The Alamance gleaner |
VOL. LIV. GRAHAM, N, C., THURSDAY AUGUST 2, 1928. NO. 26.
DOINGS OF THE WEEK
NEWS REVIEW OF !
CURRENTEVENTS
America Assists but Jap^in
Hampers the Nationalist
Government in China.
By EDWARD W. PICKARD
JAPAN seems to foe doing what It
can to hamper the new Nationalist
government of Chtuu, while the United
States Is proceeding toward recogni
tion of that government and taking
the lead In negotiations to free China
from the unequal treaties that have
restricted the nation. Only u few days
?go the withdrawal was ordered of
1,350 American officers and marines
from the "danger sones" In China, so
there will be left In Shanghai and
Tientsin only about 2,000 of our troops.
Immediately following this. Secretary
of State Kellogg dispatched a note to
the Nationalist foreign minister offer
ing to begin at once negotiations- for a
new treaty that will permit China to
levy on imports such tariff duties as
?he sees fit Under the old treaties
with various powers China Is not per
mitted to levy duties higher than 5
per cent ad valorem. Abolition of the
privilege of extraterritoriality and the
recognition of the Nationalist govern
ment will. It Is believed, come aloqg
Boon In due course.
The negotiation of a new tariff
treaty will not subject American goods
?t' once to higher duties. Under the
stipulations made by Secretary Kel
logg. Chinese tariff autonomy would
not become effective until the unequal
treaties with all other nations also are
abrogated. This precludes discrimina
tion against American exports should ,
other nations fall to scrap the old
treaties.
The Nationalists have already re
nounced their old treaty with Japan,
but the Japanese government refuses
to agree to this action, holding that,
as revision of the pact was not ac
complished within the stipulated peri
od, It was automatically renewed for
ten years. Premier Tannka told the
foreign diplomats In Tokyo that Japan
was unable to accept the Nationalist
demand In view of the provisions of
the treaty Itself and would be unable
even to agree to a revision of the
treaty nntll the Chinese government
withdrew Its notice of abrogation.
OOV. AI. SMITH .went down to a
^ country club at Hampton Bay,
Long Island, for a few days of vaca
tion during which he expected to make
much progress in the writing of his
speech of acceptance which will be
delivered on the evening of August 22
from the steps of the state capitol at
Albany. Herbert Hoover, who has been
resting at his home at Palo AltoT
Calif., started on a fishing and auto
mobile trip of about a thousand miles
through northern California. His ac
ceptance address Is practically com
pleted and It will be made in the great
stadium of Stanford university the
evening of August II.
Probably 100,000 persons will be
present to hear Mr. Hoover, and as
many will gather In Albany to listen
to the words of Governor Smith. But
their real audiences will be perhaps a
third of the population of the United
States In each case, for arrangements
have been made for a hookup of nine
ty radio stations for the broadcasting
of tlfe speeches.
^"^XE^of hoi>cs of the Democrats
stimulated by the hot tight up there
between the regular Republicans and
the La Follette group. The young
radical senator Is up for renomlnatlon
and Is opposed by O. W. Mead, mayor
of Wisconsin Itnplds. Tlie real buttle
Is over the governorship, for which
there are three candidates. Gov. Fred
Zimmerman, who Is t dry end has be
come rather a free lance, seeks r?
election. Walter Koliler was nomi
nated by the regular Republicans on a
middle of the road program: and Jo
seplt r> Beck Is the la Follette candi
date and for Volstead act revision.
Democrats believe their cause would
he aided by the nomination of Beck
and lai Follette. The primaries are to
be held on September 4. The wet sen
tlment In Wisconsin is notoriously
strong. On the other head, the Repub
licans euy that the Wisconsin swing
toward Sinltli will be slopped effec
tually by the prospects of a good tier
rest and ttiat they are confident of
carrying the Badger state In November.
John J. Baskoh, Democratic national
chairman, has resigned as chalrmuD.of
the finance committee of the General
Motors corporation, tSecanse, It was
said, some of the directors of the con
cern who are supporting , Hoover
thought Mr. Raskob's retention of the
pogttym would make It appear that the
corporation wus backing the Smith
candidacy. In his letter of resignation
Mr. Ituskob recognized this possibility
and ulso said his duties as national
chalrmnn would take all his time.
