The herald., 1897-05-02
of travels, and wishes to learn certain

of travels, and wishes to learn certain
facts in rotation
From New Orleans he will proceed up
the Mississippi river by steamer to st.
Louis. From there he will go through
Kansas City and Omaha to Denver.
Several side trips will be enjoyed from
Denver, but when the western journey
is continued Salt Lake City will be the
objective point. From Salt Lake City
he will go directly to San Francisco and
there take steamer to Yokohama, where
the Mahachakkri will meet him and con-
vey him to Bangkok
This is the most extensive trip over
the United States ever planned for any
monarch. The king is determined to see
all that can be seen, for the purpose of
gaining information that will benefit his
people. Like his father. he is very DEM
ocratic in his ways and ideas, and thinks
that while the foreigner may not be a
brother, he is certainly a very useful
man and one from whom much can be
learned. Siam, under the beneficent rule
OF this monarch, looks very kindly upon
trade with the European countries. Here
tofore the British have had the monop-
oily Of commerce, so far as Siam is con-
cerned. 1t is stated that the king has
an idea that more trade with the United
States would result in a reduction of
prices of European commodities in Siam
and an advance in the standard of quail
ity.
The kings suite, which includes a
number of the most enlightened men of
his kingdom. consists of their royal high
nesses, the Princes Sommot, Mahit and
Sanphasat, Phya Srisdi, Mai Rajanat,
Nom Anuyat, together with two royal
pages, whose names have not been CIV
en-. On the outward voyage-that is, un-
TIL the steamship bearing the king and
his suite leaves England for the United
States-Prince Sanphaeat will act as
aid-de-camp to his majesty. During the
remainder Of the voyage the duties of
this office will be discharged by Prince
Mahit. Prince Swasti Sobhon, who is
now in Europe, will meet the king on his
arrival in London.
King Chulalongkorn's full name is
Somdetch Phra Paramindr Maha. He
was born September 81, 1853 and is the
eldest SON of the late King Mahamong-
kut and of Queen Ramphu. He sue
ceeded to the throne on the death Of his
father, who died from a fever as the
result of exposure while making scien-
tific observation of the eclipse of the
sun, October /, 1863 His reign has, there
fore, been Of nearly 20 years duration.
His kingdom is not as large as it was
when he first took possession thereof.
for in 1891 he was forced to turn over to
France three entire provinces, compris-
ing in the aggregate 100,0 900 square miles.
This cession was not formally sanctioned
until September, 1888. At the present
time this king is the ruler Of 5000. O6O
people, and his power extends over 2OO.-
900 square miles of land.
The kings father was the most en-
lightened Of all the Siamese monarchs q
slnce the foundation Of the present dy-
nasty. Chulalongkorn has introduced
a number of reforms, particularly in re-
cent years. The department of edu-
cation of the government is so far as the
actual performance Of the duties there
of is concerned, practically in the
hands Of the Europeans. Following the
example of Japan and China the king
has caused number Of young Siamese
to be sent to England, Germany and
France to study the arts, technical ira des
and the leading professions. Owing to
the limited knowledge Of the United
States possessed by the king, he has
never made an effort to cause the ac-
quirement of civilization by any of his
subjects by means of q residence here.
Her majesty. Slraponsophon. who, it is
said. accompanies the king, Is his see-