Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-02-28
Life Among the Pagans
by Mrs. Elmer Herold)

as we did not want to give those peo-
pie the wrong impression of Ameri-
can women; so we had our translator
explain to them that we wore breeches
only or such trips as that.
Natives Fooled on Photograph.
At the evening programs we were
asked to perform as we'll as they; so
was elected to sing. l was greatly
amused afterwards when a teacher
said that those people had always
thought that photograph music was
manufactured, but now they knew that
it came from a human voice
Christmas Dinner "At Home"
We were home here in Bangued
Christmas eve. We enjoyed regu-
lar turkey dinner which made it seem
like the holiday time We also had
pine tree (no cedars here) decorated
with chains of red, yellow and green
tissue paper, and one big white candle
tied in the top That night more than
a hundred small boys came in groups
to sing for US. They sang my Philip
pines" America" and a lullaby song,
they have not been taught Christmas
songs. We gave them candy, and
marbles. Christmas morning literal
hundreds of boys and girls came to
sing for US; it was almost contin-
uous concert. Our Is pounds of Sears
& Roebuck candy gave out, also our
basket of marbles; so then we gave
them centavos which seemed to please
them more.
Christians Kill MOrOS-In Play.
The last four days our town has
been celebrating its fiesta. It's like
homecoming in the States. The
biggest attraction is the 'Moro-Moro."
1t is a kind of comedy depicting
struggle between the Moro and Chris
ton princes. Because the Moro
princes get killed it is considered
comedy. An amphi-theatre has been
constructed of bamboo in the plaza
with the stage directly before our
house; so we can watch it from our
windoWs-yes, even awaken at a. m.
and look out to see a prince get
stabbed 1t will take four nights to
give the entire play beginning at
about eight and lasting until two or
three in the morning, or until most of
the audience has gone home. The
reason that this play takes so long is
that no one memories their parts-a
promptor is concealed somewhere on
the stage, who reads line then the
actor repeats it. Often times the
promptor is more clearly heard than
the actor Whenever the actors move
above the band plays slow march;
so the action is a lofty stride. The
promptor whistles for the music, cur
tain, in fact he's quite the power be-
hind the throne. The costumes are
gorgeous and dazzling. An interest
ing feature of the play was a part
where the Moro king taught his ten
princes sword dance. We were
much interested in watching him
teach the first one as they were ex-
ceedingly good dancers and looked as
kingly flying about in their royal
robes, However, when the king finish
ed with prince number ten, we were
sick and tired of sword dances. The
giving of the MORO Moro" is almost
an extinct custom; it is only given in
the far-away provinces like ours.
Many of the Filipinos are disguised
with it, but when about 1000 of them
sit up until two or three o'clock in the
morning for four successive days, we
see the custom is not dead yet. But
as there are no movies here, and as
this is about the only thing of it's kind
during the year, l don't blame them
for enjoying it.
Everything is so interesting here
that one can write on almost indefi-
nately; but l must bring this to
close.
This vacation has been such
change that I feel like teaching with
vengeance the three remaining months
of the years.
With love, ETHEL.