, 1891-12-19

AIVC Oil uAC uCAuOCAo w LI0 0lduItN LVQ2s
ton at Berlin, were honoured with invita-
tons. % !" 92.1 @#t ~
Yesterday morning the Kaiser conferred
upon Prince DamrOng the Grand Cross OF
the Red Eagle, and on the suite and the mem
berS of the Legation various decorations
which we're all worn at the banquet.
His Royal .Highness leaves Berlin to-
morrow for Livadia on q special mission to
the Gear, and will then proceed to Vienna,
Rome, Athens, ~Constantinople, and Alexan-
dria, whence he will go to Bombay, and
will make a tour in India, reaching home
about April.
Owing to the cold weather, His Royal
Highness is obliged to take precautions, and
VIII therefore be unable to inspect the edu-
%cational Establishments in Berlin that he had
desired to see.
In the course of long conversation that
/ had the honour of having with the Prince,
he expressed to me the pleasure he had de-
rived from his instructive tours through
England and France, and spoke with great
enthusiasm Of the Queen and of his visit to
BalmOral. His Royal Highness is devoted
~ attached to the cause of education, and
has noted many details in European sys-
tens that he thinks may be adapted to that
in vogue in his own county. Hitherto
education has been confined in Siam TO the
male population, most of whom can read
and write, but the Prince intends on his re-
turn to introduce a scheme for giving liz
struction to girls and women, OF whom there
are scarcely any who have reached even the
standard mentioned above. In this lie will
be a great retOrmer in the cause Of educa-
ton in the East.
A great deal Of time is given to the study
of English in Shame Sc schools, and in the
highest scholastic establishments the works
of Shakespeare and Bacon are read with
great interest. The Prince is an extremely
intelligent and sagaciOus observer, and evil
IDENTITY displays great diplomatic tact with
regard TO the application of European ideas
in his own country. AS I understand, how
ever, a liberal spirit prevails amongst his
fellow cOuntrymen in this regard, and the
Slamese are always open to practicable and
useful reforms. Prince DamrOng has an
interesting task before him.
In connection with his visit here 1 may
mention that a S ense of disappointment pre-
vailed III certa in circles in Berlin recently
ON the announcement being made that an
English en- gineer had obtained the contract
for building a railway at Bangkok. As a
matter Offact, the affair was disposed of on
business princi p es purely, although, of
course, everybOdy is aware that English
influence prevail | s in Siam. AS above stat
ell English, is taught in all schools. and, as
learn from the Prince, no instruction is
given i'll French or German. The study of
French will perhaps be introduced shortly.
1t is interesting to note that last night, for
the first time in the annals Of the PruSsian
Court, English W as the language used at a
State banquet. The Kaiser c3nvcrsed with
Prince Damrong OfSiam, at the audience Civ
Ell IN the Grand Shell Hall, in the British YER
nacular, and when His Royal Highness had
conducted the Kaiserin to the table, their
MaJesties continued to carry on the CONVEX
satlon with their illustri0us guest in the
same tongue. Later on, Kaiser Wilhelm
proposed the health of the King of Siam in
English, and Prince Damrong responded in
the same language. b
To meet His Royal Highness, the Kaiser
had invited the Minister of Education, the
Rector of the University, and a number of
men distinguished in Art and Science.
This morning Prince Damrong was the
guest of Prince, Leopold of Prussia, at his
country residence, in Glienicke, near Pots.
dam, where the latter was invested with the
Grand Cross and Ribapd of the Siannese
Order OF the White Elephant.
Tonight the Prince gave a banquet at the
m LIE cation to Minister Won B0tticher.
Baron Won Marshall, and q number Of Prus-
sian celebrities. General Won lCaprivi, the
chancellor. was prevented from attending