Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1899 — THE FILIPINO SCHOOLBOY. [ARTICLE]

THE FILIPINO SCHOOLBOY.

He Learns Very Little Abost the United States. It has been frequently remarked that the Filipinos could have no conception of the extent and resources of the United States or they never would have been deceived Into the hallucination that they could successfully combat us. In going through their school here I fouud a little manuscript volume in which, in less than a hundred manuscript pages, was comprised all of syntax and geography that was taugbt tbe children here. And it must be remembered that Malolos, before the insurrection, was an important city in this part of the world, and one where the children would be expected to receive tbe average education. Turning to one of the pages in this book that I picked up, I found the United States of America discoursed upon, immediately after Nlgrlcia, and just before Mexico. Here is the entire lot of information given as to the United States, in the form of questions and answers: “Where is this country (the United States) situated? In North America. “What are its boundaries? To the north, British America; to the east, the Atlantic ocean and the Bahama channel; to the south, the Strait of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, and to the west, Mexico aud the Grande (Pacific) ocean. “What is the form of government? It is a federal republic. “Of what Is this republic composed? Of forty different States. “What are Its rivers and mountains? The most notable rivers are the Misisipi (literal spelling), the Niagara, the Missori (again tbe literal spelling), the Colorado and the St. Lawrence, and the principal mountains are the Cumberland and Rockies. “What is the capital? Washington, but the most Important city Is New York. “Protestantism prevails, but there are Catholic archbishops.” And this is the sum total of what the average FlHpino boy has been taught about our rather considerable and somewhat prosperous country.— Manila Letter in Leslie's Weekly.