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

AN OFFICIAL'S WIFE

MANILA, August I, 1901.
yESTERDAY the governor gave his third reception at the Malacafian. The living room is
surrounded by a broad-tiled veranda, which forms
one of the features-in fact, I should say the feature
-of the " palace." It is always cool, and there are
exquisite views up and down the river. Guests begin to arrive about half-past five. I poured tea
yesterday afternoon, and I enjoyed watching the
various persons who called. It is a very welldressed crowd, but with no uniformity in the style
of its costumes. One of the first to come yesterday
was Sefior Legarda, who has been appointed a member of the Commission. He brought with him his
daughter-in-law, who has just returned from Paris.
She wore an exquisite black brocade gown embroidered in jet, and a hat that one had only to see to
know where it was made. Her husband, whom
Sefior Legarda referred to as " fat, isn't he? " needs
no further characterization, for that was all there was
to say. Behind this family group came several American ladies in organdies and muslins, followed by a
Spanish mestiza dressed in a thick brown cashmere
gown with a silk front, looking perfectly cool and
serene. A crowd of girls in low-necked jusis,
dressed for the Fifth Cavalry ball, attracted one. It
is quite the thing to come to an afternoon reception
in a low-necked dress; even women of advanced
age wear them. Yesterday the Filipinos were out
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