Unofficial letters of an official's wife [by] Edith Moses.

UNOFFICIAL LETTERS OF

We left the place with a friendly pity for the
friars who had never known the joy of owning an
ice plant. On our return to Legaspi we found that
the preparations for our luncheon had been delayed
by an accident to the young daughter of the presidente. \Vishing to dress her hair la Arzericaine,
she had burned herself quite badly. This cast a
gloom over the party, but finally the luncheon was
served to our great relief.
In the afternoon, the public meeting and the
provincial law palling on us, we went out to buy
abaca, a pretty material made of hemp woven in
stripes. We find that although our Filipino friends
receive us as brothers, and are overwhelmed with
joy at our presence, they do not hesitate to ask
us three prices for their wares. The wives of the
principales beguile the pesos from our pockets
while our husbands are bestowing civil governments with liberal hand on their provinces. It's
rather shabby treatment, don't you think? And
what shall I ever do with all the stuff I have
bought?
One feature of our visit to Albay we have not
enjoyed. The landing has been most disagreeable.
The bay is almost always rough, and, although the
trips to and from shore have been made in a tug,
our launch being too small, we were tossed about
and shaken up in a decidedly violent manner. At
the landing place we had to watch our chance and
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