The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-05-11

duu ISllT6 DdCk WdTusf Oub lu6y MGIt |
not to turn their backs.
Somebody had told the King that no |
one ever turned their backs when pre-
sented to Queen Victoria, but retired |
face forwards. His Majesty was, there
fore, imperative in requiring the little
form of not turning their backs upon
the great Englishman. The needless
girls promised implicit obedience.
l wish l could give my readers some
idea of the giggling that went on be-
tween the girls while they were waiting
for the hour of presentation, seated on
the grand European chairs, in English
dresses. Presently a loud bugle an
uounced the reception of the grand visi
tor by the King. This caused the girls
great agitation from fits of violent
laughter they were at once thrown into
tremor of excitement.
They began to ask all manner of ques-
tions. One poor girl, trembling from
head to foot, asked me, "What kind of
men are those farangs ?" that being the
name given to white men.
"Have they not hair on their chins
like goats ?" inquired another; ''and
are they not cannibals?"
Somebody had told her that English
men always had little children for their
breakfasts, and young girls for their
dinner. She remembered this story at
this critical moment, and it was as
much as l could do to keep her from
running away there and then.
A second time the bugle sounded. His
Majesty entered on the other side of the
temple, followed by his distinguished
guest.
At this time Lord John Hay, the Eng
lish Ambassador, wore full, long beard
and heavy mustache, which not only
mingled but flowed down upon his
breast, leaving only his eyes and nose
visible.
Suddenly silver flute gave the signal.
The curtain vanished, and there were
the great English Ambassador and the
Siamese beauties face to face.
But the person who was most as
founded, however, was that cOurtly per-
sonage, My Lord Hay.
} He was so totally unprepared to find
what seemed to him European ladies in
} the royal harem of Siam, that he raised
his eye-glass to examine them from
: head to foot.
Alas this was too much for the ST.
: amese girls.
Instead of rising and bowing as they
had been instructed to do, to my great
establishment they one and all uttered
: little shrieks of terror, clapped theil
hands over their faces, peering at the
t same time between their extended fin
gers at what they regarded as an awful
r goat-headed monster.
2 Finding that he continued to gazt
steadily at them, the poor girls could
) endure it no longer. Starting suddenly
7 up from their seats, they threw theil
' overskirks over their faces and fled from
e the temple, regardless of all my teach
S ings in European etiquette, crying out
= "Chdnca mi OlUhen ui-'I won't let hin
i look at my face"
In vain 1 ran after them and tried Il
8 bring them to a sense of the childishnes
r and improperly of such conduct befor,
q stranger.
/ ''No, no." said they, 1--WE cannot al
low him to look at our faces" and they
t scampered off hither and thither like
. flock of frightened sheep.
r When l returned to my post, the Am
o bassador and King were gone, the cur
t tain had been removed, and some of TIT
1 elder ladies told me that the King wa
: furious at me for not having taugh
q them better manners.
In very short time dozen or NOR
i women came running breathless int,
the Leu plct SdyluSy MAKE ndsbet MAX
s haste, the King calls youW
8 With many misgivings I entered hi
n Majesty's presence. The moment b.
n saw me he rushed towards me, crying
: Wherefore have you not educatet
j those girls more scientifically ?" (fo
b good manners is almost a science among
e the Orientals.) "Wherefore have yol
= not acquainted them with the Englisl
: custom of spying-glass ?" meaning eye
# glass. "They were quite unprepared
and our women are too modest to let
e man look at their faces"
: was glad to find that he vented al
his fury and indignation upon me, 70
e the poor, frightened girls escaped pun
e ishment.
! But for many long day after hear
d them describe to the other women an
q girls of the palace what monster tina
Englishman was, and how that noV
|, they did not doubt at all that the Eng
e lish were men-eaters or cannibals.-My;
II LeonOaOe'lS, IN Youths Companion.