In one way It was a Hoover week.
The Republican candidate and Senator
Hiram Johnson, of California ended
their eight-year-old feud; Robert L.
Owen, former United States senator
from Oklahoma and a Democratic
power, announced that he would sup
port the Republican candidate, be
lieving him "the best qualified man
any party ever presented for Presi
dent"; Senator F. M. Simmons of
North Curolina, who opposed Smith's
nomination, resigned as a member of i
the Democratic national committee i
without explaining his action; end of- j
fleers of the Daughters of the Confed
eracy In California declared most Of
that state's members of the order.
Democrats in the past, would vote for
Hoover. William H. Woodln, president
of the American Car and Foundry
company and for years a member of
the stanchly Republican Union League
club of New York, came out for Smith.
D OY 0. WEST of Chicago, former
secretary .of the Republican na
tional committee and a Deneen ad
herent In Illinois politics, was appoint
ed secretary of the Inferior to succeed
Dr. Hubert Work, and assumed his
duties In Washington. He faced sev
eral big matters that will require his
official action. These Include the
Boulder dam Investigation, big rec
lamation and Irrigation projects, oil
leases on public lands, and tbe Alaskan
railroad. Doctor Work In Introducing
Mr. West expressed t)ie hope that the
latter might serve even longer than
his own flve-year term. In view of
Doctor Work's close connection with
Herbert Hoover his remarks were In
terpreted as Implying that he expects
Mr. West to remain In the cabinet In
the event of the election of Mr.
Hoover.
It was stated In Washington that
President Coolldge had offered the
vacant secretaryship of commerce to
William M. Butler of Massachusetts,
former Republican national chairman.
f v ENEIIAL NOBILK and the other
*-? survivors of the Italia disaster
arrived at Oslo, Norway, on the
Citta dl Mllano and were Immediately
put aboard a train for Italy. An armed
seaman guarded the vessel's gang
plank and no one was permitted to
see or talk with the Italians With
them were three Swedes who took
part In the sledge expedition to search
for Captain Amundsen and his com
rades.
The Russian Ice breaker Krassin,
which rescued the Noblle party, had
another chance to save lives. It re
ceived wireless calls for help sent by
the German motorshlp Monte Cervantes
which, with 1,500 passengers aboard,
had struck a rock at Bell Island. Spits
bergen. The Krassin hurried to the
rescue and sent dfvers down to ex
amine the damage to tbe German
boat's bull.
Bert Hassell and Parker Cramer
hopped off from Rockford, 111., In the
plane .Greater Rockford on their pro
jected flight to Stockholm, Sweden, by
way of Greenland and Iceland. But
tbe plane was too heavily loaded and
the aviators were forced to land on
rodgh ground. Neither-man was In
jured, but- the machine was so badly
smashed that the flight may be de
layed for several weeks.
Paris, Marrot and Cadou. French
men, flew to the Azores from Brest on
their way to the United States, but
one of their motors was crippled hope
lessly and they were ordered home.
J08E TORAL, stayer of General
Ohregon. confessed that he was
persuaded to commit the crime by
Manuel Trejo. an employee of the
national arms factory In Mexico City.
rho purchased and gave to htm the
itatol he oaed. Be aald he thought be
raa aiding the cause of the Catholic
iliurch, bat now realized he had been
he tool of labor leaders. A priest
nducsd him to make the confession
iy telling him he was doing great
isrm to the church by concealing tlie
ruth. Luis Morones, head of the
lexicon laborltes, who resigned as
ecretary of labor and went Into hid
ng, and his associates are bitterly
icored by the agrarian groups which
cere supporters of Obregon. The
igrarians are demanding thut "nil In
>or Influences" be removed from the
latlonal government, holding them
norally responsible for the assusslnn
lon. They do not even ask the death
>enalty for Toral. During the week
he Obregonlsta leaders were trying
o determine who should become Pres
dent on December 1. It seemed prob
ible that either President Calles would
ie asked to succeed hhhself as pro>
ilslonal President under certuln con
tltutional arrangements which might
>e made or that Aaron Saenz, gover
lor of Neuvo Leon, would be fuvored.
