davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15

Through the recent scholarly &C.
eOmplishment of a professor of the
University of, California the attention
Of philOlOgiSts the world over has
been attracted to Siam and to a re-
markable monument in its capital city.
This stone bears an inscription IN
Siamese characters over whose in.
depreciation lengthy controversy has
been Waged. SaFantS from various
quarters of tie globe have brought to
bear upon ii the weight of their au-
thority, and not a few hazarding con-
lectures which could not be borne out
by comparison with any known stand
ards Of a date cOntempOraneous with
that of the stone itself. The inscrip-
ton is unique in being the very first
instance Of the reduction of Siamese
words to writing. No Siamese chrOn-
icle antedates il. This fact is stated
in the body of the inscription itself
and adds unusual interest to its con.
tents. The author of it, according to
Professor Bradley, who has made a
careful study of the subject, was
prince who hourished in the thirteenth
century, and whose noteworthy me-
mortal has been subjected to serious
miscOnstructiOn.
IL Is principally with regard to the
question of whether the Siamese are
of MOngOlian or Aryan extraction that
much of the discussion over the stone
has taken place, and this point was
involved in the translation of single
word in the inscription. To his own
satisfaction and that of many inter-
ested followers Of his painstaking re-
searches Professor Bradley has re-
futed the Aryan theory and shown that
the Siamese are of Monaghan origin.
He set forth his aims and methods in
an address 20 the Siam society at
Bangkok before returning to this
country, and later reprint the full
account from the journal of that So
ciety in pamphlet form to be distrib-
uted to leading libraries in America
and abroad.
In connection with the pathological
aspect Of the question one is drawn
into the realm of ethnOIOgy, and even
tually seeks q cursOry review of the
history and present condition of this
oriental people, which, all uncon-
sciOusly, has become a subject of
scientific interest.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15

rough hewn below. but above are
worked to a smooth surface. forming
an area for the inscription OF about IA
inches by % on each side. In company
with another stone rom Sukhothai.
of later date, 1t now occupies the west
ernmost but one OF the row Of little
open salas on the north side OF the
main temple building Of Wat Phra
Kaeo within the royal palace. OF the
earlier history of the stone, absolutely
nothing is known save what is said
in the inscription itself, While the
language there leaves something to be
desired in the way Of explicit connec-
ton of the various statements, it seems
impossible to mistake its general i'm
port; namely. that this stone was one
of four prepared at the same time, and
though this is not said-presumably
of similar or identical content The
four were dedicated with imposing
ceremonies religious and civic. Three
OF them were set up in separate places,
which are named. The date was 1914
fNGahasakarat), equivalent to 1888 A. D.
But the dynasty OF Khun Ram Khan
haeng and the supremacy OF Sukhothaf
were both short lived From that date
not one word is heard OF the stone
for $40 years, that Is until 1888, when
1t was discovered by Prince Chau Fa
Maha Mongkut. who afterward became
King Somdet Phra Chom Klau-"
This monarch, appreciating in some
degree the value of the relic he had
found, had 1t transferred from It's OBJ
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15

printed in pamphlet form. 1t was not
in connection with his college work
that Professor Bradley took UP this
investigation, for he is professor of
rhetoric in the English department.
He was actuated by a deep personal
interest in the subject, for Siam is the
land where he was born and reared,
his father having been a missionary
there for many years. and the Siam
csc language is therefore familiar to
him.
The inscription in question, which
was carved upon stone at Sukhothai
in 1898 A. D., during the reign of Khun
Ram Khamhaeng. is q most remarkable
one since it contains within itself the
evidence that it is the first passage of
Siamese ever committed to writing the
language having heretofore been a
spoken one only. The prince who or
dered the words set down had himself
invented the characters to represent
them. The letters used appear to have
been an adaptation from the Pail relig-
ious texts of India, but to represent the
numerous Siamese vowels for which
the Indian language had no equiva-
Tents, he was obliged to extend his in
ventive genius beyond mere modifica-
ton of borrowed forms. The result
ing characters Professor Bradley de-
scribes as somewhat like Greek uncials
bold, erect, open writing, four
square, with gently rounded corners,
beautifully aligned" OF the famous
example OF their initial use he says:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15

