San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-05-14
A BURMESE WIFE.
She Is More Independent Than Most
Oriental Women.

| Oriental Women.
Asiatic women are supposed, as
suredly with ample reason. to be so
much less happy and less esteemed
than their European sisters that it is
extremely surprising to learn that in
one Asiatic country at least-Burmah-
they enjoy, except in matters political,
entire equality with men. Burmese
women are from n very early age their
own mistresses, free to select their own
career to make their own choice of a
husband, to hold property and to con-
| duct business.
Nor do they lose their liberty after
marriage. Although the Burmese wom-
en- are eminently womanly, and are eX-
cellent housekeepers, with a marvellous
gift for economy, they often prefer TO
pursue as girls and retain as wives,
some means by which they may add to
the household revenues, as well as en-
Joy the use of an income absolutely
their own; for a woman's right to her
property and her earnings is not I'M
paired by marriage. This they often
do, even if their families are wealthy.
eff you inquire who is the owner Of a
garden" says a recent writer, you may
be told it belongs to Maupg Han Ma Nj,
the former being the mans name and
the second that of his wife, and both
names are used frequently in business
and legal proceedings. But it is not al
ways that a man and his wife are in the
same business.
"They may have totally different pur-
suits. One may be a cultivator, the
other q silk dealer; the man may be a
pleader in court; the wife may own
brick kilns outside the town. OF course,
there are cases where marriage neces-
states the abandonment by the wom-
an of her trade, whatever it may be;
but she can do as she thinks best"
Thus trusted and respected, the won't
en- of Burmah are naturally of a higher
type than other Asiatic women, and
are, indeed, often gifted with an intel
ligence, energy and spirit such as we
expect to find in modern damsels of our
own hemisphere rather than in daugh- |
ters of the orient. EaF'"7'"' o.. .--~
The same writer, II. Fielding, relatcs |
little incident that came under his OBJ |
servation while acting as magistrate in
troublous times on the Burmese from
tier. He received one day written
report, excellently and briefly drawn,
from a certain village headsman, Saw
IA, narrating that his village had re-
Gently been attacked by band of armed
robbers, who had tried to carry off
cattle; but that the thieves had been
repulsed, then pursued, and after a
sharp fight a number of them cap
tured, and were now under arrest, |
awaiting the judges disposal.
The report arrived during session Of
court, and Mr.. Fielding, after reading
it, CHANGED to notice Saw IA himself in |
the audience, and promptly called him
up and congratulated him on so useful |
an exploit, which the government woull
certainly reward. But Saw IA appeared
to be very much bewildered, and said he |
really did not understand. He had been
away from his village a week, and knew
nothing of any fight.
Then who wrote the letter." de-
manded Mr. Fielding.
"Ah!" Saw Ka answered, his black |
eyes sparkling delightedly, 81 think l
know, but will go and make sure"
He went away to investigate, ard
presently returned, with his brother, |
just from the village, and explained thai |
the mysterious usurper of his name was
his wife, who, by virtue of his commits
sion of headman, which was in her
hands, had assumed command of the
confused and leaderless villagers in his
absence, issued arms, organized the
successful pursuit, written the report
and had the prisoners sent up to court
with an escort. All this, however, she
had done in her husbands name, and
but for the accident of his appearance
in court just as the report was being
read her part in the affair would never
have become known; indeed, she would
not have been pleased to have her name
put forward.
"a good wife!" said Mr.. Fielding, en-.
Enthusiastically.
Saw Ka was proud of her, but he was
proud of his countrywomen also, and
he only answered, laconically: Like
many."-Youth's Companion.