File:Recollections of full years (1914) (14786305153).jpg

Identifier: recollectionsoff00taft (find matches)
Title: Recollections of full years
Year: 1914 (1910s)
Authors: Taft, Helen Herron, 1861-1943
Subjects: White House (Washington, D.C.) Philippines -- Description and travel Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs
Publisher: New York, Dodd, Mead & Company
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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, heavy black clothes with silk hats! Wherethese garments came from I have no idea. Most of the hatslooked like heirlooms, just as the silk hats of our own hus-bands looked, but the chief concern of their owners seemedto be their protection. Never have I seen silk hats socautiously handled. Having got safely aboard the launch each man wentthrough a deliberate process of straightening himself out andcarefully adjusting his attire before he advanced to the sternof the launch where we waited to receive him. Then therewere some set speeches of welcome in which the chief senti-ment seemed to be that never had the province of Bataanbeen so highly honoured and that, therefore, it and all it con-tained was, with feelings inexpressible, laid at the feet of thehonourable Commission. Mr. Fergusson translated the flow-ers and figures of oratory and all the soaring flights of senti-mental generosity into literal English, then, with equal solemnity and impressiveness, he rendered Mr. Tafts mat- 152
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y. RECOLLECTIONS OF FULL YEARS ter-of-fact, though cordial, replies into a marvellous flow ofSpanish eloquence. This formality disposed of, the reception committeeinvited us to step upon the pavilioned raft and be waftedashore. It sounds like a dignified proceeding, but of courseit was not. We had to climb over the rails of the launchand, more or less, slide to a secure footing on the frail floorof the curious craft. Contrary to my secret expectations itkept afloat and we were soon landed at a little fishingvillage down on the beach, where Army ambulances waitedto take us to the town of Balanga, a mile inland. Just out-side of Balanga we passed under a great bamboo arch, thesort of thing the Filipinos erect and ornament with greatskill and ingenuity. This one wTas so thickly decorated,however, with small American flags that little of its intricateframe-work was visible. A piece of white bunting stretchedacross the top of it bore, in large letters, the inscription:Glory Honor to the Co

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