The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-09-14
SIAM 5 MODERN MONARCH
LETTER or GOOD ADVICE TO III,
SONS.
King Chulalangkorn Shows Himself in
the Light of an up-to-Date Man of
the World.

The following letter has been pub
lished by the Strasburg Post 1t is
said to he the translation of u letter of
advice from the King of Siam to his
sons, when they were sent to Europe
TO be educated. The letter which eN-
hbits broad minded monarch, of II
very up-to-date character, is as fol
lows:
UNLESS you possess qualities which
distinguish you before others, it is
best, while travelling abroad, to ACT
as if you belonged among the common
people You must not brag of the fact
that you are royal princes, nor allow
your attendants to do so. The eXpens-
es of your education | defray out of
my private purse, not at the expense
of the state. 1t is much better that |
should spend my money thus. than
that | should leave you fortune, for
YOUR education is of lasting value, and
YOU cannot be robbed of it. ! con
slider il as the most valuable inheri-
lance. and will give the same good
education even to the least developed
of my sons.
"Were | to take the money from the
public treasury, the people could just
worth it, and that | am wasteful. But
even my private fortune. in a certain
sense, belongs to the State. 1t is CIV
en- your father to exercise charity as
we'll as to defray the expenses of his
household. The money spent on your
education will, indirectly, be of value
to the state. You must remember al
ways that your father is not bound to
Il in, inf nj ~
cause you happen to be royal prin-
ces. Important positions demand spe-
cial abilities, therefore you must stu
dy earnestly and faithfully, so that
you may of value to your country and
to the world.
IF you think that princes have
nothing to do but to enjoy
themselves. you lower yourselves to
the level of animals, who are born, eat,
sleep and die. Do not fancy that you
may insult others with impunty, and
that you will not be punished because
YOU are my sons. Your father does
not intend his sons to have a chance
to act arbitrarily. You will be pun>
ished if you do wrong. The fact that
you father is a king will not save you.
''Be careful with your money. You
may llOl waste II, lIlllhlnS you are
royal princes and the sons of kings.
Do not return with debts; they will
not be paid without question and you
will be punished. Remember it is not
as easy to earn money as it is to spend
it. The money spent on your educa-
ton is part of what your father re.
ceives in consideration of his work
done in caring for the welfare of his
people. Such money must be spent for
useful purposes only"
The Nation. Berlin, says:
king Chulalangkorn is forty-four
years old. and a true reformer, almost
revolutionary on the throne. One of
his first acts as king was the abol-
ton of hereditary slavery. In his
court ceremonial he abolished the GUS
tom of the courtiers to throw them
selves at the feet of the sovereign. In
1874 he curtailed his own power by
the creation of a cabinet. No wonder
that such a ruler gained the respect
of even democratic republic, Switzer-
land having received and entertained
him with much pleasure during his
visit to Europe. 1t is very character
iStic that he will not interfere with
the European tutors of his sons. as
this would DESTROY the teachers an
thority. He was deeply moved bv the
grand panorama of the Alps. which he
contemplated from the Wengern Alps.
q wish he said, 'the Queen were here.
I know what she would do: she would
stay long time to pick flowers"