REV. KT. HON. RANDALL THOM
AS DAVIDSON, archbishop of
.'anterbury and as such primate of
be Church of England, has announced
its resignation which will take effect
in November 12. He has been lq poor
lealth for several years, but the real
-eason for his action was his recent
'allure to obtain adoption by tlie
louse of commons of the ref'lsetf book
if common prayer. Doctor Davidson
iras eighty years old and hud been
primate since 1903. He always has
;akeu a keen Interest In Industrial
ind economic affairs. It was pre
tumed be would be succeeded by the
irchblshop of York.
\ .
DURING a debate on unemploy
ment, Prime Minister Baldwin of
England told the bouse of commons
that lower freight charges on all se
lected traffic. Including agricultural
produce, coal and basic Industries,
would go Into elTect next December,
ten months earlier than had been
planned, and would bring Industrial
relief estimated at $20,000,000 a year.
The prime minister also announced
that the export credits weheme, which
Is due to terminate In September of
next year. Is to be extended for an
other two years, while the government
will assist with money grants the re
moval of unemployment labor from
distressed areas to other districts.
Another scheme of the British gov
ernment. announced by Chancellor of
the Exchequer Churchill, Is the send
ing of more than 16,500 persons to
Canada from the mining districts at
a cost of $3,000,000.
DAME ELLEN TERRY, Britain's
best loved actress and almost as
well known and well loved In Amer
ica, died at her home In Kent in her
eighty-first year. In deference to her
own request there was "no funeral
gloom" at the obsequies, held In the
village of Small Hytbe and St. Paul's
church, London, and her ashes were
deposited In the crypt of St. Paul's.
Others who died during the week
Included Dr. George Colvln, president
of the University of Louisville, Ken
tucky, and Bear Admiral W. M. Pol
ger, retired.
CIRCLING the world In 23 days and
15 hours. Cspt C. B. D, Collyer
and John Henry Hears established a
new record when they stepped from a
boat at the Battery, New York city.
The Journey was made by steamships
and airplanes and they traveled In all
19,725 miles at an average speed of
840 miles a day.
fPTEEN nations ~~gre Invited br
Prance to send representatives to
Paris for the signing, on Angust 27,
of the Kellogg antiwar treaty. The
ceremony will be held In the famous
Halle d'Horipge of the ministry of for
eign affairs and will be most elaborate.
Gene TONNEY Is to retire as the
unbeaten heavyweight champion.
In Ms last fight, with Tom Heeney of
New Zealand, he scored a technical
knockout In the eleventh round. Tlie
referee stopped the battle, Heeney
having been knocked unconscious In
the tenth and being at Gene's mercy.
It was estimated that Tex Rlckurd,
the promoter, lost $400,000 by the coo
test.
Danger in Overdoing
Expoeure to Sunlight
The general public hna lea no Im
pressed with the value and neeeasttjr
of sun hatha In the prevention and
cure of IHneaa I hat people In amne In
stances luive gone In extremes and se
vere aiuilnirn liaa rea'ilted.
Sunburn over large areas of the
oudy may la* a* aei-lnus aa burns from
other canaea While annllght la of
great tberapeuLi value to children
sad adults, exposura ts fhe powgrtei
violet ray* ehould be given In the
proper doses. Exposure should be
grsduxl or sunburn sill result At
first the baby or child should be given
direct sunlight for about ten mlnntes.
This period may be Increased from
three to five minutes dally until the
child receiver approximately one hour
In the morning and one hoar In the
iiftenMMUL Tble will vary In- some
cases, depending 00 how the akin re
act*. Per adults, the Initial exposure
uiay be longer and the Increase larger
I
t *
The following treatment hat been
found effective for tnnborn: Take
one-half a pint of hot water and stir
Into It a level tableapoonfnl of boric
add powder; then add twenty drops
of carbolic add and shake well. The
solution shonld be dabbed ,on the In
flamed akin with a small piece of cot
ton or sprayed on with an atomizer.
It should not be rubbed Into the skin.
It can be applied every half hour If
oereaMary. If no medldne la available,
cold compresssi will give relief to
My knsd areas.
| A SECRET i
g SHE NEVER ?