scure and neglected position In the
upper country to more honOred one
and later established for IL a perms-
nent abiding place within the palace
at Bangkok. As stated above, II now
stands in a small open sala. which con-
sists simply of a raised platform hav-
ing a roof, and affords little protection.
1t evidently suffered rough handling
on the way thither and has since been
exposed to the meddlesOme attentions
OF increasing numbers Of inquisitivo
tourists and relic hunters. It's more
studious observers complain that the
cross lights render the task OF de-
ciphering the inscription difficult and
interfere with securing good photo
graphs. Since Professor Bradleys re-
cent departure from Bangkok the stone
has been accorded the distinction OF
having a glass case placed over IT.
in recognition, perhaps, OF the new
Importance with which his arduOus
labors have endowed IT, as well as IN
response to his earnest solicitations IN
behalf of the conservation OF national
relics.
The professor had followed with IN
terest the announcements OF former
translators of the legend TO whom II
would seem the author spoke a various
language. One OWNED In II a complete
code of laws, another recognized the
unmistakable formula OF a sacred rtt-
uaL and still another declared offhand
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15
ROL4L RPOCGSSLOW an R4VlTh06~
L[964RT, an REGHW

that 1t bore every indication OF being
a key to the fate OF the 10 lost tribes
OF Israel Unprejudiced, however, by
any OF these weighty presidents or by
the calculations Of the Aryan theory,
he patiently set about achieving a ra-.
tional Interpretation OF the document
for himself referring to numerous au-
thorities as he proceeded, but accept
ing only that for which he saw justif-
cation in the laws OF the language it
self. and eventually arriving at a
afghtforward bit Of autobiography
left to the world by an enterprisins
and scholarly prince.
The inscription contains 500 words.
Eliminating repetitfons, Prof. Bradley
found 404 different words. a proper
ton indicative of a comparatively good
vocabulary The three things men
toned as most significant during the
reign OF the prince who in this memo
rial reviews his career are: First thu
preparation and conservation OF four
inscribed monuments and their In
stallation; second. the exhuming and
alteration Of the relies of Buddha and
their refinement. followed by the
erection OF a magnificent pagoda and
temple to their final resting place and
shrine; and. third. the invention OF
the art of Siamese writing Great and
good deeds, all Of these. and the pro-
lessor notes that the order OF their
occurrence has been reversed and the
greatest placed last. The pride OF the
prince in his rise from the rank OF
petty chfeftain to that OF monarch
over all Siam seems to have been over
Swallowed by his zeal for the teaching
all his people piety and making them
happy and contented. as portrayed IN
the reverent account OF the public
ceremonies in Buddha's honor and in
the poetic description OF his cOuntrys
prosperity. And who shall say what
was the depth OF scholarly and patri-
otlc fervor with which he sought and
desired in his heart and put into use
those strokes Of Sfamese writing?'
The disputed word "Aranyic" Prof.
Bradley renders forest monastery"
finding for this what he regards as
ample authority in the elements OF
which the word Is composed and also in
the context. The prince says, Toward
sunset from this city OF Sukhothai IS a
forest monastery" Again, describing
the peoples home coming from their
devotfons there. he AFFORDS Us
glimpse Of their picturesque dife and OF
his own poetic nature: When they
would return into the city they stretch
in line from the forest monastery yOn-
der unto Hua. Lau Dam. making the air
resound with the sound OF timbrels and
Hutes, the sound OF caroling and
sin ging"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15

IN MONG the countries whose DO
litical areas, owing to the re-
adjustment Of treaties. conces-
sions and spheres OF foreign
influence. are slowly diminishing. in
the ancient kingdom Of siam.
Hemmed in on the west by the south
eastern extension Of British India.
and on the east by the possess
sions OF the French. who control
Anem. Siam now occupies 2 nucb
smaller portion OF Indo-China than
Il aid few generations ago
There is no reason for thinking. how
ever, that this decrease is likely to con-
tinue much further or that a dissolu-
ton OF the state and its final parti-
ton among the powers will be at
tempted for many years to come. Both
the British and the French spheres Of
Influence are sufficiently extensive to
guarantee continued prestige in that
quarter Of the globe and the present
situation in Siam offers no very tempt
ing Inducements for predatory incur
sions from any source.
This tropical land, which is larger
than Spain and Portugal combined, has
q population Of over 100000 souls,
bGt 1t is so sparsely cultivated that in
some regions there is no trace of
human habitation for more than a hun
dred miles. The elephant, rhfnoceros,
tiger, leopard and variety of poison
o,,s snakes among them the pvthon
and the cobra, Turk in the wilds and
some OF these venture toward the
haunts Of civilization in the lower
country. Dense and impenetrable
5ungles cover vast areas of the terri
tory.
The rainy season begins in April and
blowing can be done in June, crops
maturing in December. In the northern
mountain land the soil is not sufficient
ly productive to insure profitable re-
turns for more thar a few consecutive
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15
derived from the Sanscrit, which is an
Aryan tongue.
Aryans, Said the French

