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February 15, 1909.]
THE MANILA CARNIVAL,
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
Tuesday, 2nd February.
It is no straining of language to say that King Carnival holds sway here. With the enthusiasm which Americans impart into most things that they take in hand the citizens, or properly speaking the Carnival Association, have made elaborate preparations for a week of high revelry in which the most imposing pageants, and the most interesting of industrial and commercial exhibits, will be on view, and in which pleasure and amusement, unlimited and diversified, will enthral all who come under its influence.
It is difficult to conceive all that is summed up in the word Carnival. Camp Wallace, the scene of military operations in the early days of the occupation, is transformed: The Lunetta, always a place of beauty,-while not losing its distinguishing characteristics, has be- came a place of joy. A vast enclosure separates the arnival city from the old world Manila and from the new commercial city. Here everything is of the gaiest. The buildings are brilliant with colour. The people are full of animation. Fun, frolic and good humour prevail throughout, To describe the arrangements for the Carnival would entail a considerable demand on your space. Perhaps it will suffice if I tell you that it is fairyland Picturesque and lovely as it appears in thrilliant sunshine its beauty becomes more apparent perhaps when the shades of even have fallen and the illuminations show new aspects and new view points.
At four o'clock the gates were opened and gave admission to the large crowd which eagerly sought admission. The goddess of Liberty, holding aloft her light over the city; caught the view of visitors immediately the gates were opened, and the splendour and glory of the place was not lost 'upon the gay, light-hearted people who came to see, to admire, and to be enchanted. That they were delighted was apparent to the most casual observer.
The Hippodrome is the star attraction of this evening. The monster amphitheatre with & vest arem and a seating capacity for twelve thousand will be open at nine o'clock with a grand entry of all the participants in the sports. Hongkong meets the 10th Cavalry in the polo sports this afternoon and to morrow the cricket match between Manila and Hongkong will commence. Tennis will commence on Thursday and will be .con- tinued for several days. Undoubtedly one of the most popular attractions is the playing of the Band of the 13th Rajputs. It is described in the programme
as the "Famous Band of 13th Rajputs, British Army in India, composed of the following native races: Afridis, Sikhs, Pathans, Afghans, Punjabis, Ghoorkhas."
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Hongkong though perhaps not so commercial, has a natural beauty which gives a certain pre-eminence, but Manila represents in some degree a combination of both. It is of course true that neither in the volume of its business nor in the amount of its shipping can it equal either Shanghai or Hongkong, but it is grow ing. It is developing, if not with the rapidity of the mushroom cities of the United States, at any rate under the same progressive forces and influences which distinguish the cities of the new world from those of the old. By and by Manila, will be different from what we see to-day. Like the phoenix rising from the ashes | of its dead self, a new city, a greater port, will be created which will rival in importance the trading and shipping centres of the East. At the same time it would be a pity to think that the many beautiful and historical features which characterise the city should disappear before the ruthless hand of commercial utility. Rather let the Manila of the future be a pleasing combination of ancient and modern, a happy commingling of Jast and West,
each supplementing the other and combining to create a city of which its inhabitants will always be proud to say: mean city.
"I am a citizen of no
So much for the city. Now let me try to tell you something of the people. In perhaps the same way 8.X Manila suffers from misrepresentation, or at any rate misunder- standing, so do the people. The Americans are too often regarded as arrogant boasters, men of little culture or refinement, but association with them disproves that. They show a hospitality which puts us to shame. They do not seem to be able to do enough for the stranger within their gates. Everywhere one is met with the same pen-handed generosity, the same genial, breezy, cordial welcome, the same firm, earnest handgrip. But what is most apparent here is that the Americans, with the same burning patriotism which has enabled them to make a great nation, show the same enthusiasm in the Philippines and are deter- mined to see the Islands, with their capital, join the onward march of progressive peoples. It is this same spirit which makes the arnival the success that it is. Everybody seems to be talking and thinking of the Carnival. Their, one ambition seems to be to make the Carnival a powerful advertisement of the Islands and of Manila. About the result there cannot be the slightest doubt. The second Carnival, benefiting by the experiences of the first, will be a greater success than its predecessor, and the publicity which it has gained will be ample reward for the self sacrificing labours of its promoters.
There was no formal opening of the Carnival. At four o'clock the gates were opened and the crowds streamed through the barriers. Music from the various Bands at different times As you all know, the Carnival is intended to marked the event, the Band of the Rajputs, "boost" Manila. That is the American way of which had taken up a prominent position in front describing the business. Certainly the Carnival of the statue of the Goddess of Liberty, leading Association have taken the proper steps of off under Bandmaster Coke, while wild Moros securing publicity to their undertaking and to marched through the grounds in procession, making the city better known. They have sent Then the fun of the fair commenced, but it was a cordial invitation to all the Hongkong news- not till night that it reached its height. Then papers, the "public sentiment makers," and in the gay throng promenaded the Carnival city. response to that we have here a party of Hong-patronising the side shows, throwing confetti kong pressmen. They have been heartily welcomed on behalf of the city and everything possible to afford them the best impressions of the place has been done. With the sporting representatives of the colony, they were met on the steamer by the Reception Committee and introduced to the leading gentlemen of the city. Now they are seeing the city and the people at
their best.
