davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

Until the British came to Burma only
the fewest Of the women could read and
write. There are not many who can do so
schools for girls in the large towns, but in
the villages they seldom exist, and the
monks cannot teach the girls as they do
the boys. According to the laws Of the Bud
dhist religion, every boy must go into
monastery. He usually does so at the age
Of or years, and, he there learns to read
and write. There are very few nunneres in
the country, and the girls have nowhesl
else to go. Their mothers are ignorant auA
therefore it is the exception to find a ma
tive girl outside the cities who is able TO
read.
The British officials are trying to remedy
this and there are now something like
10000 girls in the government schools, al
though only one Of every eleven girls OF
school age is being educated, and only
about 1000 are in the secondary and high
schools.
During my stay in Burma have visited
many of these l find the little ones quite
as bright as our American children. They
study diligently and recte well. remember
class in arithmetic which / heard In
Rangoon. 1t was composed Of eleven Bur-
mese girls Of about 10 years Of age. They
tion at the command OF their teacher, and
recited the multiplication table I'm Burmese
for my edification
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

of toll, under the heat and g,are of the
gas jet"
The son of a Methodist minister, SEN
ator Doliver entered early upon a political
career; he had the old-fashioned way of
using anecdotes to illustrate his points,
which was then considered effective,
though he may have changed his style
with the times. He is one of the orators
who frankly admit that they '!ke to
talk" a taste he thinks he may have in
herited from his father and grandfather
the latter a Massachusetts seafaring man,
whose cargo of cotton during the war Of
1872 was confiscated by General Jackson; if
he had his grandson's eloQuence it is prob
able that he made some remarks that
would have been worthy of preservation.
When preaching on large circuit in Vir-
ginia and often riding 200 miles in a week,
Mr.. Delivers father met the lady who be-
came his wife, and that is the reason that
the senator halls from West Virginia, and
was educated at the State university there.
After his graduation. at the age Of II,
the young man decided to migrate to nli-
nois He tells thus of this first western
visit:
Standing in the railway station of Col
umbus, o., a policeman tapped me on the
shoulder, and with warning glance said:
"'You have just been talking, my boy
with one of the most dangerous pick
pockets in the United States"
y " one of the most dangerous pickpockets
in the United States has been talking to a
country boy who has not red cent to his
name, was my reply"
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

turn gives him cigars ard, perhaps, tur-
ban or shawl knit by herself
The marriage is little more than festi-
val at the house of the girl. Here the
young couple eat rice together join hands
and say they intend to live as man and
wife. They are supposed to bill and COO
feeding one another as birds do; and they
drink tea with their parents and parents
in-law. The groom makes the girl a pres
ent consisting of a silken skirt or piece OF
jewelry, and he is supposed to furnish
the wedding breakfast After marriage the
two go into seclusion for honeymoon Of
sewn days, and they then take up their
home in the house of the bride. 1t is pre-
sumptuous for them to set up their own
establishment Immediately after marriage,
as the man is supposed to work certain
time for his wife.
l understand that there are many love
matches in Burma, and that where par
ents object the young people elope and
go off to themselves There are few mar
riages for money.
The marriage is a civil ceremony and 1t
has nothing to do with religion. 1t is a
social and business partnership rather
than moral contract, and many mar
Riages are entered into without any cere-
mony at all. Among some people the
wedding is kept secret for a time, for
the young people do not like to be stared
at nor have stones thrown on their house
roofs, as is sometimes the custom. A girl
does not change her name when she mar
ries, and there is nothing about her to show
whether she is married or not. She wears
no marriage ring, and she still, as have
said, keeps her own property. She can
act for herself in a business way and she
frequently acts for her husband. She car
sign deeds lend or borrow money and
make any kind Of arrangements as to buy
ing or selling.
With all this the women do not mix in
public affairs. They make no fuss about
their rights, and the Burmese suffragette is
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
Beaten by His storIes.

