Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-01-18
IN THE KINGS HOUSE.
A Grafton Boy in Far-OT Siam,

/
who Has an Audience with Ills Majes-
ty, which he Tells About in n Letter
10 his Mother.
John Barrett son of the late Hon.
Charles Barrett of Grafton, is now United
States minister and consul general to Siam,
with his official residence at Bangkok. He
| received his appointment ~ President
Cleveland from Oregon, VIII ne is known
as a bright and rising young newspaper
man. He was recently given his first audi
ence with his majesty, the king of Siam
and soon after wrote to his mother an en-
tertaning account of the event. His let
ter, from which we quote, was printed in
the journal of Freeport, ILL.,, where Mrs.
Barrett now lives with another son and
Grafton boy, G. s. Barrett
about five o'clock on the day appoint
| ed for my audience with his majesty there
drove into the legation grounds first sec
rotary of the foreign office conveyed in a
handsome carriage drawn by two spirited
black horses and accompanied with numer-
Gus outriders. The secretary and his ret
inue were in full dress uniform, and the
horses heads were ornamented with royal
plumes | was in readiness and mmedi-
ately entered the conveyance. The palace
| is about three miles from the legation and
our course was through crowded streets
As we passed on we were saluted on all
sides, and due Difference was shown
to the occupants of the carriage not be-
cause the crowd of people knew who we
were personally, but because they recog-
nized the uniforms of the driver and out
riders and the other regaia as coming
from the palace of their august sovereign.
AS we entered through The massive walls
that surrounded the palace, was saluted
by the royal body guards, picked Siamese
soldiers in dress uniform to the number Of
a thousand, and drawn up along the court.
At the same time the body guard band
| greeted me with the stirring strains of
Hail Columbia
81 was first escorted into the magnificent
waiting room, where | was met by his
roya! highness, Prince Devan, the foreign
minister, and suite. Here | was honored
with the request to place my name in the
kings birthday book. In the meantime
the crown prince shook my hand and
passed on TO the reception room, as did
numerous other princes all dressed in gor-
geous uniforms and carrying gold sheathed
swords studded with diamonds and held by
belts of costly and unique design and also
ornamented with rare gems. After wait
ing few moments the announcement
came that his majesty was in readiness TO
receive me. Side by side with the foreign
minister and followed by some other digni-
taries, ! proceeded through another large
and richly arranged room between several
tiers of noblemen, courtiers, etc, to the
number Of several hundred, and entered a
smaller but no less elegant apartment,
where stood his majesty, Slams monarch,
In e 81, 1 l. 4
toward him he advanced and gave my hand
a hearty shake and spoke suitable words of
recognition. Not far from him stood the
crown prince. 1t was now time for me to
deliver my formal address, which | dio,
and to which he apparently listened atten-
lively, as he understands English. He re-
piled in Siamese, as is the court custom,
and the words were translated to me by the
foreign minister.
"Now instead of sgnifying that the au-
dience would be ended his majesty en-
gagged in an informal conversation, asking
me many questions about myself, my health,
, the president, affairs in America, and ex-
pressed his desire to meet me in the future
when he could talk more at length on many
points of mutual interest. Finally making
appropriate adieux passed out. A brief
reception was given me in the waiting
room Dy the princes, Wnere we drank tea
and smoked good cigars and told few
stories-for these princes are bright, we'll
educated men-and then | passed out OF
the palace and was again honored with the
"present arms" of the military and the ma
tonal band. The carriage was waiting
and in 20 minutes more | was back at the
, legation.
The audience had an extra interest be.
cause | have the distinction of being the
first foreigner to enjoy an interview with
his majesty in nearly years time, and
, was informed that he waited for me to re-
, turn from my trip before giving audience:
! to Others in order that might be the first
to meet him.
.. $50 there you are your son, Yankee
/, lad, born and raised beneath the shadow
of the green hills and the sunshine upon
, the meadows of old Vermont, in a lane
noted for its simplicity and Puritan ideas
has had the honor, one week before hi.
twenty-eighth birthday, to be received in
audience as the minister of the Great Re
1 public by truly Oriental monarch, the
t sovereign of Siam. | went into his pres
ence, however, prouder to be a citizen o
/ the United States than if could then hav,
= been appointed his successor and heir
a New Law for Wandering XVIlIies.