There are one or two patterned after the French which
may be recommended ; there are several in the Chinese
quarter which are models of cleanliness, neatness, and
good cooking; but the rest are cheap, none too clean, and
redolent of salt codfish, onions, garlic, poor oil, and
other reminders of the Celt-Iberian Peninsula. It must
be remembered that in Manila there are many poor
Spaniards. They are compelled to work like those
about them, and having no political influence they are
unable to get even one of the poorly-paid clerkships in
the government offices. They are obliged to compete
with half-castes, half-educated natives, and with young
Chinamen ambitious to learn the principles of European
commerce. In such a competition wages sink to the
lowest Asiatic levels, and hundreds of clerks, Spanish,
half-breeds and natives — alike work for less than what
is paid to an office boy in the United States. Clerks can
be secured for twelve and ten dollars a month, and even



63 MANILA AND THE PHILIPPINES.
nine and eight. Upon this they manage somehow to
support themselves and families. Their daily fare is of
the simplest kind, consisting of much rice, a little pork,
a little fresh and salted fish, a fair amount of onions and
garlic, and a large amount of cabbage, yam, and other
cheap vegetables.
These are the patrons of the cheap restaurants, at some
of which the meal, such as it is, can be secured for five
cents.
