The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-05-09

and Is greater by nearly 100000 than
Washington. About it lie Slams rich
est rice lands; to 1t come, on the one
hand, boats laden with the products OF
the country, and on the other ocean
going vessels to unload imports and
load exports; and from 1t 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 a tropical country, lying in the same
latitude with the Egyptian Sudan,
southern India, the Philippines and
Central America. But thanks to pleas
ant breezes it 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 1t 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 tho
small children among the Siamese In
Bangkok during the most of the year.
AS the children approach school age,
both boys and girls don the panung,
the universal garment of the country.
1t consists of length of 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
knickerbocber type Of garment. The
coolies often wear nothing above the
waist, but the costume is completed for
others by the addition Of a jacket for
women and a European type coat for
men. Many Of the young girls and
women wear above the panung bright
colored scarfs wrapped about the
breasts.
Half a century ago Bangkok was
called "The Venice of the East" and
fully deserved the title, for almost all
and movement about the
city was by the river or the numerous
lateral canals. Even now, though
streets and highways have been built,
the waterways are still of transcendent
Importance In the life of the city
This is especially true 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 ves-
sells from many foreign ports, with n
swarm of lighters busy about them.
AS In many Chinese rivers, house
boats line the shores Of the Menam at
Bangkok, being tied In tiers four and
i've deep In places.
Power of Monarch Limited.
Theoretically Siam Is an absolute
and in addition the king Is
he supreme spiritual head. In prac-
ice. however, the power of the mon
lrch is limited. He Is surrounded by
council of ministers, suggests legis-
alton to a council of state, and re-
'eives the advice of a privy council.
European methods of government have
,een introduced and courts have been
on British models. A good
government postal System is in opera
ion and telegraphic lines connect the
apital with the provinces as well as
With the outside world.
Through an education department
he state has established public schools
throughout the kingdom. though the
ystem is, naturally, best In the capital.
The old system of education by the
Buddhist priests in the temples is con-
inued, however, and thousands Of the
oys of the country receive an ele-
nentary training in that way. Both
he primary educational facilities and
hose of the higher branches are mate
Tally supplemented by schools MAIN
aimed by Christian missionaries.
But though Siam. Ike Japan. has
bsorbed western ideas in regard to
overnment and civilization, 1t has not.
Ike the Island Empire, struck out for
self along the new lines. Siam has,
o far, retained foreign advisers In
ractically all branches of It's govern
rental activities. Future development
lay depend much on whether this pol
" is to be followed indefinitely or
Thether the kingdom shall attempt to
pillow the plan Of japan.