Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-09-30
d" 1t isn't all in bringing up,
Let men say wat they will;
Neglect may dim a silver cup
1t will be silver still -
uAMEsE WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Tn to the age of ten years, Slamese children
of either sex are not troubled with any SUI
perabundance of clothing, and 1t ls seldom
that child is seen wearing the smallest
shred Of garment, except on days OF festival.
Jewels sometimes of great value. are put on
voung children. Among the higher classes,
girls and boys, up to the age % twelve, wear
a number OF gold chains. sometimes Jour, SIX
or seven at a time. all different, and each
having some amulet or ornament attached
The hair is allowed to grow on the t'ont part
of the head but the rest is kept shaved, leaving
this circular patch to be twisted into knot,
which is kept in its place by long ornament
al min. Often a wreath of white jasmine is
twined to fit closely aDout this knot, and the
| effect is pretty. Boys and girls are dressed
if their scant measure of clothing may be
called dress-exactly alike, 50 that 1t IS not
easy TO distinguish them.
At the age cf II the lock is cut of, leaving
| IA small patch which bears a striking resem-
bauce to a small black hair brush. This In
a man IS allowed to grow degree longer
| than in e woman not 50 much SO, howeV-
er, as to suggest any marked difference to a
stranger. The women keep their locks care
| fully oiled. comled, and gummed to stand
upright, and they take Infinite pains to keep
the top of this brush smooth rs velvet.
A Siamese lady's hair is held to be in per-
feet order, when she can plunge into the rIv-
er and duck her head mahy times under the
water without disturbing the smoothness and
unriphtness of her native hair brush. The
| ceremony of cutting off the lock OF hair is
kept with entertainments and reIolclngs. IL
is the great event III young Slamese HE, ana
resembles the coming out amongst young
ladies in other countries; for in Siam chill
dren are supposed to reach years OF dlscre-
ton rather eary Y.
After girl marries she gives up the wear
ING of ornaments and trinkets. These are
set aside. and reserved for her children In
their turn. Boys nave an opportunity o'
learning to read by entering thcmse Ives as
neophytcs, or attendants on the priests
Whether girls have any schools, or persons
authorized to teach them, do not know;
but it is not uncommon IN Siam 70 hhu
women to able to read and write.
The occupation of the females are various
and far less circumscrib1d than in any other
mart of the east. In fact, the women IN
Sim occupy a moral position many degrees
sunerior to that of their sisters IN neIghbor-
mo countries. The wife of Siamese has
no unimportant voice IN the domestic
arrangements of the family. She is ca'h
keeper. and seems to possess the right 10 Keel
her husbands earnings The women as
race. are very intelligent and obser'a"'
those belonging to the higher classes sem u
have pleasing ana modest manners in'
head wife of the prime minister IS very IN
terestinc woman; she is not young, out Il
by no means wanting in personal attractions
she has no children, but that does not seen
to disturb her husbands affection, or her In
Auence over him. She came with her atteh
: dants. by invitation, to lunch with us. an'
although our talk was limited tor want o
words. she could contrive to make her5ei
ayreeab!e The lady requested per
mission to visit the sleeping apartments
in order to see how English people arrang
their rooms. She was accordingly taken ~
, stairs, followed by the entire body OF maId
ems and her step-son, who did not at all Sc
whv he should not have the benefit OF pee
"a we'll as they. She expressed her sats
faction at the arrangements, aud especiaii.
her delight at a small iron crib belonging t
nv child, wlica seemed to strike them all a
"A device of luxury and refinement Mt To D
eoualed. Finally, when everything IN tn
room had been handled and examined, sh
inquired, in perplezed manner, where W
kent our money, as she could not sc
, strong box of any kind.
1t should be mentioned that on previuu
visit to her own house, L had been show
over her private apartments, ana III III
sleening-room saw four large iron saie'
K which she pointed out as seeming to ad
e mucb to the honor of the family. Thel
|. hanpened to he a box in a corner, howeve
It covered over with the usual arrangements
e cushions and frlls thii being shown he
:, she seemed to be greatly relieved to find
IS Judging from the size of the box, which, hoV
ever, was empty at the time-that we ha'
n or appeared to have, some worldly pelt, ar
( deliphted at such a charming way OF cove
h inc it up. As she was about to descend ii
d stairs. a commotion disturbed the VINO
it hevv of damsels, to whom it seemed sudde
to occur. that by going down first their i'll
S. tress would place herself beneath them
Il tbinp not to be tolerated for a moment y
s, cordincly. with sudden rush, the your
,e ladies passed her on their hands and knee
n inst as she was about to descend, ana u
;. whole twenty scrambled down stairs he'
~ foremost. with with IA hurrying aud sea
d, rying. a ushing and gigglinS' that was
y. amusing rs it was SURPRISING
re The Siamese women, as well a. ihe"' i
,u terribly disfgured by the effrcts oi F'ust'
n. and excessive betel chewing 1t Is carr
US | disgusting extent amongst people oi
ra,ks and ages. Even little children III
IN he seen with their lips dyed rcd ana Gri 9
er eon Juice running out o. each side. In
re mouths are never, by any chance, empty ;