Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-04-06

as that OF France. The Siamese are
a 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.
Tho capital, Bangkok, 10 a 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
erp 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 Siamese
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 a
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 $650.000 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
man Is compelled to serve his three
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, well equipped and well drill
ed, and should be able to give a good
account of itself.
AS an evidence of the consideration
which the English and other foreign.
ers have for the SiSmese extraterri
torial courts, such as are maintained
in China and other far eastern coun-
tries, are not maintained there. When
British subject commits an offense
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-
lives is left entirely to the siam.
ese police.
The railroads In Siam are owned by
the government, with the exception of
a few short spurs. The. government
has found these roads good invest
ment, paying about seven per cent.
Siam is remarkably free from public
debt, owing only about e5,000. 900,
most of which was borrowed to con-
struct railroads and other public Inn.
Siam is primarily an agricultural
and among her principal ex-
ports are rice. tea and hides. There
are rich mineral resources In the
many OF which have not yet
been developed, including oil, tin
and gold. The country has stable
system based on a gold
The quality Of labor Is very linn
tied in Siam. and. In fact, many Chi
nese laborers are employed in the rice
FIELDS and other Industries. There IA.
no emigration from Siam.
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