davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20

and often plated with gold running clear
around the great monument. These are on
the average, / should say something like
thirty feet high, ending in spires plated
with gold. They are much like chapels
and inside each OF them is n sitting statue
Of Buddha, often OF more than life size
Some Of these statues are gold plated,
others are of silver, and not few Of
alabaster or marble. They hug the base
Of the mighty pagoda
o
Third Biggest Bell of the World.
Round the edges of the platform, leav-
ing court several hundred feet wide be-
tween, are other temples Of exquisite carv-
ing, some OF which have reclining Buddhas
100 or more feet in length and at the
back at one corner is the great Buddhist
bell, which is said TO be the third largest
of its kind in the world. II weighs forty
two tons, and it would take something like
eighty horses to haul II If 1t could be put
upon wheels and dragged over the roads.
II Is so thick that the yellow gowned
priest who acts as my guide can Just
touch the inside of the rim with his
fingers While the outside rests in the
crook of his elbow. He strikes 1t with a
deer horn and the sound booms out on the
air.
This bell was presented to Buddha by
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20

But come out on the platform and look
up at the Pagoda. ! despair Of describing
H. II is a mountain OF gold which ends In a
spire nearly 400 feet high. The stone plat
form where We are standing would make a
half dozen blocks OF one OF our cities ana
the monument alone has at the base a
circumference OF a quarter OF a mile. That
golden umbrella which you see on the splre
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20
BurnIng Away one. Sins.

Going onward we pass booths all the
way Pretty Burmese girls with plugs of
sold, SILVER or glass as big as my thumb
IN the holes OF their ears, sit cross-legged
on the mats, selling offerings for Buddha.
The candles are OF all sizes, from tapers
as thin as the finger OF 2-year-old baby
TO great cylinders Of wax as tail as the
girls who are selling and as thick as their
waists, ] buy bunch OF the tapers and
give them over to one OF the worsb,nsrs
She smiles with delight at the thought ~
the sins that viii be washed away as tba,,
burn, and thanks me profusely.
A little beyond this we are stopped b, s
priest with a nickel-in-the-slot box slime
around his bare neck by a string. He
has little brass triangle tied to his right
index finger, and he strikes upon this as
he prays making a sound like a bell. The
passersby drop coins into the slot ana
thereby acquire merit and prayers.
Upon reaching the top OF the ayenus
which is about 1000 feet long. we turn
and look back upon the gay crowd passing
through. II is mass OF bright colors
The Burwcye wear the most delicate pinks
yelloWs ara greens, The men have SIN
turbons as gay as a rainbow. ana the whole
Is Kaleidoscope which makes the dark
avenR mass OF bright hues
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20

FTER having served his country
as a soldier for nearly fifty
years, still active and virlle.
Brigadier General Charles Nor
ton was placed on the retired
list Of the TTpIted Gtoto. ,,,,,,,
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20
About the shrines.


Later on we make a tour OF the Shrines.
There are a hundred or more, all ending
in spires OF gold far below the spire of
this great golden mountain. All are Beau
tifully carved, and some are walled with
colored glass, so set in golden wires that
when the sun shines they show the many
splendors of the peacock's tail. The
Buddhas within have offerings Of flowers,
fruit and rice lying before them. At some
candles are burning and on their laps
offerings Of brocades and silks have been
placed. We are touched by the sentiment
shown by the worshipers. They are OF
all classes and conditions; some poor.
sick and sad, but most are rich and we'll
dressed and apparently joyful
All seem self-respectiug and 1t would bs
unfair to say that they are not In earnest
In their religion. l am told that the Bur
mese are naturally religious They are
charitable, and whenever one has a surplus
he spends 1t in erecting resthouses, or places
along the road where travellers can have a
cool drink of water. They have spotted tho
whole country with pagodas; they are to be
found in every town and village and on al
most every hill. There are monasterieS
everywhere, and the country has more re-
ngious monuments perhaps, than any other
of its size in the world A census taken
some years ago showed that there are more
than 1900 monasteries and that Burma
had on the average one for every ninety.
three houses At that time there were "a.
900 men in the monasteries, or more than
per cent Of the whole population.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20
Free CIT 10 Ruddhn.

