The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-02-18
4 KINGS ADMoNITloN.
Letter Of Advice From the Ruler of
Siam to His -Four SonA

be educated. Following are som
extracts:
l desire to put my wishes in tn
form of written instructions for tn
guidance Of my children, who ar
being sent to receive their educa
ton in Europe, and 1 beg to enjoil
upon them that they shall follow
the instructions herein given.
l. My object in sending you i
that you may obtain an education
and | have no desire to obtain re
nown and honor for you while pur
suing your studies; and for thi.
reason you may not assume tn.
rank and title of Princes, but mus,
assume the position of the sons O.
persons of rank in Siam, namely
you may not use the title of ellis
Royal Highness" prefxed to your
names, but shall employ only your
own personal names, Kityakara
Waralaksn, Rabi Badhanysakte
Pravitr Wadhanodom and Chira
Pravatwardej. If others shall pre-
fix to your names the title of Mr..
or add Esquire, according to Eng
lish custom, let them do so without
| objection, but you must not use the
Siamese prefix Me, which is often
used as prefix to their names when
pronounced in English by the sons
of noblemen as corresponding to
the title of mister, as this has dis
agreeable sound. To explain my
wishes in regard to this matter plain
ly the reason why | do not wish you
to assume the title and rank Of
princes, as yonr uncles did who
have preceded you, are as follows:
My wish does not arise from want
of affection toward you or from
wish to prevent its being known
that you are my children. Your
father will certainly recognize you
as his children, and will cherish his
affection for you, as it is natural
for father always to love his chill
dren, but I consider that it will not
be of any benefit for you to assume
the title of princes because there
are few princes in their country and
in our country there are many;
they laud and honor them much
more than we do, and if on our
own part we should put ourselves
on an equal footing with them,
whereas we have not wealth and
dignity equal to theirs, we should
suffer in comparison and should
make Siamese Princes appear in
ferior. Also, if we assume the rank
of Princes, we must keep up a dig |
nifty in all things that we do for the
sake of appearance, and to make
others admire US, and we must,
therefore, be constantly ON our
guard. Even in purchasing any
thing, higher price must be paid
shan common people pay, because
hey consider us wealthy. and thus
/ useless expense is occasioned.
Whether Princes or common peo-
Die, when in a foreign country one
las no power to make one more
than the common people,
md the only advantage Princes
lave is that they can enter assem-
,lies Of distinguished persons, but
he sons of the people of rank will
likewise be admitted to the same
privileges enjoyed by Princes as
egards society. For these reasons
direct that you will not boast or
How any of your attendants to
oast that you are royal Princes
nd desire you to follow out these
2. All the expenses of your edu-
alton, including board and cloth
ng, will be paid out of my privy I
urse, viz: the funds which are J
our fathers private property and l
OF funds used for defraying the {
rdinary expenses Of the State. {
his fund will be deposited in the }
anks, and instructions will be sent
!, my minister to defray the ex- (
enses of your education out of e
lis fund, namely: For the first 6
We years. education each of you r
i'll receive 932O year, or e16OO t
II the five years, and for the sue c
,eding five years you will be al /
wed 94OO a year, or f2OOO for a
,e five years, making for your n
,mplete education f36OO each. a
s this fund will be deposited in 8
le banks, bearing interest, there y
i'll be a surplus, over and above "
our educational expenses, which O
i'll be yours and can be used in c
hatever manner you please. The Z
ortion of each will be deposited n
his own name, but before attain o
e the age of twenty-one years you a
Ill not be allowed to draw money q
! your own account and a person a
ust be appointed to attend to this n
lsiness for you. The amount de- W
,sited and the name of the person te
anaging your business are given 81
separate instructions, which you W
II have to use in obtaining the W
oney when needed. "
I have considered it best to use tt
Y private funds and not the funds in