I TOLD I
W"V"W^"brES,^rfV?Uh.i
MRS. UEADB looked at the
gray-enameled washing ma
chine with troubled eyes that
usually held a spark of laugh
ter hidden In the corners. She bated
to part from that electric washer, for
since It had been In the bouse things
had gone smoother and she bad been
able to double her orders for wash
ing curtains and blankets.
"It's a shame. Isn't It?" said Lllla,
standing In the doorway, hot Indigna
tion In her eyes. "Just makes me boll 1
Oh, I'm sick of this town and all the
mean people In It 1 Yes, they are mean,
toot Like old man Romlbold In back
of us, high-hatting us all the time, the
old grouch 1 Living In a great big house
with servants and all kinds of luxuries
and we can't even keep our electric
washed" ""
"Don't be a little goose, Lllla," smiled
her mother, "Mr. Romlbold certain
ly isn't responsible that I'm back In
my payments even If be Is president
of the Fair-Day Washer company.
They've been very nice and lenient,
but If I don't have th^ $25 by the first,
of course,they must take It back."
"It's my fault for getting pneumo
nia, that's what!" Bill's voice on the
cracking bridge between boyhood and
mnturity. "See here, mom, let me get
a Job?you're not going to go back to
washing blankets by hand!"
"Young roan, you're not going to
quit school until you're through blgb
school," Mrs. Meade told him.
"If I only earned morel" Lllla flung
out fiercely, "pounding a typewriter
for a measly twelve per week 1 Look
here, mother, you got 'to let me go
to the city I I know I can earn more
there. Myrtle Rodman told me so and
she's going I Let me go, please! I'm
nineteen and I hate the people berg!
That contemptible Romlbold?"
"Say, stop knocking Mr. Romlbold;
he's not so bad. Yesterday he stoppefl
me and asked bow my radio was. 1
said, 'Rotten last night,' and he said,
'So was mine,' 'Course, he's not so
pleasant as Mr. Crick, but?"
"Oh, you and your awful radio I I've
never heard anything but squeaks
and squawks and howls from It!"
"Guess It needs a new battery or
something," Bill muttered, reddening.
"You forget, Lllla," Mrs. Meade hast
ily Interposed, "that Bill assembled It
nil himself and worked after school to
pay for the parts! I'm Just sure when
the weather clears It will work fine!"
Bill's face lighted with an Idea.
"Mom 1 I've a peach of an Idea 1 I'm
going to sell my radio and then you
can keep our washer I It's a good ra
dio; I ought to get $20 for It. and
maybe you and Lllllg can raise the
other five."
Mlln'a lough fairly Choked the kitch
en. "Hold me. somebody I Twenty dol
lar* for that radio I Why not fifty T"
A warning glance fron. her mother
made Lllla smother, her laughter, but
when Bill had strutted ont of the
kitchen In his noisy. No. 0 Boy Scoot
shoes she broke out In a low. vehe
ment voice: "Mother, why let Bill kid
himself about his radio? He's.due for n
terrible disappointment and he'll he
lust as disgusted with the people In
this town as I am I"
"I'm not going to smash his first
hope of helping me." Mrs. Meade an
swered slowly. "Bill's always been In
clined to be a little selfish, and now
he's ready to sell something that Is
awfully dear to him."
Mrs. Meade did not sleep well that
night, her head ached. Bill had tried
to get stations on his radio until a
late hour and the noise had been fear
ful, but It wasn't that which kept her
awake. She was worried over Lllla.
Tter Willigtug remarks about the rich
Mr. Romlbold In back of them had be
gun from the first day of her friend
ship with Myrtle Rodman. Mrs. Meade
did not like Myrtle nor the poisonous
little stack of thumbed magazines she
had left on the library table.
In the morning the April sunshine
danced on the worn rag carpet In the
kitchen and Mrs. Meade, using her
electric washer, felt more cheerful.
"Might ss well use It white I still have
it," she smiled; "guess Bill thought
the same about his radio last night.
My, It was terrible I" She glanced out
of the window across the hedge st the
end .of her lot end shook ber head.