This great structure and all its sur
roundings were formed by unforced gifts
from the worshipers Of Buddha The labor
upon it was voluntary and when the king
sent out a notice that it was to be built
money and jewels flowed in to him from
all parts Of Burma. The monument is kept
up by the free-wlll offerings Of the people
1t has been plated with gold leaf again
and again, until the brick and stucco of
which Is Is made contain more of the pre-
cious metal than the best ore Of our big
western mines
One of the last kings Of Burma once made
vow that he would give his weight In
gold to the monument. After he had taken
a bath, and scrubbed himself down to tho
lowest possible number Of pounds. he
jumped on one side Of the scales and piled
up gold to the other. 1t took Just enough
to make it cost him $4,000 with the money
more gold leaf was bought and the upper
part of the pagoda received a fresh coat
1 say fresh, but I doubt whether even the
new part could have been distinguished
from the old. The whole mighty monument
has hardly a tarnsh spot on IT, It is covered
with gold, purer than that in an American
gold eagle, and It shines like a new we'd
ding ring The lower part OF the structure
Is much like a beehive. It is terraced
around as 1t goes upward, growing smaller
and smaller and ends in the spire
q
Eight Holy Hairs of the Prophet.
The monument stands over certain relies
OF Buddha, including eight hairs which
the prophet pulled from his head. and
gave to the two Burmese brothers who
planted them here. That was many years
ago, and since then the followers of
Buddha have come here to worship. The
first pagoda was erected on the site 5Ss
years before Christ was born, and the
present structure was already in place 100
years before Boston was founded
Today the Buddhists consider II an al
most sure passport 70 heaven to erect a
small pagoda about the base OF the great
Save Dagon; and now there are hundreds
Of little temples, most exquisitey carved
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20

1t must be remembered, however, that
the personnel of the monastery is con-
stantly changing Men come in and go out.
Boys put on the yellow robe Of the priest
hood and lay It aside in order to marry.
According to the faith, as taught here,
every Buddhist man or boy must be a
monk before his soul can be born. Until
then he is a beast, and, II he dies, Is sure
to be reborn in some filthy body in his
next transmigration.
When a boy enters a monastery be lays
aside his good clothes and puts on a single
sheet of rough yellow cotton. His head Is
matter what his circumstances may have
been, while he is in the monastery he must
live upon the gifts Of the people, and he
goes forth daily with his begging bowl and
takes what is offered. He does this, no mat
ter how high he rises nor how long he stays.
The usual time for entering the monas-
terry is at the approach of manhood. The
youth are admitted on probation, and they
first act as servants, or chelahs, for the
monks, having about the same place as
Kim had with the old abbot in Rudyard
Kpllng's delightful novel Of Indian life.
Once admitted the boys are supposed to
devote themselves to holy living, thinking
and doing. They are taught the principles
OF Buddhist faith and are urged TO spend
their lives going about doing good. Some
Of them take the priesthood as a profess
sion and others stay but a short time, for
they can come and go al Will.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20

have visited some Of the monasterles
during my stay in Burma The life in
them is by no means exciting. The monks
are awakened at daybreak by a wooden
bell and are supposed 20 be at their
prayers as early as $50 In the morning
As soon as he rises every monk washes
his hands and face and rinses his mouth.
He then smooths out the robe in which
he has slept over night and goes into
prayers After that he takes up his duties
about the monastic establishment; he may
sweep the floors Of the temple or water
the garden, or do odd Jobs OF various
kinds. The work Of the institution is
divided and each man has his own Job.
After a short while the monks all meet
together and start out to beg Headed
by the chief priest, they walk in company
through the main streets Of the town with
their begging bowls in their hands. They
do not ask aims nor call at the houses,
but merely walk along single file in tho
middle Of each street, having their eyes
fixed on the ground. Each priest holds
his begging bowl in front Of him and the
people come and pour IN their offerings.
The priests do not give thanks, believing
that they confer a favor In allowing the
people 10 give. The begging procession
lasts for an hour or So When il is com
pletcd tho monks 90 back 70 the mon
astery where they lay a part OF their
gifts before the statues Of Buddha and
spread the Est cat for breakfast hear
It whispered, however, that most OF the
monssteries have hot breakfast as well.
The monks eat another meal about noon
and dinner toward evening Those
have seen look fat and healthy and nons
appears any the worse for the fasting and
wear OF his religious profession.
FRANK q, oARRENTRR.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20


