Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-06-15
Letter Tells
Social Life
In Manila

Johns are enjoying to the utmost
the novelty Of life in Manila.
where Judge Johns is a member
of the federal bench is shown in
recent letter written by Mrs.
Johns elizabeth Busch.) The
communication as printed in
recent issue OF the Spectator fol-
lows:
The judge and / are satisfied
and happy here In Manila. Every
one has been most cordial and
kind to us, and we are rapidly be-
coming acquainted and making
friends. There is a very fine class
of Americans here, and the peo-
pie live SO much more leisurely
than at home. You don't see the
rushing, the bustling and the
mad gallop for something-you
don't know what.
Everybody gets UP early and
makes use of the morning hours.
Many bridge and sewing parties
are given during the morning In
fact, the most popular hour for
bridge is o'clock a. m. Bridge,
by the way, Is the most popular
form OF entertainment. Some OF
the parties are extremely form
al and elaborate. For while 1t
seemed to me that all I did vas
to go to bridge parties. Have you
heard of mahjougg? 1t Is a new
game that Is taking Manila and
the Orient by storm, and is being
played more and more. Personal
ly, ] prefer bridge.
But to continue; lunch is gem
orally served at 1890, after
which everyone takes a siesta.
Everything down town Is closed
from IL until In the afternoon,
and almost everything until 4.
In fact, Manila is almost dead
city from 12 to A. From 5 o'clock
until 7 are the calling hours
and there is very much calling
done here. 1t Is a decided breach
of etiquette to make a formal call
before O'Clock. Also teas, for
NAL bridge parties and receptions
are given from until Z. Infor-
NAL and home dinners are always
at O'Clock, while formal dinners
are at 8 or $3.50.
One thing that l couldn't get
used to at first was the fact that
at teas. bridge parties, etc, you
have your refreshments first. You
first greet your hostess, then
make a bee line for the refresh
ment table, where you get tea,
sandwiches, nuts, candy, cake. Ice
cream, etc. Cup of tea and sand
wich in hand, you wander around,
greet. your friends, sip and gos-
sip. Then you proceed to your
bridge table and play. I am get
ting SO that / like the custom
immensely, and see Its practica-
bility. Your afternoon tea Will
not interfere with your dinner ap-
petite. will insist, however, that
most times 1t does, because the
refreshments are generally rath-
er rich and filling.
AS / remarked before, we like
Manila. 1t Is q most beautiful
city. with its wonderful old trees
mostly palms and acacias-and
such beautiful flowers, chiefly
varieties OF hibiscus. While some
of the streets are wide and at
tractive, most Of them are quite
narrow. In the American sec
tions particularly, one finds
many beautiful homes. with trees,
flowers and lawns. In the pictur-
esQue Filipino section one finds
the nipa huts by the hundreds,
but they are all clean and well
taken care of.
We are in the hot season, the
three extremely hot months OF
the year being April, May and
June. The last three days have
been scorchers, and all ! have
done has been to wipe the perspi-
ration from my brow, and drink
iced tea and lemonades. BY rights
the Judge gets his vacation in
April, May and June, owing to
the fact that we didn't arrive un-
til November, and since we have
travelled enough for one year, he
worked during April. We have
taken cottage in Baguio for
May and June, and expect to
leave for that place within the
next few days. Baguio is one OF
the famous mountain resorts in
this part Of the Orient, 4SOO feet
above sea level and about l75
miles out from Manila. am
thrilled over the prospect of wear
ing some of my heavier clothes
there, for they say Baguio Is
most enticingly cool.