- Author:
- Olivares, Jose de.
- Publication Info:
-
St. Louis:
N.D. Thompson,
1899,
pg 763
Text on page 763
OUR ISLANDS AND THEIR PEOPLE?
763
the light of ruby and gold until it reminded me of the eternal city of heaven as described in the Book of Revelation.
a The ends of a rainbow sprang up from the midst of the tropical foliage, which spread on either side of the city like a thick, waving garden, whose every leaf and flower sparkled and glittered with silvery raindrops like a sea of jewels. The two ends of the rainbow grew up higher and higher, as some tall, bending vine of glory gorgeously tinted with every color of the spectrum, until the ends came together and were blended into a complete arch of infinite beauty like a halo of heaven, holding the city, with its buildings, domes and towers, within this superb arch of the rainbow ring.
a The clouds, nestling on the crest of the mountains, became purple, with fringes of gold, while zigzag lightning played at hide-and-seek around the mountain crags. The low rumble of the distant thunder, like a gutteral laugh from the caverns of eternity, was the only sound to distract attention from this sublime painting of nature.
a With admiration and rapture I gazed, and as I stood entranced the scene changed. The sun sank into the lapping waves
sea, with the great expanse of the bay spreading out toward the north, the island enjoys a climate of perpetual spring and is free from the pest of mosquitoes. The Government has established a hospital on Corregidor, and the island has become a famous pleasure resort for the citizens of Manila. Nine hours are consumed in making the round trip, three each way coming and going, and three for recreation on the shore. The island is shaped precisely like a ladya s high-heeled shoe, w7ith the heel and sole toward the bay and the upper part facing the sea. It is divided into two sections, connected by a low neck. The part facing the sea is a big wooded hill, rising up to a peak, on the top of which is a lighthouse. The whole surface is covered with trees, bushes, flowers and dark green grass, with enough boulders and gray stones peeping out of the foliage to lend an aspect of grandeur to the scene. There is a small native village on the island, which adds to its picturesqueness by the quaint architecture and other curious features of Tagalog home-life.
A well-bred American who goes to Manila now is not necessarily required to sacrifice the enjoyments of social life as he knows
ARMY TRANSPORT CART IN THE) PHILIPPINES.
Without the native buffalo, transportation would be difficult, if not impossible, in many portions of the islands. The load is balanced 011 the wheels of the cart and the
neck of the animal, and the driver accommodates himself to a seat 011 the back of the latter.
until they seemed to wash all the glory from his face. He battled a moment with the waves, and then I saw him no more. Scarlet deepened into flaming red, silver tints to golden yellow, and violet to heliotrope, while the green foliage faded into a sea of purple. The whole world seemed to weep upon the destruction of this, the worlda s greatest picture. The rainbow faded like a phantom and was gone; a few dark clouds were seen sailing away into the dusky twilight, tinted lightly with the dying blush of the sunseta s ruddy glow.
a Night came on quickly with its myriads of glimmering stars, and dropped a hazy curtain o'er the faded glory of this corner of Goda s art gallery. I felt as if the curtain of time had been rolled back like a scroll and I had seen heaven and the Golden City of God. Then the curtain was lowered again.a
Corregidor Island is described as the a fairest spot in the Philippines.a Lashed on the south by the restless waves of the
them at home. American society at the capital is very much like one finds it in all the principal cities of the United States. The wife of a distinguished army officer, writing of a reception given by the peace commissioners, says:
a Last evening we attended a reception given by the peace commissioners. They occupy a beautiful palace on the shore of the bay, a delightful place for entertaining. The entire second floor was as one room, but ordinarily it is the parlor, library and dining-room. The floors are marble, and the woodwork is beautifully carved. There is no upholstered furniture, but they have pretty wooden and bamboo chairs, Japanese tables, screens, lacquered cabinets, inlaid pictures of rare and delightful designs. An orchestra played during the reception.a
Evidently our peace commissioners are not making martyrs of themselves for the uplifting of the poor Filipinos. The same lady describes the elaborate carving of the Church of St. Ignatius,