morning, and the worshipers are out in
tull force. Scores of brown-skinned, shaven-
headed monks clad in a single sheet OF
yellow cotton are going in and out of the
rest houses along the way Each carries
begging bowl for the rice offerings which
arc freely given. We see scores of Worship
ers on their way TO the shrine and at the
entrance find peddlers OF flowers incense
and candles to be offered to the gods over
head.
We can see the great pagoda long before
we reach It. Its golden spire kisses the
sky 500 feet above the spot where we get
down from our gharTy. With the hill upon
which 1t stands the monument is as tall
as the great marble shaft erected to Wash
ington on the banks of the Potomac. and
as we look up we are dazzled by the blaze
OF gold upon it. and the wonderful struc-
lures which form its base. The sides of the
hlll are covered with carved buildings. each
or which is a jewel. andSa gorgeous covered
avenue OF gold, with ridge roof upheld
oy Whlte marble pillars, leads by stair
ways TO the platform above. The platform
Nseh covers fourteen acres, or as much
space as the Pyramid of Cheops and II
is from this that the gold spire starts.
put first let us make our way up
thr$ugh the arcades. There is no road on
earth more curious than that which leads
to the shrine. Its stone floor has through
out the ages been polished by the bare
feet OF the thousands who have tramped
up to pray. The worshipers take off their
sandals as they come TO the entrance. and
walk on with them in their hands We
Foreigners keep our shoes on and mix with
the crowd As we go In we hear the birds
sing Thousands OF them have made nests
In the carvings, and they fly back and
forth through the arcades and about the
pagoda from daylight TO dark. At night
they roost on the gold According to the
tenets OF Buddhist religion, 1t is a sin to
h''I anything that has life and the birds
know they are in the house of their friends.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20


tenth OF mankind. and the nine million fol
lowers OF the prophet who live here in
Burma consider it the most sacred spot
Upon earth. The pagoda stands on little
MI on the banks of the Irawadi river I'm
ihis red-hot town Of Rangoon. The sun
mere is deadly at MONDAY, and we get IN
win the crows Their cawing begins be-
iore day ard the light is Just coming
through the palm trees as we sit down in
the hotel bed rooms to our tea, toast and
Jam before starting out
black turbaned Hi with a rat-Ike
indian pony carries us in his gharry
through the wide streets of Raugoon. We
pass half-naked coolies on their way to
work; jostle the street water works, CON
slsting or bare-legged men, who, with
buckets are sprinkling the roads, turn
out for the carts hauled by bumped bull
Ocks carrying great loads. and at last pass
through a section of fine bungalows, in
which the better classes of the city live,
md are dropped at the foot of Pagoda hill.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20
Copyright, 1910. by p

1910. by Frank G. Carpenter
NNGOON, 19iO.-(Special Corre-
spondence of The Bee.)-Come
with me this morning for look
at the Shwe Dagon Pagoda, the
holiest shrine Of the Buddhist
religion. II Is the mecca Of nne-
The Topeka state journal., 1910-04-07
NAVY LEAGUE PROSPERS
The Membership Has Reached Total
of $500.

Washington. April THE Navy
league of the United States, patriotic
organization, non-partisan in charac-
ter and including in it's membership
such men as President Taft, ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Admiral Dewey, J.
Pierpont Morgan and David r. Fran
els, with General Horace Porter as
president. is f1ourishing, according to
the report for the year ending March
31st.
The membership of the National
section, irrespective of the numerous
branch leagues throughout the coun-
try. has been increased by 371 regu-
lar members, 542 contributing MEM
bers, 369 life members and SO found
ers, making a total of 1913 new
members and bringing the total men,
bership of the league up to $500.
A missionary work has been done
by the distribution of $3.50 pamphlets
the general purpose of which has
been to show that an adequate navy
is the best guaranty of peace.
The Topeka state journal., 1910-04-07
CHILD WIFE LEAVES.
Oris Bell of Topeka Hunting Her in
kansas City.

Kansas City. April Tim just a
boy, and I have a big heart. 1 like
Nellie, and I want her to come back.
I'll forgive her for anything she may
have done"
Oris Bell of Topeka was at the Union
depot yesterday afternoon looking for
his wife. Nellie. and 1890 he says she
had with her when she left him Tues
day night. He believed she had come
to Kansas City, as the ticket agent at
Topeka told him that he had sold a
ticket to Kansas City Tuesday night to
a girl answering her description. He
did not find her last night and left at
IL o'clock for Bartlesville, Ok, after
leaving word with Joseph Enright, a
policeman at the Union depot, to tele-
graph him If any trace of the missing
girl is found.
Bell is "a years old. He was a brake
man on the Santa Fe at Bartlesville
until a few weeks ago when he was
hurt by a fall. His wife was Nellie
Newton of that city. They were mar
ried January 1 of this year, her six
teenth birthday. They went to Topeka
to live four days ago, and were room
ing at a hotel the night she escaped.
A house had been rented and they were
to move into it in a few days. He In
not able to explain her action, but Is
willing to have her return. He will not
give up the search without finding her.
The Topeka state journal., 1910-04-07

