Where People Are Content

1902

In his book, "The Soul of a People," Mr. H. Fielding Hall gives an interesting and sympathetic account of the quiet life and philosophy of the Burmese. Among other things he says:

"And so all the people are on the same level. Richer and poorer there are, of course, but there are no very rich; there is none so poor that he cannot get plenty to eat and drink. All eat much the same food, all dress much alike. The amusements of all are the same, for entertainments are always free. So the Burman does not care to be rich. It is not in his nature to desire wealth, it is not in his nature to care to keep it when it comes to him. Beyond a sufficiency for his daily needs money has not much value. He does not care to add field to field or coin to coin; the mere fact that he has money causes him no pleasure. Money is worth to him what it will buy. With us, when we have made a little money, we keep it to be a nest egg to make more from. Not so a Burman; He will spend it. And after his own little wants are satisfied, after he has bought himself a new silk, after he has given his wife a new bangle, after he has called all his village together and entertained them with a dramatic entertainment — sometimes even before all this — he will spend the rest on charity."