The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-04-20

ana Is greater ny HelIIH iVb,ooN tndii
Washington. About it lie Slams rich
est rice lands to it come, IN the n
hand. boats laden With the products OF
the country, ana on the other ocean
going vessels to unload imports and
load exports; aud from it in turn are
distributed the supplies for the interior.
In Bangkok the king and his court live
and there is operated the machinery
of the cOuntry's highly centralized gov
eminent.
About Size Of France.
Siam is about the size of France. 1t
is Il tropical country, lying in the same
latitude with the Egyptian Sudan,
southern India, the Philippines n
Central America. But thanks to pleas
ant breeZeS il does not experience the
extremes OF heat known to the indian
plains. In Bangkok the heat during
The dry season seldom exceeds 100 de-
greeS Fahrenheit in the shade. In the
sun it is of course much warmer and
paper parasols are TO be seen every.
where. For the three months, NOvem-
Der, December and January, the nights
and early mornings are crisp and cool,
but the days are comfortably warm.
Little or no clothing is worn by the
small children among the Siamese in
Bangkok during tho most Of The year.
AS the children approach school age.
both boys and girls don the panung,
the universal garment Of the country.
II consists of II length 0f cloth wrapped
about the hips, the lower edge extend
ing to about the knees. The end of the
cloth is thrust between the knees and
hitched up behind, so forming "A loose
knickerbocker type Of garment. The
coolies often wear nothing above the
waist, but the costume Is completed for
others by the addition of n jacket for
women and il European type coat for
men. Many Of the young girls and
ono wear above the panung bright
colOred scarfs wrapped about the
breasts.
Half n century ngo Bangkok was
called "The Venice Of the East and
fully deserved the title, for almost all
Transportation and movement about the
city was by the river or the numerous
lateral canals. Even now, though
streets and highways have been built.
bridges constructed and traniwnys laid,
the waterways are still Of t~ranscendent
Importance in the life of the city.
This is especially r during the rainy
season when the streams are flowing
full and contact may be maintained
by water with the northern part Of
the country. A continual stream Of
heavy rice boats bring their cargoes Of
grain TO the city's rice mills and mer-
chants, and great RATS Of teak logs
float in from the hill country. In the
center Of the stream are anchored YES
sells from many foreign ports, with Il
swarm Of lighters busy about them.
AS i'm many Chinese rivers. house
boats line the shores Of the Menam at
Bangkok. being tied in tiers -four and
five deep In places.
Power Of Monarch Limited.
Theoretically Siam is an absolute
monarchy and in addition the king is
the supreme spiritual head. Tn prac-
tice. however, the power of the mon
arch is limited. He is surrounded by
n council OF ministers. suggests legis-
lation to a council Of state. and re-
ccives the advice Of Il privy, council.
European methods Of government have
been introduced and courts have been
established on British models. A good
government postal system is In opera
tion and Geographic lines connect the
capital with the provinces rs we'll rs
with the outside world.
Through AN education department.
the state has established public schools
system is. naturally. hest i'm the capital.
The old system Of education by the
Buddhist priests In the temples is con
tinued. however, AMI thousands or the
boys of the country receive an ele-
mcntary training In that way. Both
the primary educational facilities and
those of the higher branches are mate
rally supplemented by schools main
tanned ny Christian missionaries.
But though Siam like japan, has
'hsorhed western ideas In regard tn
: rnm and civilization. It has not,
ike the Island Empire. struck ont for
: ''ec'f 'long the new lines. Siam has,
/, SO Car, retained foreign advisers In
: practically al branches Of its govern
|, mental activities. Future development
may depend much on whether this pol
, ley Is 70 he followed indefinitely .'r
|; wi~i; ~ the kinctlGm shall attempt Ia
fo'low the plan &c Japan.