Think of man being defeated for con-
gress because somebody swiped all his best
iokesl
A visitor from Minnesota in Washington
the other day told a little crowd at his
hotel that Adam Bede missed reelection
in the Eighth Minnesota district the last
time for Just .that reason.
1t seems, according to the visitors story,
that fellow By the name of Barker, who
is sort Of boss Of the Eighth Minnesota
district, cares not at all for Adam Bede
Now, as everybody knows Bede was re-
garded as one Of the chief wits OF con-
gress. He always had more stories TO tell
than any seven other men engaged in the
national legislation He would send his
crowd home I'm a good humor and they
would vote for him
Well, Barker thought and thought how
10 defeat Bede. One day at 3 o'clock an
idea came He made a deal with one G..
b. Miller to oppose Bede and the fight
was on.
Bede started TO make a few speeches
IN a remote corner OF his district. and
Barker sent a stenographer down with in
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

of the strikers rushed in and announced
that he had it.
Chamberlain was president of a bank
when he was a young man; it busted and
was horrible wreck"
dig it up quick" announced the cam
paign manager.
The story was looked up and was true.
The rank had failed and there were al
most no assets.
They were just ready to put out the
story when an old friend of Chamberlain's $
came along and advised against it. Won't
do you any good" he insisted. Take my
word for it,"
But the campaign managers had to do
something, and so the story of the busted
bank was given cut and got due publicity
in all the anti-Chamberlain papers. Next
day the Chamberlain committee gave out
statement signed by all the directors
and lot of depositors Of the bank. 1t
said:
1T is true that MI Chamberlain was
president of the bank when it failed At
that time he was a man of some property.
He had never been actively connected with
the bank management and when he learned
that it was closed and hopeessly insoIvent
he turned over his entire property and
personally paid all deposltors."
Whoreupon the anti-Chamberlain people
started hunting fora new roorback, and
when election day came the man whose
bank had failed ingloriously was trl-
umpEantly elected senator.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

And this brings me to marriage in Burma.
The customs here are different from those
Of Japan, China, Korea or the other coun-
tries l have visited during this trip around
the world. The Japanese girl has hus-
band picked out by matchmaker, the
Korean takes one at the dictation of her
parents, while the Chinese maiden is often
sold, and, If married, becomes the slave of
her mother-in-law. The Siamese girl is
nominally the property of the king, and the
Malayan is shut up in Mohammedan
harem, as are the millions of women of
India, Egypt and Turkey. The Burmese
girl goes about as she pleases and marries
whom she will During her childhood she
associates with the boys, and after mar
riage she is looked upon as comrade and
often rules the household. She is the bus
mess man of the establishment She usu-
ally makes the money, and always carries
the purse.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

smoke. and girl learns to puff at a cigar
long before her ears are bored, Children
are taught the habit soon as they are
able to walk, and l see 4-year-od boys
putting cigarettes. The average cigar used
by the women looks much like long ear
of popcorn with the husk on. 1t is made
Of other leaves in connection with tobacco;
it is loosely rolled and is often tied with
a string. All the girls are adept in making
cheroots, and at a party one girl may roll
for the crowd the big cigars being paAed
about from one guest to another, each
taking a whiff In courting, l doubt not.
the girl makes the cigar and the two take
love smokes in turn
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

During my stay I'm the schools l vas
told the names Of a number Of the pupils,
and the teacher referred TO a queer custom
the Burmese have in selecting names for
their children A girl is named about two
weeks after birth, and that at a meeting
of the relations and friends. The name lis
chosen by rule according to the day of the
week upon which the child was born, GER
tain consonants being used for each week
day and the vowcls going for Burmese sun
days. or first day OF the week The little
ones name must begin with a letter w.
longing 10 the day on which she was bora,
There are thus Sunday girls Monday giriR,
Tuesday girls, and Wednesday, Thursday
Friday and Saturday girls, or whatever
the Burmese days OF the week are called
All the little Miss Wednesdays have names
beginning with r or Y, the Fridays with
Tn and n, while the Miss Saturdays are
rs, DIS and Ms. The names are often
poetic, a girl may be called Miss Per-
fume, Miss Perfection or Miss Ilke-What-
There-Is-Not. At the moment OF a chld's
birth the astrologers note It's horoscope and
pick out the stars which are to go with il
through life. AT the same time birth
burnt before Buddhs, and kfhe Same days
candles made Of red or yellow wax are
similar candles are lighted at the shrinss
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
Making Father Give Proof.

