcala. Remember the whirlpool on
the west slde?" "Yes. and have you
h ard that Don Enrique will hold a
great fiesta on Shrove Tuesday? Well.
ne can aHord IL win rlls crop lie mas
covered more thousands this year than
you have hairs on your chin, hombre."
Always the valley ana the river and
tobacco ana Don Enrique For Don
Enrique was their lord. The great
company back In barcelona and Madrid
might control eNerythlng-the lean
silent white men, ana the brown, toillng
thousands In the fields, and the boats
on the river. and the great white fort
resses or warehouses-but in the valley
Don Enrique was company and king