Sept. 11, 1901

A letter of introduction to Judge Odlin has brought me a great deal of pleasure. This afternoon they came for me to go to Governor and Mrs. Taft’s at home. It was at sunset and the view from the Ponta de Ayala was magnificent. At the governor’s house we went upstairs without the preliminary of ringing a door-bell. In fact none of the houses have door bells. The governor was standing in the large room so I was introduced and then we went on to the wide verandah. Just beneath us was the Pasig, and several natives were laboriously poling a casco down its muddy waters. Beyond it were low rice fields and distant blue hills. After we had feasted our eyes on the scenery we went in and had an ice and various cakes. I met many people whom I knew and we did not leave until after seven o’clock. Captain Trutherly took me home in his victoria, the finest rig in town. We stopped to go through two markets where we saw many queer foods. Little nipa covered booths are built close together, and on a shelf in front are different cooked meat and fish with many gravies, fruits, chicoes, radishes, and shell fish. Down at one side we found some cocoanuts and got the Chino in charge to open one. After a long hunt he found a glass which he swabbed out with his finger. I insisted on wiping off the edge with my handkerchief, and then I shut my eyes and drank the milk. It was really good anf so was the cocoanut meat in spite of the fact that we had to eat around the marks of the Chino’s fingers. As a result of our wandering we got back to dinner and hour late and as no one expected me we had great fun getting a place for me. After a long talk Captain T- took me home and we got Peggy and went over another part of the city through little dark picturesque streets. Now it is almost as late as I used to sit up on the Buford.