"There's Mr. Romlbold prowling
around his yard looking as If he'd bite
somebody < ov minute. Wonder what
makes him ?" grouchy?" She turned
off the elect.ir current and thought,
"Losing this washer Is going to make
Lllla more bitter and unhappy at be
ing poor. And now when Bill comes
home III have another one on my
hands Be lust won't understand It
that nobody wants his radio I"
But Bill came home with a very Im
portant business-like manner. "Bad an
offer for my radio set" be mentioned
nonchalantly, "but It wasn't enough. 1
cant let It go for $15."
Two gasps and Mrs. Mesde and LUIs
?poke at once. "Bill! honestly r
Bill made a magnificent gesture of
Indifference. "It's worth twenty or
more. Happened to mention to Mr.
Homlbold that I thought of selling my
radio and he Immediately offered me
115 for It. I said I'd think It over and
be said If I bad another offer to be
sure to speak to blm before 1 closed
the deal."
When Bill bad left the room moth
er and daughter stared at each other
with puzzled eyes. "He turned down
$15 for his bum radio set 1" Lllla
sighed, "and he'll never get another
offer! Honestly, the whole thing Is a
mystery to me."
The next evening Bill came In with
an earnest face, but bis eyes shone
like searchlights. His mother and sis
ter, sensing something had happened,
dropped everything and hurried to
him.
Bill looked struight at Lllla. "You
wouldn't believe that my radio was
worth anything, would you? Well
when Mr. Crick asked me this after
noon how my radio was working I
Just mentioned casually thut I had
an offer from somebody In the neigh
borhood of $15 for my set. 1 didn't
mention any names. Well," Bill
' couldn't suppress a grin, "for n minute
he didn't say much, hut Just as I
was going to wnlk on he said, kind of
excited like, that he'd give me twenty
five for It, spot cash!"
There was a baffled silence, then
Lllla said excitedly. "Course you ac
cepted right away. Bill?"
He shook his head. "Nope. That
wouldn't be fair to Mr. Homlbold.
You know, I promised to tell him If 1
had another offer. 1 think 1 ought to
go 'round and see him tonight What
do you think, mom?"
She did not know what to think, be
ing utterly dumfounded.
After supper when Bill, having
washed and put on a clean shirt,
started out with a business-like air, the
two women settled down with their
sewing In the living room. "Frankly,
Lllla, I don't understand it at all. It's
a mystery to me." said Mrs. Meade.
"I think they're kidding blm, "Lllla
said with a toss of her head. "You'll
see when he comes back. Don't think
for one minute, mother, that Mr.
Romlbold will pay him $25 for that
radio set. I know Mr. Romlbold. he's
Just a mean old grouch; never did a
kind generous thing In bis life I I can't
wait till we move away. You'll go to
the city, won't you, mother, If Bill
wants to go, too?"
A little stab of pain shot through
Mrs. Meade's heart Leave this little
town where they knew everybody for
a life among strangers! But If Bill
came home disillusioned, sick at heart,
urging to go away, too?
BUI came home surprisingly soon.
He stalked noisily across the room In
his No. D's, proudly conscious of the
Intensely Interested, excited eyes of
his mother snd sister, and without n
word laid five crisp $10 bills In bis
mother's lap. "Sold to Mr. Romlbold
for $50, one radio, despised by Sister
Lll. I didn't mention Mr. Crick's name
to Mr. Romlbold, Just said somebody
In ? the neighborhood offered me $25.
This Is the result 1 A triumphant Bill
who graciously permitted the hugs and
kisses of two widely excited women.
Mrs. Menne weni 10 neu iiuupj 'mlI
puzzled. The grny ennmeled washer
wns safe?hers for good. I.llln was
strangely qulet.-%eemlngly lost In deep
thought. Not nntIL morning. In the lit
tle kitchen. Bill nut of sight, did Lll
In's arms suddenly circle her mother's
neck and her whisper chokingly, "I
was wrong, you were right It's per
fectly clenr to me, mother, Mr. Rom-'
Ibold bought that radio out of kind
ness It wns his way of helping us.
I'm going to tell Myrtle today that I
was mistaken. I just couldn't more
nwny from this dear little town!" And
when Mrs. Meade dusted the library
table the little stack of thumbed mag
azlnes wns gone.