ported by hundreds Of friends. Roof
has been in the city 23 years and for is
years was in the grocery business on
West Eighth avenue. He is opposed to
the prohibitory law but says he will
enforce 1t if given the position.
John Gardiner was sergeant on the
police force under Chief Goodwin and
has a host of supporters
Billiard Is Noncommittal.
When informed of the different men
who were being boosted for the place, j.
B. Billiard, the newly elected mayor,
would have very little to say this after
noon.
st don't care to give out anything On
this touchy matter today" said Mr.. BIZ
lard. IT have had several men come to
me recommending certain candidates Tor
the position but I have g1ven none CT
them an answer. 1 know there are several
good men after the ,place-and they would
What is your personal iden?" was
asked.
II don't have anything to do with the
appointment OF a new chief OF police,
said Mr.. Billard-"unless the test of the
commission agree with me- We all have
the same power in this respect and what
I think will not hold as 1t does In the
Mr.. Billiard finally admitted that a new
chief of police would be preferable un-
der the existing circumstances, as far as
the new administration is concerned:
Yes, think that a change is the right
admitted the mayor-elect-
The Topeka state journal., 1910-04-07
APPROVE STUCKEY BOND
VIII Be Allowed His Liberty Pending
Appeal

The supreme court today approved
the bond of Wallace Stuckey, who has
appealed his case from Franklin county.
and the pastor who has been found
guilty of the abduction Of Lorena Suth-
erland may retain his liberty until such
time as the court passes upon this case.
Stuckey had been out on bond pending
the decision of his case in the Frank
lin county court.
When he appealed to the supreme
court it became necessary for. him to
file a bond with that body. He did so
some days ago. but the court declined
TO approve the bond for the reason that
the securities had not been endorsed or
approved by any Franklin county court
official. The bond came back today
with the o. K. of Judge Smart upon its
face and was promptly approved.
The Topeka state journal., 1910-04-07
STUBS IS GRIEVED.
Green Was His Friend, but Billiard He
Knew Not at All.

Kansas City, Mo. April 7.-Walter
Roscoe Stubbs, governor of Kansas,
was in Kansas City yesterday. That is
all He was here and went away again
last night. He did not register at the
Hotel Baltimore but he got room
there anyway.
He is grieved at the election in To-
peka, or at the result rather. Green,
the defeated candidate. was a friend of
his and Billiard, the winning candidate,
he knew not at ALL
Everything is quiet around. the
state house, he murmured as he
edged toward the elevator, quiet,
quiet Outlet His voice died away
in the elevator shaft and the chief
executive Of Kansas had gone UP.
The Topeka state journal., 1910-04-07
KANSAS COUPLE ELOPE.
Mound City Youths Take Train to
X. c. and Get Into Trouble.

Kansas City. Mo-, April Jacob
Bauer, IS years old. and Nellie
Boone Is years old, both of Mound
City, Kan, were arrested by John Wal
lenstrom, night depot master. as they
stepped from a Frisco train at the
Union depot at 1880 last night. ]. c.
Harlan. sheriff at Pleasanton. Kan.
telegraphed the police that the couple
were eIoping.
Bauer and Miss Boone were taken
to the West Bottoms police station by
John Withrow, patrolman, where
they explained to Sergeant J. r. Dill
ingham that they had come to Kansas
City to work and were not running
away The girl was taken to the De-
tention home and Bauer was placed in
the holdover. They will be held until
the parents are heard from.
The Topeka state journal., 1910-04-07
ROBBERS ARE SHOT
Five Men Loot a Bank Carving
Off $4,000.
Three Caught by Means of TeIe-
phone and Autos.
RACES WITH A TRAIN.
Pursuing Party in Motor Cars
Shoot as They Run.
Two Of the Bandits Escape With
Booty.

