Letter from Burma 19

Heinda Mine

Tenasserim

Southern Burma

July 12, 1935

Dear Dorothy,

I read an interesting article copied to our newspaper from an Australian one.
I'll copy it out for you.

July 9, 1935, Argus,
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Life in Burma

Freedom of the Women.

Mrs. Marget Ingram who is the new secretary of the Australian Women's National
League was the guest of the Overseas Leagues at home yesterday afternoon where she gave an interesting address on Burma, where she lived for some years. Mrs. Ingram was the secretary for the National Council of Women in Burma, and she also gave lectures at the Rangoon University to audiences of 80 students at a time.

Describing the Burmese as peace loving and a war free race, Mrs. Ingram gave vivid word pictures of a country which must closely resemble Utopia. There is no emancipation of women needed as there is no traditional feeling against women doing as they like. They usually marry for love, resources are pooled after marriage and it is the accepted thing that the wife has her own circle.

The domestic arrangements are simple. The wife usually works in the bazaar and the
husband at his farming and in the event of divorce, the resources are divided. and things generally are very successful.

Mrs. Ingram described the university students as the best groomed students she had seen anywhere in the world. The classes were mostly Burmese men and a few Indians and Chinese and in the front rows the dainty little Burmese women who looked very quaint in their vivid full skirts and crisp white muslin jackets which are caught together with a jewelled button in front.

The Committee of the International Council of Women was composed of women from many different races. The treasurer is an Indian women. There was the editor of a Burmese paper, a Chinese women, a former clerk of the High Court and a woman doctor.

Not much of interest has happened around here. We have 15 new chicks. Mark had been away hunting, but returned about mid week, very pleased with his efforts. We had our good friend Mack to dinner on Thursday.

Love,

Gwenllian