Persistent efforts have been made by
French officials connected with the
Pavie mission Ca government enter
prise instituted in the '70's) to prove
that the Siamese themselves are of
Aryan extraction and thus akin to
Europeans. In this endeavor the French
have been accused of self-seeking polit-
zeal motives, it being asserted by their
critics that by establishing the poetic
plea of racial kinship with their OBJ
scure Siamese brethren, they sought to
Justify themselves in exploiting the
major portion of Indo-China for their
own ACKNOWLEDGMENT and to enlist
the sympathies of home Taxpayers in
the support of an eXtravagant colonial
policy. Whatever the merits of the
campaign which resulted in the French
absorption of Anam, including Cam
bodia and more recently a slice of ter
ritory west of the Me- Kong, one of the
principal arguments in favor of the
Aryan theory hinged upon the transla-
ton of a single word in an ancient
Siamese inscriptions; namely, "Aryan-
ic,y which the French translator, Pere
Schmitt, rendered ''Aryans"
Much interested in the pathological
aspect of the controversy and resolved
upon refuting Schmitt's contention by
arriving at correct translation of the
entire inscription, Prof C. B. Bradley
of the University of California last year
obtained leave of absence and jour-
neyed to Bangkok to pursue his self
appointed task, the results of which
were set forth in the Journal Of the
Siam society and have since been re-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15
By Eleanor R. Ingraham

~ MONG the countries whose Do
itical areas, owing to the re-
adjustment OF treaties, conces-
sions and snherex of ,o-a,o--
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15

RIE@.
-SI2ENE.
-SHI2TNlTG
ZETZPEG
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
Shy on Promises.

Among the interesting anecdotes IL
Illustrative of Mr.. Cleveland's refusal to
give pledges of any sort is that which
describes an incident Of the campaign
Of 1892 and is printed in the New
York Evening Post. A literary friend
Of Mr.. Cleveland brought together, as
If by chance, the Democratic nominee
and a prominent Irish-American con-
tractor who was supposed to have
much influence with the coveted Irish
vote.
The interview was SO managed that
the two men were left alone in the
literary mans library for an hour. At
the end Of that time they were dis
covered swapping stories with each
other like old friends.
"Well," asked the host OF the con-
tractor after Mr.. Cleveland had left,
what do you think OF himr
''sure," replied the contractor, beam
ing all over. hes the greatest man I
ever saw. He's 4 foine man. q grand
man. He wouldn't promise 70 DO waD
thing I asked him."
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
4 Yenr Of Annayersaraes. A

Notable centenary dates are not only
numerous in 1909, but are distributed
over the whole year. After Poe. who
was born Jan. 10, 1909, followed Men
delssohn, the composer, Feb. 3; Lin
coin and Darwin, Feb. II. and Chopin,
the composer, March 1, FIVE men OF
genius given to the world in the space
Of six weeks. The last half Of the
year will be marked by the cente-
naries Of oliver Wendell Holmes, fall.
ing on Aug. 20; Frances Anne KEN
BILE, the famous English actress. who
passed her prime in America, Nov. 27,
and Gladstone, Dec. 90.
The current year is also a marker
for certain history making events.
Hudson's discoveries and explorations
in 1909 will be celebrated with impos.
ing ceremonies along the river bear
ing his name. The first great battle
Of the peninsular war was fought in
January, 1909, at Coruna, Spain, re-
sulting in an English victory over Ma
poleon's lieutenants and the death of
the English commander, Sir John
Moore. A few months later Napoleon
redeemed his fortunes by crushing
the Austrisns at Wagram, on their
own soil. and. 1t Is believed, making
terms which included his alliance
with the Austrian princess, Marie
Louise. and the divorce Of Empress
Josephine. The divorce took place in
December, 1900. and Napoleon's lucky
star began TO wane.
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
Malvern Hill,

