The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-07-26
WOMEN IN BURMAH.
They Have More Rights There Than in
Other Oriental Countries.

otner oriehthi Countries
The women of Burmah have more
rights than any other women of Asia
They are nearer like the American wo
men than the Siamese, the Chinese, the
Japanese or the Turks. They are the
equals of our girls in business way,
and not few of them manage their
husbands, and it is the custom for the
Burmah woman to hold the pocketbook.
In all other Eastern countries woman
has no rights that man is bound to re.
spect. In Burmah she keeps control OF
all the money she brings into the fam
lily, and in case of divorce she must be
given back all of her own money and
half Of that which she and her husband
have made since they were married.
Few Of the Burmese have more than one
wife, though King Thebaw had fifty.
three. In all other Eastern countries
divorces are almost impossible for the
woman, but very easy for the man. All
that the Mahometan has to do to get rid
of bad wife is to say four times: 81
divorce YOU" The woman has to leave,
and it is lucky for her if she carries
away any more than the clothes she has
on. A man who wants a divorce in
Siam processes a change of heart, and
says he is going to become priest. He
can then "shake" his family, 90 into
the priesthood for few months, get rid
of all his debts by doing so, and come
out ready for new wife and fresh
start. Divorce is very easy in Japan,
and also in Corea, and the East Indian
who wishes to get rid of his wife has no
trouble in doing so. In Japan il wife
has reached the age of fifty and is child
less she can be divorced. II she talks
too much her husband can send her
away. If she is guilty of theft, If she
is addicted to Jealousy, or II she is dis
obediept to her parents-in-law, she is
liable to divorce, and OF course the
greater grounds of divorce can dis
solve her marriage at any time. On the
other hand, it is almost impossible for
her to obtain divorce from bad hus-
band. 1t Is the same in India; but it is
far different in Burmah. The Burmese
woman can get divorce il her husband
is poor and unable to support her. She
can dissolve the marriage il he is idle
and lazy. II he becomes sick and is
cripple after marriage she can be di-
vorced, and divorces are permissible by
mutual agreement Divorced women
marry again in Burmah; but divorces
are not respectable, and there is Bur-
mese proverb which says that "a di.
vorced woman needs small wooing."-F.
j. Carpenter, in National Tribune.
An absurd blunder is related in
Tom Moore's "Diary" about John Kem-
BILE. He was performing one OF his
fayorite parts at some country theater,
and was interrupted from time to time
by the squalling Of child in the gal.
lery, until at length, angered by this
rival performance, Kemble walked with
solemn steps to the front of the stage
and, addressing the audience in his
most tragic tones, said, Ladies' and
gentlemen, unless the play is stopped,
the child can not possibly go onl"
When Emerson's library was burn.
ing at Concord, went to him as he
Btool with the fre-light on his strong,
ywee3 face. and endeavored to express
my sympathy for the loss Of his most
valued possessions, but he answered
cheerily, "Never mind, Louisa; see what
o beautiful blaze they makel We will
enjoy that now" The lesson was never
forgotten, and in the varied losses that
come to me, have learned to look for
beautiful sEA bright--Miss
Alcott