Dusk of the mild, almost June-like
April day found Mrs. Meade on her
. kneea at the tulip bed on her side of
the hedge, wondering tr an* snouui
speak to Mr. Romlbold on the othc
aide, who was evidently unaware of
her presence. "Hello, there? Wasn't
the radio'grMrt last wight?"-MrrOlth's
brisk voice speaking to his neighbor,
Mr. Romlbold.
Mrs. Heade, completely hidden by
the hedge, beard Mr. Romlbold an
swer, "Never was better! Ton can
thank me for that, Ed! Come a little
closer and I'll tell you a secret Too
know yonng Meade's terrible bowtlng,
whistling set that turned my radio
evenings Into nightmares? Made me
so thumping mad. never could hear a
thing for that wild noise his set made.
Tea. I know yon had the sam^ trouble;
well, I bought It from blm last night I"
Mr. Romlbold chuckled, "bought It so
nobody else could buy It and spoil
our radio reception. 8ome crazy fool
actually wanted to buy that set but,
believe me, I'd have paid any price to
keep that maddening set out of the
neighborhood." The voice died out as
the two men moved away.
The corners of Mrs. Meade's blue
eyes crinkled, "Nowadays," she whis
pered to herself, "a lot is accomplished
by radio, even washing I But sometimes
even more is accomplished by keeping
a secret I" And she never told this one.
Ccimbodia:
Royal Pagoda at Pnompenh, Cambodia.
(Prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Waahlngtoa. D. C.?
CAMBODIA, one of the Impor
tant units among France's pos
sessions In southwest Asia, Is
a bodge podge of the unexpect
ed, It Is a land of forests, damp and
leech-Infested; of open savannahs, of
wide rice fields and plodding water
buffalo; of tigers and wild elephants;
of humble cottagers, all literate,
whose chief pleasure Is writing
poetry; of gilded modern pagodas, and
temples, boary with age, swallowed
by the Jungle; of automobiles, trolley
cars, and electric lights.
The forms of an oriental kingdom
are faithfully followed; but behind
the king, his fire ministers, and bis
court formalities, stands the French
resident-superior, and at his elbow a
few French soldiers; for Cambodia Is
a part of French Indo-Chlna and a
protectorate of France. The country
Is slightly smaller than the state of
Missouri and has a population of
about two and a half millions.
The Mekong, one ot the world's
greatest rivers, little life artery of
Cambodia. Seagoing steamers ascend
th^ stream to Pnompenh, the capital,
200 miles from the sea; and smaller
steamers and junks traverse the net
work of streams and lakes hundreds
of miles farther Inland. But It Is not
only as a waterway that the stream Is
useful. On Its overflowed lands the
country's chief crop, rice. Is raised In
abundance.
Most of tbe civilised people are con
centrated along the river and between
Its lower reaches and the Siamese
border. Tbe country bouses In all
parts of Cau^odla are set on posts
which raise tlrem front, six to ten feet
off the ground. This Is necessary
along the river banks because of the
high floods, and elsewhere to protect
the householders -from tigers.
Love Their Mekong.
During the flood season a great lake
forms In western Cambodia, Into
which the waters of tbe Uekong flow
nntll It becomes a body of water 118
miles long, 18 miles wide, and more
than 35 feet deep. Wben tbe floods
recede, tbe waters flow from this
natural reservoir back Into the Me
kong and keep Its lower reaches web
. filled. Tbe great Importance of the
river and Its floods Is recognized by
an annual festival on tbe stream con
necting the Great lake and tbe Me
kong. A cord is stretched across tbe
stream and at tbe time of reversal of
tbe flow this is cut with great cere
mony by tbe king from tbe royal
houseboat
Tbe natives display genuine affec
tion for tbe Mekong. Wben floods
come they put away their oz carts,
f*v?' th? Alii meife In hoefe and wit
for the water to recede. Tbey cele
brate wltb boat races that attract
every Cambodian in the vicinity from
tbe king to tbe lowliest native. Gon
Waffl5fTB3Br~B?n.^~nmgtur from
twenty-five to forty-flve feet long, are
rowed by a score or more men, seated
two by two. If tbe throngs massed on
the river bank are not thrilled by tbe
competition, tbey are amused by a
clown who has bis place In eacb craft.
