BACK TO CIVILIZATION 379 



day that I had been there. The waters were glassy 

 and smooth, just as the bay used to be every morn- 

 ing of the long blockade, when the air was still and 

 the broad glistening water was tranquil and at rest. 



The surprises came in Manila. Great changes had 

 taken place in the harbor, new breakwaters were 

 where there had been none before, new buildings 

 were up, and still more were building. Big electric 

 cars rushed along where formerly the snail-like 

 horse cars crept painfully by. The city was unbe- 

 lievably clean and the main streets were full of 

 busy life. 



I visited the old houses where we had once lived 

 in economical splendor, with servants and carriages 

 and expenses that were microscopic as compared to 

 those of the present day. Upon all sides were the 

 visible evidences that some day Manila will be the 

 finest city of the Orient if the time ever comes when 

 capital may feel assured that our occupation has 

 some prospect of permanence. 



In my old days I used to know a beautiful Mes- 

 tiza girl in Manila. She was very pretty and very 

 nice. I used to draw pictures of her and struggle 

 bravely with the Spanish language. And she was 

 kind and patient with my efforts to learn. Her 

 name was Victoria and she kept a little shop where 

 she and her ancestors for generations before had 

 sold silk jusi and pina cloth. I visited her often 

 there and sometimes went out to her home, a beauti- 

 ful big Spanish house in Calle Zarigoza. 



I determined to find her and went over to her 



