The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-29

l NS7 7 RASHINGTON, D. C., Septem- | WAW Der 2S.-(Special.)- .)-Siam' entry into the paper-mak- ing field, as indicated by the recent shipment of paper plant from this country to Bangkok for experiment with such raw material as rice straw and native grasses, is more charac- 1 teristic of Slams civilization than the white elephants or little boys smoking big cigars popularly asso- ciated with that Asiatic kingdom, says buleltin from the Washing ton, D. C.. headquarters of the Ma tional Geographic society.
 Quaint and curious customs do prevail in Siam, wild men still may be found on the Burmese half of the Malay peninsula, and in the north ern forests of Siam roam the tiger, leopard, rhinoceros and tapir," con- tinues the bulletin.
 But in Bangkok electric lights H. lumine streets traversed by trolley cars, erstwhile elephant paths have been converted into boulevards along which spin familiar makes of auto mobiles, and royal establishment which clings to the sacred elephant employs a yacht for weekend trips on the Menam river.
 "In some superficial aspects 1t would seem that Bangkok is several laps ahead of ultra-modern Amer ica. Knickerbockers attract atten- tion when worn by American women in city streets, and bobbed hair IS drowned on in some of our conserva- tive business and social circles. Yet the Siamese woman wears the knee length panung, as does her brother, and for generations she has refused to be bothered with long hair. She has a freedom that has developed skrewdness and independence in con trast to most oriental women. though she is apt to be unlettered.
 ''"The spirit of progress in siam r. lies much deeper than surface llke- nesses or acceptance of fads. No duress compelled her sovereign to convert a tract formerly used TOT oremating members of the royal fam | ilv to a park for cricket, golf and football playing. From this park in the Royal palace runs a boulevard with three roadways, set apart by double rows of trees and flanked by shaded footpaths, an avenue which would do credit to the plan Of an American city. Nor are Bangkok's many improvements due to foreign promotion, for there are fewer Eu- roneans in Slams capital than in all most any other eastern city Of It's | importance.
 "Rangkok is city of half a mill lion inhabitants, the capital. metrop- oils and port city of Siam. The Kingdom has an area about equal to that of Spain and population or some S,Ooo,Ooo.
 "The high civilization of Bangkok l has a contrast in extreme primitive condition of other parts of the coun- trv Curious customs abound. Tn Upper Siam tea is pickled Tor ene"- ing instead of being used as a pev- eraqe First the leaves are sun ariaa then they are steamed to rid them of tannin. Next they are
 weighed down for fermentation nrooess suggestive of the German nrsnaration of sauer kraut. The sub- s+ancs thus formed is placed in the month until the juices are removed The appearance of the individuals
 with the balls in their cheeks forms ], never-ending source of amusement
 for travellers.
 | "The capital of Upper Siam is Crieng-Bai. famous for its lacquer
 ware and center of the teak tree
 trade. This region is land Of boats.
 Water routes form virtually the oniy Hines of Communication between the
 upper .and lower kingdom
 Tn eastern Siam a plateau and
 nlain support a population which
 must move from swamp lands Tn the rainy season to higher elevations
 r,,iob are barren and stony Hence living conditions are most primitive.
 "Bangkok has been called the
 .venice of the East The Menam
 river is the great trading street of the city. Floating houses do cash
 and carry business through Win
 dows opening toward the channel
 where pass the shoppers in almost
 every conceivable sort of craft These
 range from great steamships to the