St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-28
sIAMEsE MAN AND WOMAN.

or ask to know, anything OfflclaIly Id re-
gard to this, but this is the impression L
gathered during the four years l spent there.
His harem is close by the palace, and with
its wives and their servants and attendants
is an establishment of some thousands OF
people, into which no man except the king
is admitted.
s'What sort of man is the king person
ally?"
"A rather intelligent. bright young man
of 80, small of stature, with black mus
tache, hair parted in the middle black eyes,
a good address, and easily approached. L
had no difficulty in reaching him whenever
| so desired. He seemed rather glad to re-
ceive visits of this nature, and was by no
means as eXacting or ceremonlouS as he
was reported to be. For instance, was
told that l must never turn my back upon
him while in his presence, as it was very
grave breach of etiquette. Well, was not
accustomed to this sort of thing. [ am, as
you see, very large man, weighing some
235 pounds, and for me to go backing about
and running the risk of stumbling over
something is
QUITE DANGEROUS,
as well as uncomfortable. So said that it
was not the custom in our country and was
not in audiences with our president, and
while was quite willing to give the king
all the honors we paid our president at
home, I would ask to follow the custom of
my country. So in my audiences talked
until | had said all | wanted to say, and,
without waiting for the king to terminate
the interview in the formal way they have
there rose, took leave in the usual form OF
words, and bowling to him turned and
walked to the door, where [ turned and
bowed again before passing out. This sort
of performance astOniShed the Europeans
there as well as the natives very much, but
it seemed to please the king. He was al
ways very cordial to me, shaking hands
with me after the English fashion when [
called. talking pleasantly and quite re-
servedly, and at one time when on an ele-
plant hunt l was not only invited to be a
member of the royal party but was given a
seat beside the king"
''How does the king dress?"
''After the English fashion, with
coat closely buttoned, some decOra-
lions on his breast and carrying sword.
On the throne he wears different dress,
an embroidered coat and curious, high
pointed cap, a sort of a crown, which gives
him rather curious appearance to those
unaccustomed to the sight"
''And the people, how do they dress?"
1.-The better classes wear a sort of coat.
cloth fastened about the waist and tucked
down between the legs and fastened to the
belt at the back, and in some cases shoes
and stockings. The masses, however, omit
both the coat and the shoes and stockings,
wearing simply the garment of which /
have spoken The weather there, you see,
is very hot, and clothing is a burden. No
body wears linen or Gotten shirts except On
extraordinary occasions, simply a thin
wooden shirt next to the body, with linen
outer clothing"
us the commerce of Siam important, or
worth any particular efforts of this
country?"
Eyes, it is worth cultivating. The conf
merce of a country with 5000, 900 of peo-
pie is sure to be of some Importance, though
of course the exports as yet are small and
mostly confined to few articles such as
rice, sugar, pepper and articles Of this class.
There is an inclination on the part of the
leaders here. however, to cultivate closer
commercial relations with this country, and
have no doubt that commerce between
Siam and the United States might be mate
rally increased and made of mutual value. y
Mr.. Halderman, who is more than six
feet high and with ample proportions, must
have been a veritable CULVER to the
Siamese, who are very much below the
average size of people of this country. His
term in office there was one of great salts
faction both to the king and all familiar
with the work he accomplished.