At the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. VI: Filipinos at the Fair

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AT THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION.

[Not a few who visit the fair derive much of their entertainment from the many foreign peoples who are to be seen there in native costume and surroundings. The writer took great interest in the Filipinos, and gives his impressions of that wonderful people, incidentally expressing himself on the duty of Americans regarding them. J. M. Sjodah* who is a Swede by birth, having been born in Carlshamn, Blekinge, November 29, 1853, is specially competent to judge eastern peoples. He has made the Holy Land and the far East a special study, and was on a mission in Switzerland, Egypt, and the Holy Land, during the years 1889-90. He was sent to Stockholm, with congratulations from the Church authorities, and a present from the Scandinavians of Utah, on the occasion of the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of King Oscar's accession to the throne, and was very cordially received. Since his return from the Turkish mission, he has devoted himself to the news- paper business, and is at the present, associate editor of the Deseret News. He is president of the Scandinavian assembly of the Latter-day Saints, in Salt Lake City. Editors.]

VI.

FILIPINOS AT THE FAIR. BY J. M. SJODAHL, ASSOCIATE EDITOR "DESERET NEWS."

If I were asked to express an opinion as to which part of the greatest of all Expositions is the most interesting, I would say, without hesitation: The Philippine Reservation. There are priceless art collections, complete exhibitions of machinery, curiosities, etc., and all are of interest to one class, or another; but the Philippine exhibit attracts all alike. It costs over a million dollars, all

THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION. 95

of which, except two hundred thousand dollars, was appropriated by the insular government. It is most complete, embracing, as it

does, not only an exhibition of the products of the islands, but also samples of its manufactures, art, ethnology, customs of the people, and educational methods. It is a vast object lesson to the American people, on a most important subject. If we desire to make a trip through the reservation, we may cross the bridge that spans the Arrow-head lake, a facsimile of the Lnguna de Bay, the headwater of the Pasig. At the other end of the bridge, we face a fort that encloses a number of war relics furnisned by American and Filipino soldiers.

We pass through this fort, and by a copy of the Magellan monument, erected in honor of the discoverer of the islands. Then we come to the agricultural building, which contains a most interesting exhibition of agricultural and horticultural products and implements. There are rice, cotton, sugar, hemp, beans, and so on. Some distance from thi3 building are the Cathedral, the Commerce building, and a typical Manila house. The Cathedral especially attracts attention. In it is found the educational exhibit, and some art products. The educational section shows the methods of the American schools in the islands, and the truly wonderful results achieved in the short time they have been in operation. The government building is another structure which contains most interesting exhibits of a general character, including some of the art treasures of the islands. In the Manila house the most delicate fabrics of native manufacture are shown, together with embroideries and laces of exquisite beauty. In the forestry building, samples of all the tropical hardwoods are found; also many valuable plants and shrubs, that yield gums, resins, gutta-percha and rubber. There is also an ethnological exhibit, embracing the manufactures of different tribes, showing their characteristics and grade of culture; further, a mineral and a fisheries exhibit, and here we find a relief map of the islands, and a meteorological station, in which the important instruments of the weather bureau in Manila are shown. To complete our tour of the reservation, we now turn down the road and enter the Negrito village. This is about the lowest

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type of Filipinos. The men go about nearly nude. The children play with bows and arrows, acquiring remarkable skill in the handling of these weapons. They are a physically small race, evidently low in intellect. Roots, snails, and such things, seem to satisfy their appetite. They are said to become gradually diminishing in numbers. In their village they are seen at work and at

play. We pass from this to the village of the head-hunting Igorrotes. They attract attention as a finely developed lot of savages. They are almost copper-colored, with high cheek bones, flat nose, thick lips, and straight, black hair. Both men and women are well formed, and show. a graceful bearing. In their village they are seen at work in different crafts, as well as performing their tribal dances, to the music of the brass drum. From this village, our road takes us to the village of the fierce Moros. These are Mohammedans, and in their native island they are credited with being pirates and sea-rovers. They have always made war upon the Spaniards. In their village their women are seen at work at the loom, and at their theater an exhibition in sword skill is given. But we hasten to the Visayan village where the most striking and civilized type of Filipinos live. There are about one hundred of them in this little village. They are manufacturing a number of articles, such as cloth, hats, wood carvings and novelties. They also have a little theater which generally is well filled with spectators whenever there is a performance. The performances consist of music by an orchestra, solo singing, duets, and dancing, and they conclude with "The Star-spangled Banner," sung in English by the performers, to the accompaniment of the orchestra. This usually brings down the house. The performance is one in every respect high-class vaudeville. Having completed our tour, we go to the nearest restaurant, where we take place on the cool veranda and order refreshments. Opposite the street is a band stand, from which the Constabulary band, consisting of eighty pieces, discourses fine music. I could not help comparing the music of that dusky band to that of Sousa's, and I am not sure that the Philippine band suffered very much by the comparison. I thought what a tremendous success

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AT THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION. 97

they could make of a concert tour through this country, if they were disposed to make one. I have mentioned the Constabulary. The Constabulary battal-

ion, at the Exposition, was organized to represent the Constabulary

of the Islands. It is composed of eleven officers and two hundred men, besides the musicians. They are said to be wonderfully well drilled.The Constabulary of the Islands number eight thousand men, and were organized by Governor Taft, to maintain order. It is interesting to study these people, and to consider that the

charge has been given us, to bring to them the blessings of the* highest type of civilization, the most advanced form of human liberty. It is a mission which this country must not fail to fulfill.

The day must come, through American effort, when the natives of those islands feel to bless the day when Dewey sailed into Manila bay; if not, the day will be one sad memory in our own history. For, unless the conquest is made a blessing to those human beings, it will be a curse to our own country. Our light must break through the mists, or the mists will obscure its rays. Salt Lake City, Utah.