Manila, Luzon Island – Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo
Am very tired. Have been rushed all day, from the time I got out of bed until the present moment, with this difference that I am closing the day’s toil. Time flies so fast! Wrote last night part of the article for the New York “Harbor Lights” i.e. the finishing part, which was largely copied with ink; finished it this forenoon.
Before tackling the aforesaid article, read 2 chapters of Leviticus & one psalm; then remembered my precious God in prayer & praise. Going into my kitchen I discovered a monkey clinging to the window. Caught him & gave the scamp (he upset my ink bottle on the table before repairing to the kitchen for further adventures) to the sentry across the street, he belongs to the soldiers. We have a small monkey in No. 2 sent over by the Utah boys. We all the little chap “Old Man”. He is a first class nuisance but amuses us.
Cooked & partook of breakfast but did not wash the dishes. Couldn’t spare the time.
Completed the article “Five Memorable Nights in the Philippines”. Wrote it in the back of blank Tagalog receipts secured at Paombong. They have “La Republica Filipina” crest stamped on them with a rubber stamp. Covered 25 pages MS. when written with a lead pencil, but was written closely with ink & reduced to 21 pages. The article was divided into the following subheads: “A Night With Dewey’s Blockading Fleet”, “A Night in Camp With the Besieging Army”, “A Night of Block house No. 2” and “A Night of Fire.” Wrote & sent a letter with the copy enclosing 2 photos: Lighthouse on Corregidor Is. and Cocoa nut raft & houses at No. 2, addressed the letter to Ms. Lt-Col. Minnie Brewer, Newark, New Jersey. Wrote & copied my 2 Weekly Letter to Lt.-Col. Alice Lewis New York city. Several Spanish & mestizo women & children came around to hear my gramophone but went away disappointed. I had no time for that kind of pastime. Copy & letters completed jumped on the Calle Jolo street car & mailed them about 15 minutes before the U.S. mail was advertised to close.
After dinner wrote & copied a 4-page letter to Adj. C.W. Bourne, manager of Ft. Herrick, S.A. Colony at Willoughby, Ohio. Added Philippine news for a local paper at his request.
Cooked supper of bacon, cocoa & oatmeal mush. There is much strength in this trying, enervating climate to do considerable work. Am sometimes surprised.
Read the Houston “Post” & some local papers. Am following the war closely in these parts & also take considerable interest in the progress of Houston and Texas.
Ex-Lieut-Col. Keppel’s letter & the letter of Major Ashley Pebbles re the Booth’s trouble (S.A.) in the U.S. has cast a gloom over my spirits. I very much deprecate strife in the Salvation Army.