Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-11
Pioneer Teacher Among Igo-
rotteS Sticks to Post Despite
Threats on Life

SAN rhANNASNOs al, Jan. O.
With her own life at stake, Alice Nc
Kay Kelly recently turned a Philip
pine mountain tragedy into far-reaching
account for the government in the
islands.
Mrs. Alice Mckay Kelly is an Amer
lean woman who for fourteen years has
devoted herself to the welfare Of the
Philippine wild tribes with remark
able influence. She is today probably
the most widely known woman i'm the
islands. Her home near Baguio has be-
come the Mecca for distinguished Wis
itors from two continents, while among
the IgorOttes she is affectionately
known as Mother occupying a station
corresponding to that of chief. She
established the first school for those
bronzed highlanders, and in the follow
ing story gives a hint of what it means
to extend the frontiers of civilization
among barbaric people. s.
Death, attempted murder, supersti-
tious terror. a savage courtship and
weird ceremonial were some of the ele-
ments with which Mrs. Kelly, n lone
white woman among the Igorottes. was
compelled to cope in the Luzon wilder
ness.
In the end she guided an entire tribe
toward civilization.
~
by aIluring little Koning Cerino. daugh-
ter of the Igorotte Chief Sioko. The
girls confession TO Mrs. Kelly, whose
school she attended, had resulted in
the Tagalog's suicide and his attempt
TO kill his inamorata.
Chief Sioko held Mrs. Kelly response
BILE for the entire affair. although she
knew nothing of the clandestine wooing
until the day of the tragedy.
IF she dies" he had sent word,
You must die too. We will be sorry
to kill you, but so it shall be-"
Then he disappeared in the forest
until word should come from the hos
pital at Baguio. some miles away,
where Mrs. Kelly had transported the
wounded girl, lowering between life
and death.
Pleading was of no avail All Mrs.
KeIIy's unselfsh service for the Igor
ottes counted for naught in this hour
of Siokos frenzy.
1--WE will be sorry to Kill you! Sloko
had spoken.
Had Mrs. Kelly been thinking only OF
herself she might have escaped, for she
rode every day to BaguiO to see the
wounded sufferer. And in Baguio were
friends. refuge. But her whole life
was wrapped up in the constructive
work she had started among the Igorotte
youngsters. She could not desert them,
even to save her own imperiled life.
That's how this plucky American
pioneer felt about it.
Little Konings life hung by a
thread" said Mrs. Kelly. Day by DAY
she had been getting worse. And in the
somber forest Sioko. the father, waited,
as I waited. for a change in her condl-
ton.
..AIeantime an old Mambonong. or
i 70 hnr a III1
bearing a white rooster in a bag.
~ bring him. she explained, to coax
back the angry soul of Koning Cerino-
TO carry it back to the suffering body
in the soft breast feathers of this cock
ereI'
"Au that DAY the weird ceremonial
continued. 1 had sent the school chill
dren away and participated in the rites
as the priestess commanded. Near sun
set. it was finished.
"sAnd now said the old woman, you
will saddle your horse and ride with me
TO the hospital at Baguio. ! have prom
ised il to the great Mabanong. You
must talk to no one on the way. L
arv friend give you greeting, you must
but ride on the faster
"Bv the time we reached Baguio we
were being followed by a motley pro-
e ssion of natives. A nurse at the hos
pital protested against TINS hOhSSlSC
and would have turned them away, but
1 persuaded her TO let the natives have
their way.
The Mambanong chanted an invita-
ton to little Koning's soul to transport
itself from the white ROSTERS breast
feathers to the pain-racked body OF the
Igorotte maiden.
And on the instant there was a re-
lmarkable. change. Sweat poured from the
girls forehead. She sank into restful
slumber. and from that hour began to
mend rapidly"
A few days later Mrs. Kelly met Chief
Sioko at the edge Of the forest
Your conduct" he said, has pleased
us. If my daughter gets we'll I will send
her publicly back to the government
school. ! shall tell my people that
have confidence in you. and advise them
TO allow their girls as we'll as sons TO
attend your place of learning-if she
gets well"
The day Koning Cerino left the hospit-
al. recovered. was one of celebration
among the Igorottes. From far and
near the tribespeople gathered in the
clearing about the school at Bua- Mrs.
Kelly was there. too, still in doubt as
10 Sioko's intentions.
Then" she said, the chief arose
and talked II was wonderful speech
He told the assembly of 800 natives
of Mrs Kelly's efforts to guide the tribe
to better and more purposeful life. He
rehearsed the tragedy. and his daugh-
ter's sufferings. But his fury. he said
had died. He was sending her back to
the school. Let others do likewise.
Pluck kindness and service had tTi-