Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1912-11-07


different race from either the Chi
nese or the Japanese. Their straight
black hair and dark eyes give the
Siamese some resemblance to the Jap
anese, but their eyes are straight and
the general expression of the Siamese
countenance Is more that of Euro
pean.
The capital, Bangkok, is handsome
city OF some 100000 inhabitants. The
street cars, the street lighting. tele-
phone system and modern sanitation
all give the impression of modern
western city. The style Of architec-
ture is being more and more modelled
after the western style and particu-
larly the Italian. Their houses are
many Of them similar to the detached
houses which are found in the sub
urbs Of cities in this country. The
dress adopted by the people Is west
ern to great extent also. In the
public schools the only foreign Ian,
guage taught is English, which is the
commercial language of the far east.
Although the religion Of the Siameso
Is Buddhism, the government makes
no objection to such foreign missions
as are established in Siam, particu
larly because many of the schools
established by the missions teach
English. The late king, just before
he died, requested his son not to
spend large sums of money upon .
great funeral for him, but to spend
such money as he desired to devote to-
the memory Of his father for the ben
eft Of charitable institutions. The
present king has voluntarily sur.
rendered about $650.OO0 from his civil
list for the benefit Of the govern.
ment.
The Siamese are peaceable people,.
but they are also intensely patriotic.
The army system there Is very similar
to that of Germany, and each young.
years in the standing army and then
enter the reserves. None OF the,
Siamese shirks this duty. A splendid
standing army Of 10000 men is main
tanned, we'll equipped and we'll drill.
ed, and should be able to give q good
account Of itself.
AS an evidence Of the consideration
which the English and other foreign.
ers have for the Siamese extraterri.
torial courts, such as are maintained
In China and other far eastern coun.
tries, are not maintained there. When
a British subject commits an offenss
in Siam he is tried in Siamese court
and under the laws Of that land. Not
foreign soldier Is maintained In
Siam by any Of the nations as a guard
for the legation there, but the pro
lection of the European representa-.
tives is left entirely to the Siam.
ese police.
The railroads In Siam are owned by
the government, with the exception OF
q few short spurs. The government
has found these roads a good invest
ment. paying about seven per cent.
Siam Is remarkably free from public
debt, owing only about f5.000,000
most Of which was borrowed to con-
struct railroads and other public i'm,
provements.
Siam Is primarily an agricultural
country, and among her principal ex.
ports are rice, tea and hides. There
are rich mineral resources in the
country, many Of which have not yet
been developed. including oil, tin
and gold. The country has a stable
monetary system based ON a GOLD
standard.
The quality of labor is very lin.
tied in Siam, and. in fact. many Chi.
nese laborers are employed in the rice
fields and other industries. There 10
no emigration from Siam.