Mr. Ayres' Talk on Burma.

Mr. H. M. Ayres '02 gave a lecture in the Union last evening on "Buddhist Burma."

The "Eastern Question," Mr. Ayres said, puzzles Western civilization because of our inability to appreciate the Eastern point of view. By glancing at the Burmese, we may get some notion of what the Eastern point of view is like.

Western civilization is built on economic principles--Oriental civilization on morals. The basis of Burmese society, which has not the slightest connection with that of India, is Buddhism, some conception of which we must have to explain the character and institutions of Burma.

Burma is a true democracy in that there are no rich and no poor, and every man is free to work and enjoy his leisure as he pleases. In Burma one can see what "public happiness" looks like.

Though a study of the Burmese suggests many ideals, which we of the West have dreamed of, but failed to realize, the point of view which we should strive to attain is neither Occidental nor Oriental, but should combine the best in both, and be higher than either.