Tbe highlands to tbe north are oc
cupied by wild tribes of banters who
must light tor existence against rank
vegetation, wild animals, snakes and
Insects. Slave raids from neighbor
ing countries have made them wary
and suspicions and tbey look upon all
outlandera as enemies. Some of tbem
protect their villages by poisoned
darts stuck up In the ground.
Practically all of tbe civilised Cam
bodians are literate. Tbe country
abounds in old temples, built during
tbe Cambodian Golden age, some TOO
years ago. In these tbe Buddhist
priests conduct schools which are at
tended by all children, from those of
humble farmers to those of tbe royal
family.
Pnompenh la a coiorfuT capital set
upon hills on tbe banks' of tbe Me
kong, Its ornate temple spires, and
, ?
magenta tiled roofs half hidden by
giant palm* and flowering tropical
trees. In a parklike indosare en a
Mil top la the palace of the kings, nap
rounded by bonnes for their wattl
tudlnoos feminine retainers. The Unci
of Cambodia of tbe past might be de
scribed as monarchs entirely snr
rounded by women. Some were wires,
some servants, and hundreds <"^1
girls, trained from childhood to per
form the Intricate movements ef
dances banded down from tbe remote
past. Tbe.presdit king has foamd It
Impossible economically to maintain
a feminine army, of retainers ?p to
tbe old standards.
Restful to the Eyes.
Most travelers from tbe West she
visit Pnompenh are on their way to
Angkor, venerable dty of Khmer cs*-.
tore, which lies farther north. A brief
stop at tbe capital la welcome, for ton
little Cambodian dty among Its tress
Is restful to tbe eyes of the ilm bent
passengers after monotonous miles ef
rice fields, thick Jungle growths and
swamps that border the river bank
nearly all tbe way from Saigon. And
It la a relief to be ont of tbe crnWag
radios of persistent Mekong mcagai
toea. ? ? '
Stevedores liters!ly swarming ever
cargo boats at tbe quay Indicate that
the capital is Important commercially.
As the town is situated at tbe Jaarttoa
of a branch from tbe Great Lake at
Cambodia and the main channel of the
Mekong from the Tibetan bills, large
quantities of fish, rice. Indigo and cot
ton from Upper Burma, portions of
Slam, Laos, and northern Cambodia
are brought there for marketing. In
addition smaller cargoes from nearby
farms and paddy fields arrive la the
hundreds of sampans and smaller
craft that dart about the tiny harbor
like so many water beetles.
When a boat with tourists aboard
docks there Is a rush for tbe "Penato
si on Offlce" where -permissions" sis
granted to visit the king's palace. Bat
those who expect to see a richly
adorned abode of an eastern potentate
are soon disillusioned. Without, the
several bolldings called the pataea
are unpretentious, and within there is
little that would attract more than
ordinary attention except a life sisod .
Buddha of solid gold studded wEh
diamonds and a hallway floor laid
with engraved silver tiles.
Cambodian women present a strik
ingly modern appearance with their
short bair and what might bo mistak
en at first tight tor knickerbockers.
This nether garment Is tbe "aampot."
in making It a width of doth Is girded
about the waist, then the ends are
folded between tbe tegs and tucked
In at the waist line. Both men and
often difficult for a Westerner to da
tlngnlafa between them. The mea, how
ever. wear a sort of Jacket above the
sampot, while the women for the stoat
over ooe shoulder,and under the other
arm.
The West Intsoducad.
But though the capital is soaked to
eastern atmosphere, tbe west has beta
introduced by the handful at French
officials and business men. Beetrie
street lights twtakle among the hang
ing flowers of tropica] trees; tram
can lumber by; and one may hook
passage to outlying towns in motor
bosses that ply over well metaled
roads.
Evidence of the high culture sod
power of Om Cambodians at thshalght
of their Khmer empire, from the
Eighth to the Fourteenth centuries to
seen in tbe remarkable rained temples
and palaces of the eld capital eftf at
Angkor-Thorn, now deserted and aw
rounded by forest and Jangto The
terraces sod walls of tba old struc
tures abound to excellent stooe work.
Intricate ckrvtaga. and highly artis0c .
sculpture. Despite the difficulty at go
cess, thousands at visitors go Mm-.
ally to see toe smlni at tMMRfi.
capital dty.