The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-30
SLAMS PRIESTS AND WOMEN
A Bright Pen Sketch of the Curious
Land of the White Elephant.
From the Baltimore American.

From the Baltimore American.
Siam, the land of tinsel and white ele-
phants-poor little Siam, with France
knocking at one gate and progress at the
other-is a fit subject for national paresis.
This curious country all glitter and
tinlIle and horrible odors, is a verita BILE
curio among nations Though caricatur-
ed in comic opera and alluded to in com
mercial reports as a sort of second edition
OF China, Siam is in reality a Sure-enough
empire, with every element of indepen-
dent existence but money and an aggres-
sive ruler.
1t is no toy community. Bangkok, it's
capital and metropolis, is a city of 800, 900
people. Part of it floats, as many thou
sands of its houses are built on boats an
chored in the river Menam.
To the eye of the tourist, Bangkok,
which is Siam condensed, presents a pic
ture of filth, Incidence and priests. There
are more priests to the square inch in
Bangkok than in any other city in the
world. In fact, the priesthood is a sort
of compulsory service, just as soldering
is in Germany. To married men it offers
certain advantages that are even more
alluring than Dakota's divorce laws. AS
there is a strict ordinance against the
marriage of priests a benedict-through
the instantaneous workings of an auto
matte legislation-ceases to be married
the moment he takes his orders as a dis
ciple of Buddha. 1t is done with neatness
and despatch. And, as the priesthood is
not perpetual bond, disciple can re-
nounce his calling, resign, as it were, at
the end Of year or 50, and resume his
acquaintance with his spouse whenever
he pleases without any more ceremony
than attended his first Transformation.
BEAT FOR EACH PRIEST
When too, this double-acting religious
system is attractive to those chronically
tired in body as well as in soul. A priest
is exempt from the advances and the i'm
portunities of the debt collector. He has
no financial standing whatever But he
has heavy lien on the fnancies of the
rest of the world, for he is a beggar of
the finest stripe. He is no haphazard
aims seeker, but a systematic leech upon
the religious charity ofthe people. The
city is divided into districts and appor-
toned off to the priests, each of whom has
a regular beat. Rice, money, iewels-all
drop into his fist. He is never filed; vet
there are some priests in Bangkok who
could advance money to the government
and yet be opulent.
Next to the priests Bangkok is interest
ing for its temples. Some of them show a
a lavish prodigality that seems to war
rant the descriptions of Haggard. Gold
mas NJ SOLue Ilul6 OF OLnGf U0WeQ through
that ill-smelling hole like sand. Jewels
and precious stones have been plentiful
since the first white elephant was cap
tured, centuries ago. The kings temples.
inside the palace walls, are marvels of
ghttering gorgeousness. OF course, his
majesty might easily pay the French de-
mand of 100000 francs by sacrificing an
idol or two, but by doing this he would
forfeit his prestige in Siam as surely as
did the individual who sold a white ele-
plant to circus man some years ago
THE KING PROGRESSIVE.
The king is a progressive man, and has
instituted many reforms, among them be.
ing sort of national lesson in zoology
When he assembled the throne he taught
his subjects that they were bipeds, and
not quadrupeds, and he Immediately re-
scinded the ancient order that all should
crawl on all fours in the presence of the
king.
The king knows a thing or two about
taxes. He could give points to Tam
many commission. About the only objects
necessary to bare existence not taxed are
the air and dirt. The Siamese are invet-
crate gamblers, and there is an enormous
revenue raised from this active industry