A Washington scientist is the father OF
several boys, to whom the greatest freedom
is accorded. He was recently engaged in
some computation, being at the time near
the window OF his home, when he heard
a shrill cry Of Dad, dad!' from his young
est born, who was playing with neighbors'
children outside.
What a trial my children are!' muir
INJURED the distinguished man, as he thrust
his head out OF the window. We'll, Har-
rington." he asked, "what is it?'
Whereupon the lad, who was standing in
the center Of group OF youngsters, re-
piled:
while johnson wouldn't believe you
hadn't a hair on your head. That's all,
dad. "--Lippenc0tts.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
PASTORS Puzzle Made Plain.

The pastor Of a West Philadelphia church
was very much surprised and pleased last
Sunday night when in the course of the
service a crowd Of persons fully forty
strong entered and seated themselves in
the rear pews. The service continued with
the clergyman congratulating himself on
his unusually large congregation, when
suddenly the door opened and a man stuck
in his head.
Here she comes" he announced in a loud
whisper.
Instantly the late 'comers arose en- masse
and rushed to the door The pastor was 50
perpleXed at the strange occurrence that
after service he spoke TO one of the vestry
who had been standing by the door.
Don't you know what happened?' asked
the vestryman, laughingy.
NO" answered the clergyman but I
would like to-
why, a car broke down right in front
OF the church Everybody got out after a
few minutes, and, seeing a chance To sit
down. they all came I'm here leaving one
man on watch."-Philadelphi Telegraph
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
1NN!'

Is contrary to the - ddhist religion 20
consume anything that has life, the chief
exception being fish, which is eaten fresh,
dried and also when rotted by burying It in
the sand. A favorte dish is fish curry
with rice The family usually sit around the
rice dish each having a little bowl for
curry and a larger one for rice. Everyone
helps himself taking from the rice platter
as much as he can squeeze in his hands
He conveys the food to his mouth in his
hands. At the close Of the meal everyone
is expected to wash his own dishes and
each goes to the water jar to rinse out his
mouth. The meals are more like plcnics
than anything else.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

mouse has no furniture in our sense or the
word. The people sleep upon mats and rest
their heads on bamboo pillows. There is
little sweeping to do, and tho most of the
cooking is on fires out Of doors. The cook
ing utensils usually consist Of two or three
esrthen pots, in addition to which are some
jars for water and several cocoanut ladies'
forks.
The staple food of the Burmese is rice
which is boiled or steamed and eaten with
fish paste and peppers. Nothing is drank
with the meals, and aften them only water
But few of the Burmese eat meat, for it
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
woman's nights i'm nurmn.

"Oman's Rights In burma.
The rights of woman after her mar
riage are well protected. The women are
the chief workers and money makers, and
a woman can hold property distinct from
her husband. She manages her own money,
and has an equal right with her husband in
all that they make together during their
married life. She has a right to her own
earnings, and If divorced she takes back all
the money she has brought into the family
and half of what has been accumulated
since the wedding.
As to divorces these are not difficult OF
obtainment on either side of the family,
Any discontented husband or wife may go
before the elders and claim a separation,
and it is seldom refused.
There are also special grounds for d.
vorce. If the husband is idle or lazy the
wife can claim separation. If he is unable
to support her, If he is always ailing,
becomes a cripple after his marriage, she
can demand that the marriage tie be broken
and the same is true if he ill-treats her in
any way.
On the other hand, the husband has,
also, plenty of grounds for divorce If his
wife does not love him, if she visits places
to which he objects, and If she persistently
disobeys him. he may claim his freedom.
The same is also true if she gives him no
boys. Notwithstanding all this divorces are
not much more common than in the United
States. They are hardly respectable and
the man who enters monastery to get rid
of a wife is called a runaway, while a di-
vorced woman is said to be always anxious
to marry again, Indeed, marriage is con-
sidered the best state for woman, one of
their proverbs being as follows:
monk are beautiful when they are lean,
four-footed animals when they are fat, men
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
Retirement of RuffaIo RiII.

