Life — December 28, 1899 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SCOUTING IN THE TRANSVAAL. Sergeant Quinn (of the Hussars): BAD CRSS TO THE DAY THAT I VOLUNTEERED FOR SCOUT DUTY! HOW AM I TO KNOW WITHER TIS BLOOMIN’ BIRD 18 CASEY OP THE DRAGOONS OR WAN OP THE INIMY? From the Seat of War. Tho following extracts aro from the letter of an unbiased United Statos official now in tho Philippines: O goes the world! We are civilizing these benighted heathen, who call us “heretics,” at a great rate, and just as soon as scon as the new forces get out here, we are going to expand. D. V., if I once get home from this delight. ful addition to the United States, I will neversee itagain, Ido not blame our Filipino friends much for not becoming enthusiastic over us. *. WY... Finst.—All duties, taxes, ete., etc., ete., that the Spanish exacted are exacted by us, Prices are higher, for Spanish goods used to be given free entry, and we tax even our own imports from the United States. Seconp.—We do not speak their language. Most of us are Protestants, and they are superstitious Catholics. Tuimp —The army occupies a town or district, and then evacuates, The insurrectoes return acd imprison or fine all people who favored the United States during our bricf occupation. Fourtn.—Our soldiers have a pleasant little way of referring to them as “niggers.” Civility has never been a marked characteristic of American treatment of inferior races, Fietit.—The greatest obstacle to the settlement of the question is the encouragement of certain American public men, newspapers, etc. These things are all read and many of them reprinted in the Heraldo Filipino, La Libertad, etc. Many of them, I think, believe that Congress will reca!l the troops shortly. In that case, the two hundred and fifty thousand Tagals would run the whole group of islands, So the situation stands, The situation is stillas it has been for a year, ‘* well in hand,” and appears apt to stay there as long as dear old Otis is acting as prophet, priest und king combined. OLONEL CORKRIGHT: Did that nigguh die a natural death, Majuh ? Masor Gore: Yes, suh; he was lynched for voting the Republican ticket.