at such times.  The men whose property is not threatened seldom exert themselves, but stand in groups and chatter about how this could be done or that.  Everybody is full of suggestions for somebody else to execute, but nobody does anything.  The municipal police nose about in the crowd, and at intervals seize upon some obscure and inoffensive citizen, propelling him violently in the direction of the conflagration with orders to “work.”  He half-heartedly picks up an old five-gallon petroleum can or a bamboo water-pipe, and starts off to the nearest well, but as soon as he is out of range of the policeman’s eye he drops the article, shuffles back into the gazing crowd, and does no more work.

At such time the loyalty and devotion of servants are put to a severe test.  Two incidents came under my notice which it is a pleasure to describe.  During my third year at Capiz our own home (I was “messing” with another American woman teacher) was threatened by fire one night, and all our household goods were carried out and saved by American men.  The house was on fire more than once, but they managed to extinguish the fire each time.

Mention has previously been made of my little maid, Ceferiana.  At the first alarm that night, she rushed into my room, and, spreading out a sheet, began to throw clothes into it from my drawers and wardrobe.  When she had gathered up a full bundle, she rushed off to a place of safety, deposited it and came back for more.  Meanwhile I had gathered up some silver and other valuables, and locked them in a trunk.  Ceferiana helped me to carry this out, and as we were returning, the sweep of the flames seemed to be almost engulfing our house.  For the first time Ceferiana gave a thought to her own possessions.  With a wail—­“Ah, Dios mio, mi ropa!” ("Oh, my God! my clothes!")—­she sank down on her knees, beating her breast, and bewailing the loss of a wardrobe made up chiefly from my cast-off garments, but even then far richer than that of most girls of her class.

About this time the American men began to arrive on the scene, and though they would not permit us to return to the house, they chivalrously rescued Ceferiana’s possessions as well as mine.

The lady who lived with me had some time before discharged a servant for a cause which we others considered not very just.  She was timid, and as her husband was away, she was unwilling to permit the servant to leave the premises for even a brief time.  Filipino servants simply cannot be handled in that way.  A certain amount of time for recreation and pleasure is their just due, and they will have it.  Adolphus, robbed of his paseo, reported that his grandmother was dying, and demanded an evening off to visit her.  His mistress happened to take a walk that evening and beheld Adolphus the perfidious, not sitting by a dying grandmother, but tripping the light fantastic in a nipa shack, eight by twelve.  She forthwith discharged Adolphus, and even levied on the services