The burning of the mansion which
has for century or two crowned the
historic Malvern hill removes one OF
the famous objects Of interest to pas
sengers on the James river steam
boats, since, standing on an eminence
Of sixty feet out of the stream which
thereabouts flows In long bows, 1t
could be seen for great distances and
frequently reappeared in view after It
had seemingly been passed. The con-
volutions Of the river made this pecul-
lar elevation the eliminating point for
the last of the seven days battles OF
the peninsula between the Army Of
the Potomac, under Mcclellan, and the
Army of Northern Virginia, under
Lee. Malvern hill thus capped proved
to the passersby one of the sights Of
an extremely delightful river trip. Like
the other mansions Of its period, it
faced the stream. that being its oc-
cupants' avenue of communication
with the world.
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
Bio Salt Farm.

One Of the strangest farms in the
world is situated in southern Califor-
MIA, 265 feet below the level of the sea.
The place is known as Salton. 1t is a
salt farm Of about thousand acres.
Here the salt lies, as deposited by ma
ture, from six to sixteen inches in
depth. The salt farmers are busy har-
vesting this crop the year round, and,
though the harvest has continued for
over twenty years, during which time
more than 10000 tons of salt have
been harvested, only ten of the thou
sand acres of the farm have been
worked. The salt is first plowed up
into furrows. 1t is then thrown into
conical piles by men with barrows,
after which it is taken to the reduction
works near by and put into marketa-
BILE condition. The work is done by
Mexicans and Chinese, the intense heat
being more than Americans can en-
dure.-New Orleans States.
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
The Retraetion.

District Attorney Heney Of San
Francisco a short time after his
wounding discussed with a reporter
at his bedside one Of his statements
about the San Francisco boodlers.
They expect me to retract that
statement, do theyT' he said grimly.
well, II l did retract 1t my retrac-
ton would be like the Tombstone edi-
tors.
He, you know, printed a story to
the erect that a rival EDITORS father
had served thirty years in jail.
Pressure was brought to bear on him,
and finally he agreed to retract that
statement. In his retraction he said:
"'We find that we were mistaken
when we said in last weeks issue that
the Clarion editors pap had passed
thirty-seven summers in the peniten-
tiary. All efforts Of friends to have
his sentence commuted to life i'm
prisonment failed, and the old man,
as a matter OF fact, was hanged"
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03

The Crack ef a Whip.


Fred Lindsay can WELD with a most
marvellous display of dexterity the
Australian stock whip. The fact Of
being able to crack a whip does not
appear on the face of 1t a very ex-
traordinary feat. but the Australian
stock whip Is a very different erticle
from the ordinary whip, the stock being
four feet in length At a distance Of
twenty-five feet Mr.. Lindsay can cut a
cigarette in half, the cigarette during
the operation being held in the mouth
Of an attendant. Other Of Mr.. Lind
says feats are: The extinguishing of a
lighted candle, then with a different
twist of the whip cutting it in half;
taking the ash from a cigar while the
weed is being smoked and cutting an
ordinary wine bottle in two. Yet, dan
gerous as his weapon may appear, Mr..
Lindsay can make 1t perfectly harm
less. To prove the perfect control he
has over the whip Mr.. Lindsay will
fog a man with apparently terrific
force, yet the man Is not injured In
any way. He will tie the thong around
q mans arm, feat which, If the judg-
ment were to err in the slightest
would cut the arm In half. Then he
can wind the thong around a woman's
neck, but the woman would not feel it.
and no marks would be visible. All Of
which shows Mr.. Lindsay is what he
claims to be-the champion whip crack
er Of the world.--London Strand.
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
Code Book Humor,

Glimpses and flashes of humor in
official documents are few and far be-
tween and are generally of an uncon-
scious type. 1t appears that new
code book has recently been intro
duced for purposes Of communication
between the mother country and her
colonies, and owing to a misunder-
standing a message dispatched in the
language of the old code was trans
lated with the aid of the new one. The
message should have read, "Please ask
Johnson to report alterations in six To-
comotive boilers" 1t was decoded as
follows: "Can you sell Johnson thirty
one hundredWelght Of hopeless luna
tics s?"-Westminster Gazette.
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03

