Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26

white robes with tall conical pink and white
hats. sprightly youths Of high-born rank in
close-htting costumes of scarlet and accouter-
ments blazing with precious stones Then close
at their heels followed the royal white elephants
Glad in gorgeous trappings and carefully at
tended by trained servants. The male phalanx
came next in representative uniforms, which
had evidently made sensation in court
were dark-skinned hishlanders in kits and
trews. stumpy little grenadiers ap-
parently top heavy meath their bearskin head
gear: Sappers and miners in the uniform of
the Prussian army, Goorkhas in national rig
and Sepoys in fanciful regimentals, with scores
of costumes and uniforms copied from all arms
Of military services and representing all the
principal nations of Europe. The uniform of
the United States armed forces was conspicuous
BY Its absence. His majesty of Siam had evil
IDENTIFY tossed the plates contemtuously aside as
too tame and unpretentious for Siamese tastes.
Surrounded by the royal body guard was
borne the royal palanquin, followed by white
Glad angels crowned with ringed and pointed
crowns and bearing a sort OF thyrsus repre-
senting gold and silver flowers cloud Of
drummers, pipers and trumpeters were inter-
spersed at intervals making the air resound with
their efforts, and half a dozen brass bands rem
asred European airs at appropriate occasions
For three days in succession the professions
accompanied the king and prince to the most
sacred Of the palace temples only to
listen to the consecrating lectures of the
priests. But on the fourth day, starting
earlier, they filed the palace yard before noon.
As the king and his son took their seats on
raised thrones in the central facade OF the pa
CODA the scene WIS both grand and unique.
The entire space in front was occupied by the
foreign ministers, in full uniform. together
with naval officers and invited guests, all in
full rig.
THE PRINCES TOP KNOT CUT.
As the siamese national anthem peaied
through the crowded space the king and
prince passed into the pagoda, followed by the
the crown princes top knot were severed with
consecrated shears, and the prince-now no
longer child-was ready for the remaining
formalities-
At the far end of the palace courtyard oppo-
site the pagoda had been constructed an artifi-
cial mountain glttering with imaginary SHOWS
OF Himaphan. Upon its peaks and ridges were
seen angels and demons; the fabulous tree of
kalpapruk, bearing gold, silver and precious
stones; mischievous apes and grandos and
the evil serpent Maya: and at the base, as we'll
as ON its summit were peaked pagodas, carved,
Gurtained and glittering with golden scales.
10 the foot OF the mount the prince had to
trudge after his top knot had been shorn off.
In the sacred Lake Of Anodak he takes plunge
and Is carefully dried by the venerable head
priest. He is then arrayed III regal attire and
conducted by Vishun to the top OF the hill to be
received by sira. Here the prince receives
the five insignia of royalty--the sword, the
crown, the fan. the slippers and the white
storeyed umbrella.
Then follows the smaller procession thrice
around the mountain from left to right; and
ut length the poor fellow, pale with fatigue and
excitement is carried back after his father to
the staircase OF the grand palace.
This completes the pageant and ceremony
OF clipping the crown princes top knot, and as
the bands discourse various airs the special
withdraw from the royal grounds.