Buffalo Bill's withdrawal from the arena,
say the New York Times, win mark the
passing of the most picturesque personality
in public life-hunters OF wildbeeste and
digdig not excepted It's doubtful If any
other man save George Washington has en-
joyed in such degree the universal adora-
ton OF American youngsters and the ma
ton-wide admiration Of American grown
ups. Even today affection for Abraham
Lincoln. Ulysses $. Grant and Robert r.
Lee has its sectional limitations; that for
Colonel Cody knows no boundaries, TO the
youth OF the land he has been from his
earliest fame. and always will be, the dar-
ing, the dashing, the debonair Buffalo Bill,
intrepid pursuer Of the hearth-rocking
bison, relentless and always triumphant
redskin. breaker OF bronchos. monarch OF
cowboys, king OF horsemen and prince Of
scouts.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

science could not save him. He asked DIR.
Rxey to bring the surgeons in One by
one the surgeons entered and approached
the bedside. When they were gathered
about him the president opened his eyes
and said:
1T is useless, gentlemen; 1 think we
ought to have prayer"
The dying man crossed his hands on
his breast and half closed his eyes. There
was a beautiful smile on his countenance
The surgeons bowed their heads Tears
streamed from the eyes of the white clad
nurses on either side Of the bed. The yell
low radiance Of the sun shone softly in the
room.
our Father, which art in Heaven" said
the president in clear, steady voice.
The lips of the surgeons moved.
"Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done"
The sobbing of nurse disturbed the
still air. The president opened his eyes
and closed them again.
Thy will be done in earth as it is in
Heaven"
A long sigh. The sands OF life were run
ming swiftly, The sunlight died out, the
raindrops dashed against the windows.
Give us this day our daily bread; and
forgive us our debts as we foEgive our
debtors; and lead us not into temptation.
but deliver us from evil"
Another silence. The surgeons looked at
the dying face and the friendly lips
For Thine is the kingdom, the power
and the glory. forever, Amen"
Amen" whispered the surgeons.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

structions TO take down all Bede's funny
stories. Then when the fight grew warmer
Barker billed his friend Miller just about
one day ahead of Bede in each town. When
Bede arrived and began to tell his jokes
the crowd would act bored, for they had
heard the same stories the night before
Bede dug up some new ones, but Barker
had arranged that they should be wired
ahead of Miller,
After about week of this Bede became
a fallen idol. They refused to vote for a
man who appeared to be trailing along
about one block in the rear Of the joke
parade.
Today Miller occupies Bede's seat in the
house of representatives.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
ChamherInin,s nnnk Fnmure.

Senator Chamberlain OF Oregon. who re-
Gently made his first extended speech in
congress on conservation. has reminded an
old friend OF Chamberlain's own expert
ments in conservation.
when Chamberlain was running for the
senate" said this friend TO a Washington
Times reporter, the opposition went over
his record with flne-tooth comb to find
something injurious 70 him. One day one
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

Easy HOusekeepIng.
The Burmese wife has fewer housekeep-
ing troubles than her American sister If
she belongs to the well-to-do classes she
has servants, and IL not, she has but little
hard work. The ordinary house is built of
wood or bamboo raised upon posts about
eight feet apart 1t has a veranda in front,
with steps leading to the rooms overhead.
The floors are Of thin planking or bamboo
canes, and the roof is of thatch or leaves
The whole is simple to an extreme. Tho
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
Ear PIuss and womanhood.