3rd February. Amid such scenes of animation and amid such experiences of good followship and hospitality one's impressions of Manila and its inhabitants must be exceedingly favourable, and the more one sees of the "Pearl of the Orient" and the folks who have their habitation therein the higher they rise in one's estimation. To the visitor who goes there for the first time Manila is a revelation. It is a real city. It has all the attractions, all the animation, and most of the advantages which we associate with the name. To walk along its old-world streets is a pleasure which cannot be enjoyed in any other great centre in the East. Shanghai is a busy cosmopolitan place with many attractions;
and enjoying all the fun and frolic for which Carnival. Many costumes were worn and this added materially to the gaiety of the scene. The great event, of course was the opening of the Hippodrome. An interesting pageant of all participating in the sports, led by the Rajputs Band, Inaugurated the proceedings. Then followed wonderful exhibitions of cavalry and infantry till, sprinting, charioteering, etc.; the programme concluding with a realistic attack on the walled city, the pyrotechnic display-which was the principal feature-being particularly brilliant.
Yesterday the tennis tournament commenced. The draw was unfavourable to Hongkong, as aptain Beasley and Lieut. Byrne opposed each other in the first round. This was the match of the afternoon, Beasley's steady plodding play getting him through by 7-5, 1-6, 6-3. Mr. McPherson, formerly of Hongkong, beat Capt. Brierley 6-4, 6-1, and Captain Whyte of The Buffs meets Mr. Robert Baldwin of the Manila A. A. to-day.
The preliminary round in the doubles is also to be played to-day.
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The match between Hongkong and Manila is also set down for to-day.
The first polo team will be composed of Major Findlay, Commander Campbell, RN., Lieut. Crookenden and Lient Green. Captain Brierley will probably take part in some of the anb sequent matches.
The cricket team will include Captain Baird, Captain Beasley, Colonel Chamier, Captain Brierley, Captain Greenaway, Lieut. Bagnall, Lieut. Green, Lient. Anderson, Lieut. Liep- mann, Captain Dwyer, Lieut. Haughton. The umpire will be Lieut. Betton Foster.
Lance-Corpl. Andrews of The Buffs, who won the Army quarter-mile championship in South Africa, will figure on the track in the half and quarter mile events.
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February 4th.
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As one of the local newspapers expresses it Manila has capitulated to fun and frolic." Business is not taken at all seriously these days, and, with or without the holidays being declared, the time is given up to merry making and to enjoying the spectacular effects provided by the processions and by the many costumed figures on the street. Wer it notarnival time one would experience a shock on seeing a man attired in blazing green and red uniform and wearing a green helmet stalking along the busy Escolta or in meeting a grotesque figure of great height and considerable lack of beauty.. But in business and in play the American seems to be thorough, and when the Filipinos are also joining in the play with all the joyqusness of their light-hearted sunny dispositions It follows that there is little diversity in the realm of amusement over which King arnival holds sway. How general is this sentiment will be. understood when I mention that on the opening night as many as 25,000 paid for admission, but to this number has to be added another 10,000 at least. These figures in themselves will indi- cate the immense popularity of this Carnival.
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The visiting journalists and others from Hongkong are being well looked after.. In inviting them to become their guests for the event the Carnival Association had in view not merely giving greater publicity to the Carnival itself, but contemplated bringing about a botter understanding between the cities of Hongkong and Manila. That this result is likely to be achieved there can be little doubt. closer connection will demonstrate that the cities have something to gain from each other, and if no bigher motives inspire their citizens that alone ought to bring about the more in timate relations which are desirable. Hongkong is a great financial centre to which those in the Islands look in some degree for assistance in developing the natural resources of the Philip- pines and reciprocally Hongkong capitalists will find much here to engage their consideration and attention.
Now a word about the Carnival itself. Yes terday the event of the day was the procession of floats. These represented various countries and many of them were undoubted works of art. While there was freedom for originality in design and execution they all adhered to the characteristic feature which distinguishes one country from another and the emblems in- troduced are exceedingly well, worked out. The float representing Spain Was one of the prettiest in an imposing pageant, and special mention should also be made of Egypt, Tibet and Japan. Dense crowds lined the route of the procession and the popularity of the institution was clearly demonstrated. Sports attracted another large crowd to the Hippodrome at night.
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Speaking of Sport reminds me that up till now Hongkong has been rather unfortunate. In the Tennis singles the representatives from the colony have been extinguished before the semi-final was reached aptain Beasley, who had to beat one of his fellow travellers to get into the second round, was vanquished by the American Johnson in the next round by 6-4, 6-1, and Captain Brierley, who had also to overcome another Hongkong player in the first round met the same fate in the next round at the hands of Mr. R. MacPherson, of the Chartered Bank, formerly of Hongkong, while Mr. Norrie, the former Hongkong champion, defeated Mr. MacPherson in the third. In the doubles Hongkong has had the same ill fortune