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

AN OFFICIAL'S WIFE

Each little town seems to be noted for its own
special delicacy, and we have often been regaled
with cakes from Pampanga or Bataan, and I remember a tin of most delicious brittle cookies sent from
that ill-famed island of Samar.
As to their treachery and cruelty I cannot, of
course, speak from experience, but I know that fairminded American officers have told me again and
again that when once you convince a Filipino that
the American means what he says and is trying to
help him, he is as loyal as our own people. The
Filipinos are not harsh with their children, in fact
they are too lenient. Of course, they love a cockfight, and carry pigs upside down tied by the feet
to a pole; they beat balky horses and jerk carabaos
around by a ring in the nose. Some insurrectos
have mutilated the dead, and some are reported to
have tortured prisoners. Yet, at this time, when
there is so much excitement over the court martials
of army officers and retaliation is the plea in many
cases, there are so few authentic cases where Americans have been victims of inhuman practices that it
is quite significant. On the other hand, there are
many American soldiers who have been treated well
and released when taken prisoner. On the whole,
including all the races but the Moros, I am sure they
can be classed as naturally timid and peace loving.
They are, nevertheless, easily imposed on, and when
led by men of strong will are often aroused to deeds
353