The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-12-17
A Royal Birthday in Siam.

The following rather amusing account OF how
the King OF Slams birthday was celebrated at
Bangkok is from the pen Of the correspondent of
the HOngkOng Daily Ne0s-
The Royal Birthday (Sept. 2lst) passed over
rather more tamely than usual. Several eOHfre-
temps took place, and there was a general state Of
zrowI all round. The Consular Corps attended
AZ the Grand Audience Hall at noon, as usual,
but through some unfortunate circumstances,
the reception was delayed and finally came of IN
the old Audience Hall instead OF the new build
ing. The day for drinking the waters OF
allegiance falling on the same day as the. Kings
birthday complicated and delayed matters some
what. His Majesty took His seat on the throne
looking every inch n king, the usual loyal
addresses from the Right and Left were read, and
the COnsuls presented their congratulations. Ills
Majesty then read bis reply. The illumination
on the river and in the city were very creditable,
perhaps more brilliant than usual as the nights
were still and dry. There were, however, no
new features Of any consequence. The usual
ball came OF at the Foreign Office. 1t was very
hot. thermometer at % Fahrenheit, and not a
breath OF air. No one could dance or promen-
ade, or in fact do anything except lOll on a chair
or eat ice. His Excellency's invitations were for
eight O'Clock No one, Of course, went at such
an unhOly hour, except q few individuals from
the backHOOds. The King, instead OF coming
about ten or eleven as had been his custom,
dropped in upon the Minister at about eight
fOrty-fve. When the foreigners arrived at half
past nine aud found the King bad been and gone,
then indeed the fat was in the fire, and %grumbles
both loud and deep were not muttered, but loudly
calculated. Then the Foreign Minister " riz up
and snOrted,' . as the Americans say, because the
Foreign COnsuls had come IN evening dress and
not in uniform, had discarded the gorgeous array
Of embroidery, gold lace, epaulets, stare, gar
tiers, and the enOrmOus mass of frippery with
which the sovereign decks out his representa-
tive, for the festive elaW-hammer. His Exce'lency
~ got his tail " completely " over the dasher "
and suIked the whole evening. Mdlle, Olga
Duboin, the celebrated Russian pianiste, wheeled
her grand under the punkah, and witched the
crswd with noble fngerings. How her little
taper fingers danced over the keys and how the
music streamed forth at her bidding, 70 the in
tense rapture OF the musical amateur, and the
boredom Of those who, like myself, scarcely know
n note Of music from n prOmissOry, and whose
only idea Of a = bar, is where people go for a
drink when dry. Mdlle. DubOin IL really a Won
derful player, and they say plays in five or SIX
keys at once. gliding so deity from one to the
other, that the finest ear can scarcely detect the
lump. As for myself l retired in company with
some dry MOnoPOle and one Of KuOx's Cakes, to 4
cool corner Of the yerandah, and was vOluptu-
ously happy. His Majesty, after leaving the
ballroom, dined quietly like a sensible man, and
then went out and witnessed q very handsome
display OF fireworks. His Majesty then lit his
bedroom candle, and all the young princes and
court attendants, released from further attendance
throngsi over the Foreign Office, and things for a
time looked n little liyelier. But they soon fiat
tened cot again and, as the ice melted, so did the
desire to stop out, and one by one the gay COM
pauy faded out and were no more"
From the above We may gather that they have
their little difficulties about ceremonial arrange
ments and etiquette at Bangkok, as we'll as We
have in Honolulu.