Chicago, April Three bank rob-
bers were wounded and captured at
Morris, ILL.,. today. after an exciting
race between a freight train bearing
the fleeing robbers and a number of
motor cars carrying the members OF a
pursuing posse. The captives belonged
to a band of five which raided the
Bank Of Coal City at Coal City. Ill,
today and escaped with $4,000.
Coal City is SO miles southwest of
Chicago. The population was aroused
by the explosion in the bank. The
marauders entered the town on a
freight train and began operations by
capturing Barney Ghetto. the night
watchman, and Washington Frye, the
night engineer OF the electric plant.
They then entered the bank blew omen
the safe and with the money they
found fed to the railroad, where they
leaped on a Santa Fe freight train.
Three hours later, three men suffer-
ing from shot wounds were arrested
at Morris. Ill.
AS the train carrying the bandits
pulled out of the town Ghetto succeed
ed in cutting his bonds and rushed to
the telephone. notifying the night
watchman at Macon, seven miles south
of Coal City. and he, with DR.. e. d.
Watts, laid in wait for the robbers.
Watts was armed with a repeating
At Macon the freight train stopped
to switch cars. The bandits leaped
from the trai and hid in a clump of
shrubbery near the track.
Miller and the physician discovered
their hiding place and opened fire.
which was promptly returned, rs or
more shots reing exchanged. When
the train started the bandits leaped
aboard and again escaped.
Immediately the sheriff at Morris
was notified. Several automobiles were
pressed into service and the pursuit be-
gan. the machines following a road
along the Santa Fe right of way For
a time the motor cars sped directly
alongside the freight train. members
of the posse occasionally firing at dark
objects which were thought to be the
bandits. When the train stopped at
Verona, near Morris, the cars were
searched by tine sheriff and his men
Three of the fugitives were found
All were wounded. The other two had
fed. 1t is beIieved they leaped off the
train from the side opposite the posse
and escaped with the booty taken
from the banH.
The prisoners were taken to Morris
where they refused to give their names
or discuss the robbery
Later the prisoners admitted that
their homes were in Chicago and gave
the names of John Hoyt, Rawer
Tonaszewki end Joseph Crowlick.
The Topeka state journal., 1910-04-07
HUCKSTERS ARRESTED.
Measured Their Vegetables Instead OF
weighing Them.

Six complaints were filed today in
the court of Topeka by Harry Bell, as
sistant food inspector for the state
board of health, charging Frank Cope
and a number of hucksters with short
weights. According to the story told
by Bell to tha assistant county attor-
ney. A J. BoInger, when he swore to
the complains, the prosecution would
not seem a bona hde one.
Mr.. Bell appeared with a long list
of names of huckSters from whom he
had purchased quantities of vegetables
and fruits. Potatoes and apples were
the principal purchases, and were
bought by thu peck. Mr.. Bell bought
them by dry measure and then weighed
them-the basis for potatoes, 10
pounds to tbs peck, and for apples, IL
pounds to the peck. Many of the sam
underweight-a natural result of dry
measurement. Overweights were
ignored but underweights were the
subject of complaints for violation of
the law.
Bolinger and co-assistant, w. e.
Atchison, held up the complaints until
County Attorney Schenck was consult
ed. Schenck said that inasmuch as the
law provided that the sales should
have been made by weight, there was
a technical violation of the food laws
and granted the complaints.
State Inspector Crunabine was called
and asked whether he had notified the
mmiSSion nen and huckSterS that
they should use the weight measure.
He answered that he had not and that
it was their concern to know the laws
governing their business.
The names of the defendants are:
Frank Cope, c. Young. j. w. Cowan,
G. T. Browning. Clarence Evans, Elmer
Whitteker, Nick Morley, John Tremlet
Henry Myers. They will probably be
arraigned this evening.
The Topeka state journal., 1910-04-07
NELSO TAKES COUNT.
BattIer Knocked Out by Jury in Fed
eraI Court

Philadelphia, April 7.-Battling Mel
son, former lightweight champion of the
world, lost another fight today when
he was knocked out in three minutes
by jury in the United States court
which decided against him in his suit
Tor $4,000 damages against the Belle
Fue-Stratford hotel for refusing him
accommodations.
The Topeka state journal., 1910-04-07
CLICK IS NO BETTER.
Condition of the Ex-Governor Con-
sidered Serious.

Atchison, Kan. April 7.--Word has
been received here today that ex-Gov-
ernor George w. Click, who was in
jured last week in Lakeland, Fla, is in
a dangerous condition. He not only is
suffering intensely from a broken hip,
but his heart action is becoming weak.
His relatives here consider his condi-
ton extremely grave