Evening star., 1925-03-20
DATA Of OLD DAYS
| FOUND At MANILA
Ancient Records Tell of
| Spanish Influence on
FL Life of Islands.
by WAITER RORB
Correspondence Of The star and the Chicag

Correspondence Of The star and the Chicago
Daily News.
MANILA. p. l., February 10.--In the
misty archives OF the Ayuntamiento
the capitol of the Philippines, are
etiu to be seen by the seeker after
odd and interesting facts of history
the original real cedulas, with the sig
nature of the King of Spain, dated in
1868 and telling of changes of policy
which would be necessitated by
treaties effected between England
and Spain and between France and
Spain-treaties by which the old
Spanish empire was relieved of pos
sessions and dependencies all over
the world. but by which also her do
,ninion in the Philippines was re-
established, the British withdrawing g
after a conquest and occupation
which lasted but two years. Gen.
Draper had found 1t possible to plant
batteries of ten Founders in great
ort-churches south of the old city
and batter a breach through the
walls.
With the opening of the travel sea-
son on the Pacific this year the old
records are being studied and material
CLEANED from them to make into
pamphlets that Will interpret the
ancient charm of the only Christian
are bound in raw sheepskin, called
pergamint, from Pergamo, Spain,
where the art OF preparing TINS
waterproof material was acquired
from the Moors. The paper Is catalan,
from Catalonia, and again of Moorish
origin. The records are, many OF thehl'
in such a fine state OF preservation
that they appear to have been written
yesterday, a fact the more remarkable
1,F -
nary materials by the Philippine eli
mate and ravages of white ants.
Surrounded by Walls.
The walled city of Manila is sur
rounded by medieval walls 25 feet
high and 2& miles extent. 1t has
eight streets, running in the general
direction north and south, eight east
and west, all so arranged that during
every hour of the day there Is shelter
from sun and storm on one side OF
Ihe street or the other. 1t was
founded in 1871 by Don Miguel Le-
gaspf, the first royal governor from
Spain. whose commission from Philip
II, dated 1852, may BE seen In the
archives of the Ayuntamiento. Don
Legaspi lies buried in San Augustin
Church, the first built in Manila, also
dating 1871. Juan Salcedo, who eX-
tended the royal authority through
out the provinces. lies beside him
in the same famous shrine of church
history in the Orient the resting
place of many other subsequent nota-
bles OF the long Spanish regime.
Built by Missionaries.
The missionaries from Spain to the
Philippines, which readily accepted
the faith, were friars of the Agus-
ttnian, Recoletos, Franciscan, Domin-
team and Jesuit orders, the generic
term "friar" not including the last
order named. All the orders have
monastries and large churches in the
walled city the Jesuit Chapel of
st Ignatius being one of the most
magnificent churches in the world
from the viewpoint Of interior adorn-
ment. Its interior is entirely con-
structed of Philippine hardwoods,
beautifully hand carved by Filipino
craftsmen. The Dominican Church
is a perfect example of the Gothic.
The Recoletos Church reflects the