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

AN OFFICIAL'S WIFE

two saddles, rolls of blankets, luncheon, and water
bottles, while we tucked ourselves in anywhere. A
private car had been attached to the train for us.
Imagine how the Philippines have progressed since
last year. It was a real private car. There were
three Pullman-car beds, a table, desk, ice chest, and
an observation section at one end. All this made
our trip comfortable. There were interesting sights,
as there always are traveling. Everywhere the
bamboo has been thinned for the market until it is
only delicate tracery against the sky. There were
great mango trees laden with green fruit, and cocoanut groves bending under clusters of yellow globes
like footballs. At one place ten million young wingless locusts were crossing a river on the railway
bridge. We made paste of at least five million, and
the locomotive could hardly draw the train over the
slippery mass. Everyone was in good spirits.
Manila and the cholera vanished, and the strain of
the last few weeks was relaxed.
At Dagupan we were met by the officers of the
garrison. Two captains very kindly gave up their
quarters to us, and arranged for our dinner. We
have been laughing at ourselves all day, for our
Benguet outfit is suitable for a trip to the North
Pole.

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