Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-06-02

fPrepareO by the national Geographic 3d.
ciety, Washington. D. CO.
While there is a considerable
amount of unrest In many parts Of
India proper, the people Of Burma,
which is governed as part Of India
and yet is geographically separate
from it, seem to be living contentedly.
Geographical and social conditions and
the economic situation flowing from
them undoubtedly have much to do
with this. Burma knows little of the
fear of famine or the pinch of poverty.
Its lands are productive, it Is rich in
minerals, it is not Over-populated, and
1t is free from the elaborate caste sys-
TEN which is a tremendous handicap
to India, both socially and economi-
cally.
Kipling and practically all other writ
ers about the East have pointed out
repeatedly that it is difficult at best
for westerners to understand the orr
entail peoples. If the observer from
the West wishes to tackle this admit
tedly difficult problem By easy stages,
perhaps he could find no better place
to start than Burma. In number of
senses there is less Of gulf between
the life and customs Of the Burmese,
and those of the West than will be
found if the comparison is made with
any other eastern country.
The Indian is in most cases sober
individual. The lower castles must
take life with desperate seriousness
because Of its hardness and the diff
Guilty of clinging to it. The higher
eastes are sedate and given to specu-
lative philosophy. The Chinaman is
an enigma. His emotions are difficult
to fathOm. The people of the Mo
hammedan countries are marked by Q
quiet dignity.
The Burmese Love Life.
In contrast with these other peO
pies of Asia, and almost alone among
them, the Burmese are frank, open
happy-lovers of life. Their womer
are not secluded, but are among the
freest women in the world. Both mer
| and women are lovers of music and
wearers of bright clothing. Because
Of their spontaneity and friendlines'
they have been dubbed "the Irish ot
| the Orient"
Burma is a country of many tribes
but practically all Of them are of tht
same racial strain. Shans, Karens
Katchins, Chins and Palaungs are
among those living in the outlyin,
| DO 90 hn fhn1Inh fhk
Karens and to a certain exten
the others are to be found ir
parts Of lower Burma, a more heav
lily settled section which is most eas,
| of access to the outside world. 1t i
the Burmese, however, who constitut
the dominant element with the high
est culture, and give color to Burnt
as It is known to most westerners VIII
| visit the land.
The Burma of the Burmese, that
lower Burma and the basin of tn
great Irrawaddy river, is a land o
pagodas, the shrines Of Buddhism
Thousands upon thousands Of thes
bell-shaped structures surmounted b
gilded spires and tinkling bells hav
been built. Many Of them have falle
into decay, but others are built eac
year. They are the symbols Of tn
hold which the Buddhist religion ha
upon the people of Burma. 1t is thei
belief that the surest way of "acquil
ing merit" and achieving holy rest al
ter death is to erect a pagoda: an
very few Burmese who are able t
add to the country's forest Of pagod
spires fail to do so.
No Aristocracy, Few Poor.
There are no noble classes anon
the Burmese, no aristocracy, few VIII
are very wealthy, and few very poo
While the caste system as syster
does not exist in the country, ther
are several classes of people who al
looked upon as degraded by their VI
cations and with whom practically Z
intercourse is had by the majority Q
the people. Unfortunately, too. thes
classes are hereditary. They are tn
grave diggers, the descendants Of ii
former pagoda slaves and the beggar
The general attitude toward these III
fortunates is one of the contradiction
: In Burmese character; and there al
others. Their religion requires kin
ness toward animals, and Burmese wi