Young Woman = Leading Economist.
At twenty-four years Anna Pritchett
Of Louisville will have the distinction
Of occupying the chair Of economics In
Wellesley. She went to Wellesley last
fall and Is the youngest professor In
the history Of the college. She Also
ranks with the youngest successful
scholars who ever have held so i'm
portant a post, and leading experts In
economics class her as a brilliant wo-
man. She has surpassed all students
with whom she has studied. Her elec-
tion to the chair in Wellesley t. due to
merit alone and is another proof that
in the realm Of higher scholarship wo-
men have the ability to stand on q
common footing with men.
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
A Bio Drink.

John ID. Rockefeller, testifying in the
governments suit against the oil trust
in New York, during the intermissions
in his evidence talked to the reporters.
Adverting to an old friend, Mr..
Rockefeller smiled and took clipping,
yellow with age, from his pocket.
"My old friend didn't believe in the
Texas oil fields" said Mr.. Rockefeller.
"Listen to what Galveston newspa-
per said about him at the time:
"'The oil fields discovered in our
state are excellent in quality and abun-
dant in quantity. Great anxiety is felt
for James II. Dash, who said he would
drink all the oil found in Texas, for
Mr.. Dash is q man of honor"
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03

o,swM the "NlisundOrstoed" Man.
To be q soul mate means 10 feel the
highest and purest kind Of love-a love
all unselfisb and free from all that is
base. But there Is nothing high or
pure IN the friendship OF the man who
urges you to defy the laws Of conven-
ton.
Never listen to the man who comes
whining to you that you understand
him SO much better than his wife
does"
The chances are that his unfortunate
wife understands him only too wen
and has a thorough contempt for him.
Somewhere in the world you proba-
bly, have a soul mate, and It is to be
hoped that he will find you, but II he
comes in the guise Of married man
send him about his business. Do not
allow yourself to become friends"
with him. Such friendship is never
desirable.
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
The Fight Against Fog.

There has been an offer of many
thousand dollars, standing for over $50
years, in the name of a great company
in London, for anything that will dis
solve fogs by the penetration Of a Gre
ated light. The money has never been
earned by any inventor yet. Fog still
persists, increasing the tax Of com
merce in proportion as the volume Of
commerce multiplies. The man who
can clear the ship channel of New
York harbor from fog, even for a few
hours at time, will be hailed as the
wonder Of the age.-Argonaut.
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
Tales Of Cities.

Boston's chamber Of commerce has
made an emphatic protest to the board
Of aldermen against any more parades
In downtown streets.
Honolulu h q clean city. This
doesn't mean comparatively 60, but
clean in the sense that would be de-
manded In the most fastidious New
England village.
Central park, In New York city, is
assessed at the valuation Of $215, ,000,.
900, not for the purpose Of taxation,
but 80 as to show the amount Of real
estate value that is exempt from taxes
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03

I read that horse owned by Lieu
tenant Montedore has broken the
worlds record by jumping 27 feet II
inches at the Buenos Aires horse
show. I beg to say that horse named
Forester. owned and ridden by George
Gross Of Taplow, won the Chertsey
stoeplschase about the year 1893 and
CLEARED thirty-tWo fest over q jump
LsttVr In London Man.
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
Russian Minerals.

South Russia has among its valuable
minerals rock salt, coal, coprolites,
kaolin, sands for glassmaking and for
other purposes, manganese and iron
ores, the latter being easily first in i'm
portance, free of phosphorus and with
little sulphur.
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
What She Wrote.

What She Wrote.
A widowcr who was married recent
ly for the third time. and whose bride
had been married once before herself.
wrote across the bottom Of the wed
ding Invitations: BE sure and come.
This Is no amateur performance
Argonaut
The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-03
English Etchings.

England has about 100000 acres Of
woodland.
In Great Britain there are 2,o00, 900
trades unionists.
Until 1857 the legal year in England
began on MaSch 25.
The last sansus figures revealed
2,5OO, 900 peopA living in overcrowded
tenements In nngland.