The lovely daughter of the Don--Margarita, however, was dressed in the latest Parisian fashion, and looked like an--angel, I was going to write, but the recollection of that "lurking devil" in her eye stayed the perjury of my pen. She looked a real bona fide woman, and a specimen of the race I shall be well enough satisfied with, until I am assured beyond a doubt that angels _are_ feminine, of which there is no proof in either sacred or profane history (all the illustrations I have ever seen proving the contrary)--and I can get as close to them as I was to Señora Margarita.
_February 22d._--Birthday of the immortal Washington. The day appointed for sailing was fast approaching, and had to make all speed to get through various engagements in Manilla. Having been informed that an opera would be performed on our last evening, and opera being a special delight, went ashore for the purpose of attending, but on arriving at the theatre found the opera had been postponed on account of the _primo tenore_ being afflicted with "boils." Had often known _broils_ to have been the cause of disappointment to the lovers of "Ernani" and other rapturous representative music, but here the _artiste_ had gotten hot blood into him, instead of getting into hot water; and thinking of the patient man of Uz, I sympathized with him; for, _par parenthèse_, these eruptions of the skin are exceedingly sore in this climate, as you may find out if you but come to the East Indies and eat mangoes.
A comedy had been substituted, called El lindo Diego, the part of which we saw was well performed. A disagreeable feature, however, was in the position of the prompter, who was placed in the centre of the footlights, and kept up a continuous recitation of the play in a monotonous tone, which greatly marred the effect.
The _Teatro Binondo_, where I saw this, is a very comfortable place, with good accommodations, splendid box for the Governor, fine airy saloons, and extensive verandahs. The price for admission was moderate--sixty-two and a half cents in United States currency.
Adjourned, after witnessing a dance between the acts, with castanets, to another place of amusement, the _Teatro Tagalo de Tonda_ (where the performance was in the Indian tongue), which is of a less imposing style, but where they get along very well.