Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-12-22
WLESCELL ANXIOUS.
tolt6tSAL.l

I0Hf6tSAI.
A Visit to The siaaese Court.
To a court festival given several gears
ago in the royal city Of Bangkok, party
OF European and American residents were
invited. The invitation sen! BY His S;aa
mese Majesty, was worded as toilows:-
"'lhe high and mighty sovereign, the Sc
rene beauty Of the golden Palace, He
whose smile dispenses joy to all who dwell
within the influence Of lis bright eiful-
gence, to his noble and well beloved
friends, now sojourning within the royal
elty-peace, rest, and goodwill. The re-
port of your solourn hete came to the roy
al ear. many days ago, and since that time
the sovereign eye Las longed to rest or
your faces; but owing 10 the prepuse of
royal cases, we have hitherto been denied
this great pleasure. Now, that the fcstiv-
tiles of our court are about TO commence,
we deem it a suitable time TO request the
attendance Of our foreign trIerds, that they
may paItake of the royal hospitalitIes, and
that our owa enjoyment may be prom otct
by the interchange Of the usual civiites.
We therefore request their attendance at
the Lesees Of the opening season. aud
hope that each day DIS we enter the sa-
looms, The royal eye may be permitted to
repose TRANQUILITY on the faces of the for
eigncTs-and most especially do We desire
the presence of the ladies, that we may
Tor ourselves judge Of the truth of the re-
port waited to us from affair." that the fair
haired and whi'e-eyed daughters OF the
West are more beauteous than the black
eyed damsels Of our MN ilarem. Such IS
the pleasure of The Serene Majesty of the
royal palace-we trust 10 be gratiiied."
OF course ellis Serene Majesty" was
no. to be disappointed, and accordingly at
the hour appointed, about twenty English
and American ladies and gentlemen pre-
scented themselves at .he entrance of the
audience chambers. Several ushers were
il attendance, who carefully inspected the
dress ard general appearance Of tie fer
eignels, to ascertain whether there was
anything about them likely to prove OF.
iensive 10 the royal taste. ur be regard ed
as contrary 10 oriental etiquette. Satisfied
on this point, the first requisiiion was for
the ladies To remove their bonnets tthe
gentlemen having alfeaely taken off .deii
ha.s) and the next for al! to leave their
shoes at TIE door before entering the
lidfone room. where His Majesty would
sit. They were quieliy told that foreign
ladies neyer. appeared ia public with un-
covered beads, and that among western
nations il was regarded as a breach OF
etiquette iol he shoes to be removed in
company. The ushers showed some dis
pleasure that their acquisitions were re,
complied with, but fearing to incur the
roya. censufe by farther interference, the
foreigners were all allowed to pass on.
! followed By the most urgent enirea,ies OF
! the ushefs to PROSTATE themselves lo'o be-
fore the throne while the king was taking
his seat: to which the foreigners replied
HAT they should pay His Siamese Majesty
just The same respect that they would an
| American President or an English King,
but no more.
AS the drawing rooms were ;hrowa
open, a scene Of oriental luxury aud joy
Gus nagnicence passing description mel
| their astonished view. The lefty ceilings
were inaid in superb Mosaics OF mother
ofpeav!, and their p,isma!ie brillianey
reflected BY light which, shone from
massive golden chandeliers suspended by
heavy chains Of the same costly material.
Tn walls were nearly covered By mirieis
aud paintings set IN frames OF ivory, eho,
ny and gold whilst the floors were COW
cred with the finest India mating, upon
which were placed in the immediate VI
entity of the throne, luxurious cushions OF
richly embroidered saiin. The throne
was on platform elevated about fifteen
fees above the rest o! the room. The plat
form was covered with Persian carpets Of
gorgeous hues, the throne itself Of mas
sive gold, studded with pearls, diamonds
| and rubles and the cushions of purple
velvet. Gallsnds and vases of rare and
beau.eous flowers were scattered in elegant
profusion over the spacious halls, and load
ed the air with the sweetest of even OH
entail perfumes.
About half an hour after t,ie arrival Of
The foreigners, the King Ga stout, merry
looking old gentleman Of sixtyl entered,
seated on a gold palanguin, borne aloil b.
eight mobiles, and preceded by an excel
lent band, who continued to play at in
,crvals during the whole evening. some-