Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07
How the King Of Siam Was Enter
tanned in the Eternal City.
CORDIALLY WELCOMED IN ROME
Gifts From the Orient for Titled
Europeans.
REVIEWING ITALIAN TROOPS

| come more and more friendly with the
princes from the east. At that time our
eyes were honored with the sight of gayly
striped uniforms and small round, embroId-
cred caps which fifty framed faces of dis
tinctly Slavic type. During the winter
Prince Daniel of Montenegro. a young man
who is a mighty hunter I'm his own moun-
famous country, and, withal, presentable in
his appearance, came to visit his new rela-
tives. A little later the young King of
Servia, slightly built, of medium height and
showing a pleasing expression of counte-
nance, spent several days at the Quirinal
Palace. entertained in state. Later he re-
turned from trip to Naples and occupied
an apartment at the Quirinal Hotel. going
out sightseeing every day like any ordi-
| nary person. His scarlet and ermine cap
and scarlet uniform were eXceednly con-
spicuous and attracted crowds of admiring
Italians. l. is rumored that an alliance
between King Alexander and one of the
numerous Processes of Montenegro would
be agreeable to King Humbert. Then came
the Persian envoy. announcing officially
the accession of the new shah. and We We're
permitted to gaze upon another style of
cap, still more gorgeously embroidered I'm
geld than its predecessors had been.
And recently. as if the friends of King
Humbert were soon to encircle the globe,
came the King of Siam.
me- ftoy0l SueSts.
Accompanying him were his son, his two
Erothers and a number of officers, masters
of the household. attaches and a large
retlnue OF servants, not to mention a fabu-
lous number of trunks Some of these
trunks were of special interest to the roy
altieS whom the king from the east ex-
pected 10 visit. If them were precious gifts
for those who were to entertain him so
hospitality. There were silver and gold
vases and plates. inlaid and engraved in
the most elaborate of Siamese designs;
there Were swords and letter cases and tea
sets and every imaginable object that could
tempt the fancy of even the most ennuied
Europ ean monarch For King Humbert
the King of Siam brought a sword of he
finest workmanship. with hilt and scab-
bard of gol1, set with precious stones For
Queen Victoria he had tea set of gold,
WITH several most exquisitely chased cups.
II one may judge from appearances. the
King of Siam though typical easterner,
is gentleman in his manners.
A Wordlcss Embrace.
When the king arrived at Rome in the
royal train the troops were brought out in
line shape, the streets were crowded with
people and the bands greeted the guest Vt
Italy with the strains OF his national air.
on which they had been practicing for some
weeks. The King of Italy went to the sta
ton to meet the other sovereign, and every
tihhS NdS us IL SuOulu De. Inc papers
made quite point of the warmth of affec-
ton with which the two rulers embraced
They said: THE two kings kissed each
other four times!' This seems to be rather
Superfuity of affection, especially to a
cold-blooded American, but 1t Is easily ex-
planned. They could not talk to each other
consequently 1t was necessary to demon
strate their friendly relations in some other
way. The King of Siam communicated
with the European public by means of En-
glish, of which tongue the King of Italy
is, unfortunately, ignorant, so that the
drive through the Via Nazionale and to
the palace must have been rather a stupid
one for them. Gree arrived at the palace,
however, the coast was clear for the queen
speaks English with great fiuency.
One Hundred and Fifty Sons.
The King of Siam, Somdetch Phra Para
mindr Maha Khoulalonkorn, is forty-three
years of age, is of decidedly Asiatic cast
Of face, even to the slanting eyes. and looks
as if life had gone easily with him. There
are one or two little peculiarities in his
family life which afforded the Italian pa
pers much amusement. He is the proud
accompanied him. Apparently the success
SION to the Siamese throne is secure. The
king himself has eighty brothers. There
are two Queens of Siam. One the wife of
the right hand, as she is called, goes into
public life as her husbands equal. and Is
unveiled. The wife of his left hand holds
a lower position. In his harem are 500 Of
the most beautiful of the Siamese women,
who spend their time embroidering the
many gifts which the king makes to the
priests for use In the temples, and in ar
ranging garlands and bouquets of flowers
foe the palace 1t is said that The King Of
Siam is greatly interested in all modern in
ventions. and so far as his knowledge goes,
has already adopted many of them in his
own country. 1t is for the purpose Of
learning more OF the world tnat ne maue
this long journey.
Taking INTO account the numerous sons
of the King of Siam, one can imagine what
must have been the supreme pity which ne
felt for King Humbert when ne introduced
t. him mis- one and only son. The Prince
ami Princess of Naples came down TO Rome
for this occasion, before leaving for Eng
land to attend the jubilee OF queen VIC
toria The young princess is very elegant
in her manner of dress, and Is really
beautiful woman, although Of an entirely
different type from her royal mother-in-
law.
Visit to the Pope.
The King Of Siam occupied the apart
ments which were those of the Emperor
and Empress of Germany on the occasion
of the silver wedding. Every attention
was shown to him. and the most titled
guests were Invited to meet him at lunch
cen or dinner. He went sightseeing lit
tie. too, and enc morning went to the Fan
theon to lay a costly wreath on the tomb
of King Victor emmanuel. LIE Jay dltSI
he arrived he went to visit Pope Leo Kill
For reasons of state no visitor at the OUR
inal can go directly from that palace to the
Vatican, so lot of red tape has to be gone
through with. On this occasion the king
made his headquarters at the Grand Hotel.
going from there in private carriage
He was welcomed at the Piazza San Pietro
by the papal troops. and was at once given
aGmittance to the pope. After converse
ton of half an hour with the pope and
Cardinal Rampolla, the secretary of state,
the king returned to the hotel As soon
as he arrived in his salon Cardinal Ram
polla came to return the visit. Afterward
he sent to the cardinal the Order of the
Royal Family of Siam, set in diamonds.
Reviewipg the Troops.
The great event of the visit of the King
Of Siam to Rome was a review of the Itai-
ian troops, which took place on the ''Giorno
del Statute" or sort of italian Fourth
of July This was not specially gotten
UP in honor of the king. but his visit was
timed SO that he could be present. 1t was
a beautiful day. and every one arose early
in the morning In order not to miss any of
the sights for royalty was out in full force.
Whether the King of Siam does not like
to ride horseback or whether he preferred
<ix,r uyifh he pra Mar