All the girls here wear ear plugs They
cannot enter society without them. AS a
maiden approaches the age OF coming out,
which is usually at II or 10, her ears are
bored. and the ceremony is as important to
her as the first long dress is to her Amer
ican sister. The ceremony is formal and
Il must be done when the stars are propi-
tious The family cosults the fortune
teller for this occasion, and a big feast is
prepared. All the relatives and friends
attend in their best clothes to witness the
piercing. This is done by a professional
earborer, who uses needles Of pure gold
for the rich and silver ones for the poor
When the exact moment has arrived the
girl Is laid down upon mat in the back
of the room and her relatives hold her
there while the ear-borer thrusts the
golden needle through the lobe and twists
IL around into a ring. This he leaves in
the ear. The other ear is treated like
wise,
While this is going on the bands play,
and after it there is feast 1t takes
the ear some time to heal When il is
quite we'll the process OF enlarglng the
hole begins. The needle is pulled back
and forth until the sore heals. II is then
taken out and little cylinder of finely
rolled gold is pressed in. This is gradually
opened from week TO week, stretching the
hole larger and larger. the cylinder being
kept in until it grows to the proper size.
Such people as cannot afford gold or sill
yer put stems OF elephant grass in their
ears. inserting stem after stem. until at
last the hole in the lobe will contain a
bunch as big around as your thumb. After
the ears are well healed the plugs or hol-
low pipes are inserted.
some OF the women stretch their ear
holes until they grow to an inconceivabls
size. l have seen peasant girls with ear
holes so large that napkin ring could
be thrust through one. and it is not un.
common to see a Burmese maid with big
cigar thrust through one ear. There was
not a merchant In the bazar at Manda-
lay who could not have used her ears FOR
cigarette holders. and but few who had
ear plugs less than the size OF their fin
ger tips,
Speaking OF tobacco. all Burmese women
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24
DoIIiver and the PickpocLet.

The most conspicuous opponent Of Sen
ator Aldrich is the tariff struggle. relates
the National Magazine, was Jonathan p.
DolliYer OF Iowa, but despite that senator's
wit, eloquence, and undisputed talent he
found himself outnumbered in the votes
which carried the bin through to a bril-
liant finish Senator Dolliver is a born
orator and seldom writes an address. pre-
ferring to deliver il straight from the
shoulder in massive periods. He more
closely approaches the giant stature OF
Webster In this respect than any man now
on the floor OF the senate. The Iowa boys
always remember Jonathan p. Dolliver as
popular speaker, though he insists that
his speeches ARE written out In the agony
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

The Burmese marry early and one is an
old maid if not married before she is out
Of the teens. During the courtshp the
young man brings presents of oranges OF
candy; he writes verses in praise of his
lady's beautiful ear plugs, and she in re-
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24


Now turn about and look through the
bazars. There are thousands of women buy
ing and selling, and hundreds of pedders
moving about with trays ON their heads.
Here comes one with fresh fruits. She has a
bowl of cocOanuts and bananas and cries
out her wares as she goes. Behind her is
81 flower peddler and further on are maid
ems with vegetables, fish. fruit and all sorts
Of things. A fish woman is selling trout
from which she has chopped off the head.
The fish bleeds as she handles it. She
has plugs in her ears and her lips are
wrapped around a mighty cigar at which
she puffs as she weighs out the fish
We go to the street Of the tallors. Here
girls are sewing on machines worked by
hand They will make you dress while
you wait We stop before a pretty silk
seller and buy yellow striped skirt to
send home, The girl sits on her feet, her
little brown toes peeping out of the pink
skirt which is wrapped tightly about her.
She looks innocent and ! feel safe in maxi
ing the purchase at her own price She
offers me a whiff from her cigar as
handle the goods and upon my refusing
gives it TO her sister and then comes down
TO business. She pulls out one piece Of
bright silk after another and explains the
good points of each, laughing and chatting
the while. In the end / find that | have
paid three times what l should, but the girl
was so charming it was worth twice the
money.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

7 the afternoon of his last day
on earth, writes James Creel-
man in his "On the Great High
way" the president began to
realize that his life was slipping
away. and that the efforts of
Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-24

yet unborn. Such girls as I have seen are
modest and lady-ilSe. They are self-re-
specting, but not Independent nor forward.