Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1900 — Philippine Letter. [ARTICLE]

Philippine Letter.

We . are permitted to publish the following letter entire: Lamboanga, P. 1., Oct. 27, 1900, Mr. Charles K,enton, Rensselaer, Ind. . Dear Brother;—Just back from my supper, and as a boat leaves for Manila tomorrow will spend this, evening writing letters and will begin byansweiing your’s, and send it addressed to Bess. See, in that way, I will save two cents! Really, I enjoyed my supper to-night more than any for a long time. Didn’t have very much to eat hut ’twas served in such a way as to. remind one of civilization. Since my company 1 ft here I have been eating with the band. They have -more to eat and ’tis better food than (hat of any company in the Regt. This is not because they are allowed more rations but because it is a sipailer mess and the fellows are willing to throw in a little each pay day to buy extras. The last boat which came from Manila brought China dishes for the tro >ps stationed here. 1 knew that, yet I was very much surprised when I went for supper this evening. Gur mess hall looked very home like. China dishes, silver knives, forks and spoons! And, instead of marching around and having our rations issued to us, out supper was on the table in large dishes, just as we have it at home. Really, the food tastes better when served in that way. In my company, eyer since we were at Angel Island, we have had dishes and our meals were served to us in them at the table, but I like the way we have now better, for I like to help myself and n6t have my food all thrown together in one plate. They are now putting in an ice plant so we will soon have everything fixed up for the regulars. °••••-

Here it is Sunday evening! Am very sorry I did not get this finished m time for the mail which left to-day noon, but it won’t make much difference for another boat goes to Manila Nov. 2d. A very strange occurence prevented me from finishing this letter last night. We have in our Regt. a man by the name of George Fry, who has unquestioned ability as a writer gnd especially as a newspaper man. Although.' hut a man of twenty-eight he has worked for some of the best newspapers in the states. He has been editor in chief of one of the big Chattanooga dailies and previous to his enlistment was working for the Chicago Record. But, like so many of our once promising young, men, his future has been blighted by strong drink. He tells me that he was so drunk when he enlisted that he did not know what he had done for three days. As soon as sobered up people saw that he was a* inan of great ability and he was made Ist Sergt. of "G" Co. He would have been given a commission as Lieut, long ager, but he is a slave. He cannot remain sober for more than two months. He was ledqced and transferred to “E” Co. as ae duty Sergt., and has again been reduced and is now a corporal on detached duty/ in the- Q. M. department. I like Fry when he is sobej and enjoy being with, him, for he is the best conversationalist I have found in the ReTt., and not only that, but Fry says I have more influence over him and can keep him sober longer than any one"he knows. But he will at times get away from me and get crazy drunk. He stopped here last evening in that condition. He told sime of the boys that I didn’t like him any more, that I hadn’t been to see him for three or four days and that I didn’t care anything; about him any more, and that he was going to come up and make a “rough house”' with me. Well, he did come up. He is just as disagreeable when drunk as he is nice when sober, and ’tis almost impossible to get rid of him when he is in theformer condition. He sure did raise Ja rough house. He broke my lamp all to pieces and threw oil all over the room so of course I had to slop writing. I was tempted to have him “run in” but feared that would stop what little influence I did have over him. I have often thought that it I could but be the means of that man's conversion so that he would devote his energy and ability for the betterment ot the.world, my lite would have been well spent. But there is but liitle hope of his ever changing, he is so set in his ways. Then I wiuld have finished this letter this morning but as I was going tc breakfast the l’hilipmo who is working in the Engineer’s office met me with the news that his sister was dead. He desired that I should come and take a picture ot her. He is a very nice man and his family and relatives have far more intelligence than the ordinary Phil—ipino. Well, I went out and did the best I could. However, 1 fear it won't be much of a success for these houses are not built for interior pictures. I was very much surprised at the sympathy manifested for I never before saw them weep at the death of a friend. But there was real sorrow in that home. 1 stayed with them till about eleven p'clock and am sure I cheered them up. They were very anxious that I, and two friends who* were with me, should stay for dinner, but l thought it wouid not be best, so promised to go back sometime soon, O, yes, while we were out there we three boys hitched the carahoa to the cart and had a ride, then had our pictures taken. Will tell you the result later. But here, I have already written enough to tire any one before .hey have read it all and havn’t even begun to tell you what I had intended to. But guess they will keep till I am home. Tell Earl Jeffries that 1 have been expecting a letter from him for the past year and havn’t yet received it. That reminds me, it was one year ago to-day (Oct. 38, 1809) that we left ’Frisco. O, how quicklv the year has passed! Would hardly think that half a year has passed since we left the states. Almost time for ihe big election and we here know but little more than who the candidates are. Very likely won’t know who is elected for a month or six weeks after election. Now, Charlie, if you wait so long about writing as you did before, I fear I won't hear from you again before I get home. Regards to all enquiring friends. Bates Tucker. Among the tens of thousands who have used Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy tor colds and la grippe during the past few years, to our knowledge, not a single case has resulted in pneumonia. Thos. Whitfield & Co., 240 Wabash avenue. Chicago, one of the most prominent retail druggists in that city, in speaking of this, says: “We recommend Chamberlain's Cough Remedy for la grippe in many cases, as it not only gives prompt and complete n covery, hut also counteract* any tendency of la grippe to result n» pneumonia. For sale by J. A. Larsh.