New-York tribune., 1902-07-05

Siam has not yet lost may OF its outward
Oriental characteristics. a. has Japan. but MT
Campbell warns us max the stream Of Western
civilization is steadily flowing into it, and that
This country of less varied interests than Japan
but hardly second TO any other in the East, will
before long be transformed in appearance. In
nature it can never be- The East is not the
West. with few centuries Of leeway TO make
up II is something totally different" Mr.
Campbell had unusual opportunities 10 observe
the country and its people during his residence
there as an official loaned" by the British Gov
ernment 10 reorganize the educational system of
the country He writes of it with thoughtful
ness and sympathy.
The present race is Of mixed descent inhabit-
ing a country that was once part Of the old
Canbodian empire, where the ancient Indian
civilization has left some Of the most stupendous
and magnificent ruins to be found anywhere on
the earth. Mongolian blood is also in their
veins The people while they quick in their
way, are as apathetic and indolent az the Jap
anese are quick and energetic; and Mr.. Camp
bell gives good reasons for doubling whether
they will he able even with the aid of the
Western ideas that are coming 10 them. to fight
their way 10 any such position as Japan has
made for herself One of the chief characteris-
tics of the paople is their servlity- 1t has be
come proverbial, and in the days before the
present King came the throne it was carried
TO the most ludicrous extreme. 1t is not long
since courtiers crawled about the court on their
hands and knees. a decree issued in 1874
emancipated them from this, and now recep-
tion at the Siamese palace is much like sim
liar function at any other modern court. But
the ingrained habits of generations are not TO
be done away with by a decree, and the whole
social fabric still rests on this spirit Of subjec-
ton.
The people are probably the LATEST on the
face of the earth They confronted by no
such pressure of population as exists in India
and China, and nature has been exceedingly
bountiful to them. Rice is cultivated with the
minimum Of toll: bananas and other such prod
ucts almost drop into their laps Hard work is
done by the Chinese and these industrious
neighbors are gradually pushing the indolent
Siamese to the wall. The Samese do literally
nothing if they can help it. There is very little
Of a middle class, and Of the lower classes the
women do nearly all the work that there is
done. Mr. Campbell is also dismayed at the ex-
traordinary levity Of the people. They are little
more than nation of children; the serious busi-
ness of life is quite beyond them, and they are
concerned chiefly with its shows, its scenic eff
fects and its pageants
Levees professions, cremat6ns. occupy
large part of the time only OF the King
himself but also of his ministers. who, even in
spite Of the best will in the world. have to
neglect their official duties They not in
break. A Cabinet council will break off
suddenly in the midst of discussion 10 admire
some new European toy brought In by one or
fits members.
Mr. Campbell tells of his experience on
his first appearance at his office. when he sent.
at late hour in the afternoon, to inquire If his
minister coming TO learn that this func-
tionary only just up and having his bath.
The humorous side Of the occurrence wore off
nI nOrrh
after month, and the most ordinary official busi-
ness got hopeIessly in arrears. The people are
kindly by nature. and the fact that their treat
Ynent of women is far above that Of most Orien-
tails is worthy Of the prominence given It by Mr..
Campbell Their Buddhism. which is among the
purest practised by any nation, has always ex-
erted an influence. unlike Mahometanism. on the
right side. Their robust creatures,
and they do far more than their share of physi-
cal work, but they also have better under
standing of all the duties Of life. and the aver
age Siamese woman is not only the better half
of her husband, but enjoys great share Of
freedom as do most of her Western sisters Mr..
Campbell mentions a straw 10 show which
way the wind blows that bicycle riding estab-
lished itself a suitable occupation for ladies
in Siam with far more ease than il ever did IN
England, and that the Queens carriage is usu-
ally followed by a troop Of young women on
bicycles from the palace.
Education free in Siam long before it was
in England and most parents take advantage
Of the gratutous schooling. that a majority
of Siamese men can read and write. The little
Siamese boy, after he has learned to walk leads
q life Of extreme publicity, playing running
about the streets, padding in the canals.
unburdened by clothes. At the age of ten so
he is sent To learn reading and writing of the
priests in the nearest temple. In another year
he nn6 he Of Sbay
ing the tOpknOt.
The head of a Siarflese child, whether boy or
girl. is wholly shaved at early age. with the
exception of a tuft in the centre. which is twist
ed into a knot on the top Of the head. This top
knot is tended with the utmost care, and is fire.
ouently decorated with costly pin a garland
OF flowers. II is removed al the age of about
eleven. This event is looked upon as Of
great Importance. and is regarded marking
the entry Of the boy or girl a new phase of
existence.
Every Siamese youth is supposed to enter the
priesthood for at least three months which he
does usually about the age Of twenty or twenty
one. He may continue a priest as long as he
wishes after the three months and it is a curl
Gus fact that there is no hard and fast line be-
tween the laty and the priesthood. as with US.
The Siamese practice. Mr.. Campbell points out,
serves to keep the people closely in touch with
religion. As to the qualities of the Siamese
religious life. TO which he devotes a chapter,
Mr.. Campbell thinks that at least il is exactly
adapted TO the people. and he believes that there
is very little hope for missionary effort in Siam
In seeking TO convert the followers of an old
religion, he has a long and laborious work of de-
sfruction in front of him before the process of
construction be commenced. No man can
pass from one dogmatic system to another with
out going through intervening phase of
scepficism and in raising the spirit of scepti-
cism the missionary viii find that he has sum-
moned to his aid a force which will speedily
pass out OF his control.