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

AN OFFICIAL'S WIFE

artist. Besides the artistic mother there were two
musical daughters, one who played the piano and
another who sang. The company embraced, among
others, a melancholy Spaniard stranded in Manila,
a poet with long hair, who recited a canto of an
unpublished epic, and a virtuoso on the violin. My
escort and I were the only ones there who were
without talent. The supper was truly Bohemian,
served on the azotea, or roof, dining room. The
table was covered with a confused mass of bottles,
cold meats, and sweets. We were served by slipshod " boys " in short trousers and undershirts, and
unkempt little girls whose low-necked camisa kept
falling off their shoulders, exposing nice round
arms. One can never forget the motion of a Filipina girl's shoulder as she hitches up her camisa
sleeve. Ham sandwiches and orange marmalade
were served with sweet champagne and pink sugar
cakes. We remained till twelve o'clock, and went
home in a pouring rain. I am assured by the knowing ones that I am at last in " real society," but I
could not see they were very different from the rest
of Manila, only a bit whiter perhaps.
July 3, 190I.
AST evening there was a brilliant reception
to the departing commanding general at the
Army and Navy Club. Everyone in town was
there, and many of the ladies were in new gowns.

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