The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-03-12
A. D. MOE WRITES
FROM MANILA

SnflHers party aboafus ehleIeu mhHila
bay on the morning Of December 30,
passing CorTegidor Island about six
O'Clock. Those who were up early
enough got a good view Of the greatest
fortress in the world, not excepting
Gibraltar. Standing like q sentinel al
the entrance to the haTb0r, guarding
both the north and south entrances,
equipped with the most modern. heayi-
est guns, it must command tie respect
Of both friend and foe alike.
The city OF Manila is nearly 30 miles
distant, and il was over two hours
later when we dropped anchor outside
the breakwater and awaited the quar-
antiue officers Before their arrival,
however, several harbOr boats, with
the Manila Shriners on board. had sur
rounded the boat within hailing dis
tance, waiting until the yellow fog
should be lowered. which gave notice
that we were released from quaTan-
tine. On one Of the boats was a ma.
tive bamboo band, the players being
IN their native dress. which consists OF
a shirt aud short trunk pants, and IN
some cases no shirt, all being bare.
footed The instruments were all
bamboo reed instruments. with a crude
drum. The music was very good, now
ever. We were given a hearty vel
come by our hosts, presented with
flowers and souvenir badges, and
loaded into launches. The ship endeay-
ored TO get to the dock on falling
tide, but grounded when part way in,
SO we did not wait Dock was reached
by the boat at high tide, however
A procession was formed by the
Sbriners at the pier, headed by the
famous constabulary band. 10 the pro-
cession we're also a number OF car
riages containing the Alcade (mayOrl,
officials, native Mohammedans who had
made the trip to Mecca, emitting them
to wear the green turban. carabo0
carts, on which rode the novices who
were to cross the hot sands Of the des-
ert under our direction, and the bamboo
band. We marched to the Manila hotel,
where we were given an address Of
welcome by the Alcade and presented
with the key to the city. The key was
one formerly used to unlock one of the
great gates to the walled city.
The Manila hotel, finished year ago
by the government at cost Of over a
million pessos $500, 600 gold, is prob
ably the finest hotel in the Orient. II
stands at one end of the Luuetta, fac
ing the bay, and in its spacious corrl-
doris and airy rooms there is always a
refreshing breeze.
Our stay in Manila was all too short
One can but get glimpse of the city
and its suburbs in five days. The eli
mate does not admit of haste, and the
habits of even Americans on the island
are deliberate, gradually falling into
the maxim of the Orient, to do nothing
today which can be put off until to-
morrow. There are no guide books to
assist one in visiting places of interest
and we had to search for Ourselvs,
with what information we would get,
although those who had friends with
time to give to entertainment, got
along very nicely. The principal mode
of conveyance was a two-wheeled gig,
drawn by pony, with a native driver
sitting in front on a small sat. But
few of them can speak but few
words of English, and they appeared
stupid when it came to tell
ing them where to go, but keen enough
to exact an extra fare at the destina
ton. To attempt to get around alone
was a hopeless task. The crooked,
narrow and winding streets were as
as in the large cities of
Japan.
Yet, in five days we saw much of
interest and gained an idea of our east
ern possessions never to be obtained
without visit to this wonderful
country. The city is rich in historical
interest, and while not old as compared
to other countries of the far east, yet
covering a period of over 300 years
The old churches built by the Spaniards
are rich in treasure of art, in mangif-
cence, and are closely connected with
the history of the islands. Ruins of
many OF which were destroyed in the
wars, some of them in our war with
Spain, are to be seen everywhere.
Hardly a one in the city but bears the
marks of the shots of the American
soldiers, as they were generally used
as places of refuge by the terror
stricken inhabitants during the short
conflict following Dewey's entrance to
the harbor.
Practically all the modern conven-
fences and improvements of the city
have been made by the Americans.
Modern buildings, paved streets, parks,
street cars, electric lights, many beauti-
full homes, good roads, harhOr dredg-
ing, illed swamps along the bay, on
which stand modern structures all
done by the Americans, or il by ma
tives, since American occupation.
Whether all this is appreciated by the
natives is question. To turn it over
to them at the present time would be
to undo much or all that has been done,
and would result in disaster.
While the American lpeople find the
tropical climate trying, and many are
unable to remain without frequent
trips to a colder climate, yet others
have acclimated themselves and after a
residence of dozen years are perfect
ly contented. Through the vigorous
efforts of the Americans, Manila has
been thoroughly cleaned up. kept in a
sanitary condition, quarantine laws
vigorously enforced, and it is now as
healthy as any large city in the States.
Smallpox is practically extinct, malaria
rare, and bubonic plague, the terror of
the tropics, shut out by vigorous quar-
antine in the ports. During our stay
there were four deaths of the plague
in the city, but they were isolated
sporadic cases, Immediately quaran-
tined, and the disease got no farther.
We found the American residents in
a very despondent mood on account of
President Wilson's policy in Fastening
the turning over of the government to
the Philippines. Business men are
alarmed, large American corporations
are stopping improvements, and values
have taken a slump. Government en-
ployes are being discharged by the
score and natives put in their places,
Natives are now in the majority on the
civic boards, and CONSERVATION reigns
among those who have put in years of
hard work. only to find themselves
turned out, in most cases pennilCss, to
make new start back in the States
There are no positions open to the
American out of job. They are gen
orally given to understand they are not
wanted and besides a native does not