The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-08-19
a..
Sra JoHN BowmSe has given an sceoun, Of
SIAM, and the TWO kings of that country. He

| says;--
aPersous who know little Of the state OF
Siam, will be surprised 10 learn that the first
king is well vsrsed the works of Euclid and
Newton; ,ha, be writes and speaks English
with ,olersble accuracy; that he 10 profci.
eni in Latin, and has nc quired the Sanscit,
Cingalese and Pagan languages, that he can
projsc, and caIcslate eciipses of the sun and
moon, and occulations of the planets; that
he 10 fond of all branches of learning and
science; tha, he has introduced a printing
press, with Siamess and English type; and
that his palace aud table are supplied with
all the eleganc,es oil fEaropsaHiifs. He lived
twenty seven years in rs,isemen, before he
came to the throne, and during that time he
acquired the accomplishments which make
| his reign a memorable and most beneficial
era in Siamese history. He was born in 1904,
and is now consequently fifty-three years Of
age"
The second king, (his brolhsr,) appears to
be equally estimable:
any intercourse with the second king was,
in all respects, most agreeable. found him
gentleman Of very cultivated understand
ing; quiet, even modest in manners; willing
to communicate knowledge, and earnest in
search of instruction. His table was spread
with all the neatness and order that are found
in well regulated English household. A
favorite child sa, on his knee, whose mother
remained cfouched al The door Of the apart.
ment, but took no part in The conversation.
The king played to his guests very prettily
on The pipes Of The Laos portable organ. He
haG variety OF music; and. there was an
exhibition Of national sports and pasltimes,
equestrian iesis, elephant combats, and other
amusement but what seemed most TO inter
est the king was bis museum Of models,
nautical and philosophical instruments, and
a variety of scientific and other cunosiiies.
These kings reign, each in prescribed limits,
10 perfec, harmony. This double monarchy
is an old institution Of Siam, and is popular
with the people. ,,-.
The Siamese, by the report of Sir John,
are an amiable and intelligent race, with a
high degree Of civilization in ell that relates
to social institutions. They profess the faith
of Buddah, and seem affec lionately, though
no, bigo,edly, attached 10 it. They are will
ing 10 engage in controversy with our mis-
sionaries, aud show. much acuteness IN their
Arguments. The author reialsst
az feuut- 20 ipdispcsitiap sHssnr the sis-
mese to discuss religious questions, and the
general result of the discussion was: "Your
religion is excellent for you, and ours is ex-
cellent for us. All countries do not pro-
duce the same fruits and flowers, and we
find various religions suited to various ma
TONS" The present king is so tolerant that
he gave three thousand slaves, (prisoners
of wary to be taught religion by the Catho-
lie missionaries, saying: "You may make
Christians of these people," Pallegoix, the
Catholic bishop, who is a great favorite with
his majesty, reports several conversations
with the first king, which do honor to his
liberal spirit. "Persecution is hateful,n he
said; "every man ought to be free to pro-
fess the religion he prefers" and he added:
s'If you convert certain number Of people
anywhere, let me know you have done SO,
and will give them Christian governor,
and they shall not be annoyed by Siamese
authorities" Ihave lstter from the king,
in which he says that the inquiries into the
abstruse subjects of Godhead, "we cannot
tell who is right and who is wrong but
will pray my God TO give you his blessing,
and you must pray TO your God to bless me;
and SO blessings may descend upon both. !"
----->S>~~--
The VATIcAR.--The word s'vaticann is oil.
ten used, but there are many who do not un-
dersiand it's import. The term reiep 10 a
collection of buildings on one of the seven
hills of Rome, which covers space Of 1900
fee, in length, and about 1000 in breadth. It
is built on the spot once occupied by the
garden OF the crnel Nero. II owes its origin
TO The Bishop Of Rome, who, in the esrly
part of the SIKH century, eretced humble
residence on its site, About the year 1000,
Pope Eugepius rebuilt it on a magnifcen,
scale. Innocent IL, q few years afterwards,
gave it up as lodging to Peter IT,, King of
Aragon. Ia 1905, Clement ", at the insti-
CATION OF the King Of France, removed the
PapaI Sea from Rome to Avignon, when the
Vatican remained in a condition Of obscurity
and neglect for many years. II is now the
repository Of multiludinous treasures OF srt.
| ->S~~s----
Speculation in the Nsw Crops Of Whsat.-
Great competition, the New York Courier
says, exists in that city, in buying up The
new crop OF Southern wheat, which has re-
suited in prices being paid higher in propoI'
ton than present prices of -four, and as the
general expectation on Change is. that -four
must decline when the new crop begins 10
come in, this movement cxoes much COM
men,, FOR il is felt that no effort Of spsculators
can sustain prices in the absence OF fofeigu
demand and with full crop. The abund.
anee of the present searou cannot be CONTROL.
ed by spectators, no matter how much they
may b favored by the paper credii systsm.--
ledger. ,.;,,s
SiseuLAa.-It is eaii that the ross Of Flor.
ida, the most beautiful Of flowers, emits no
| fragrance; the bird of Paradise the most
beautiful Of birds, gives no songs; the cypress
Of Greece, the 6nss. Of trees, yields no fruit
Il a -