native was
the average college student from the provinces. After a course
of two, three, up to eight years, he learnt to imitate European
dress and ape Western manners; to fantastically dress his hair;
to wear patent-leather shoes, jewellery, and a latest-fashioned
felt hat adjusted carefully towards one side of his head. He went
to the theatre, drove a "tilbury," and attended native _reunions_,
to deploy his abilities before the _beau sexe_ of his class. During
his residence in the capital, he was supposed to learn, amongst
other subjects, Latin, Divinity, Philosophy, and sometimes Theology,
preparatory, in many cases, to succeeding his father in a sugar-cane
and rice plantation. The average student had barely an outline idea
of either physical or political geography, whilst his notions of
Spanish or universal history were very chaotic. I really think the
Manila newspapers--poor as they were--contributed very largely to
the education of the people in this Colony.

Still, there are cases of an ardent genius shining as an exception to
his race. Amongst the few, there were two brothers named Luna--the
one was a notably skilful performer on the guitar and violin, who,
however, died at an early age. The other, Juan Luna, developed
a natural ability for painting. A work of his own conception--the
"Spoliarium," executed by him in Rome in 1884--gained the second prize
at the Madrid Academy Exhibition of Oil Paintings. The Municipality
of Barcelona purchased this _chef d'oeuvre_ for the City Hall. Other
famous productions of his are "The Battle of Lepanto," "The Death of
Cleopatra," and "The Blood Compact" (q.v). This last masterpiece
was acquired by the Municipality of Manila for the City Hall,
but was removed when the Tagalog Rebellion broke out, for reasons
which will be understood after reading Chapter xxii. This artist,
the son of poor parents, was a second mate on board a sailing ship,
when his gifts were recognized, and means were furnished him with
which to study in Rome. His talent was quite exceptional, for these
Islanders are not an artistic people. Having little admiration for
the picturesque and the beautiful in Nature, they cannot depict them:
in this respect they form a decided contrast to the Japanese. Paete
(La Laguna) is the only place I know of in the provinces where there
are sculptors by profession. The Manila Academy was open to all comers
of all nationalities, and, as an ex-student under its Professors