The Portland daily press., 1899-07-24
He is Surgeon Major in King Of
Slams Navy.
For Thirteen Years Has
Been in That Country.
Entertaining Account Of An
Interesting Man.

| DR.. I. Hayward HAYS arrived In the
city from Quebec last Tuesday and has
been the guest Of Mr.. E. e. James, at "a
veranda street, East Dsering. He Is
accompanied BY his wife and IL on leave
of absence for one year from the SIamess
navy In which he holds the position Of
surgeon-major.
| DIR. Hays kindly received a reporter Of
the PRESS yesterday afternoon and
talked most overwhelmingly about his
work in Siam. DR.. Hays was born In
Charlestou, =. c., in 1864, and was grad
mated from the University of Maryland in
1se6. Prior to thiA year he was hospital
steward at East Deering under DR.. Geo.
W. Stonsr. He left for Siam the latter
| part OF 1885 as physician to the mis-
sion established under the auspices OF the
Presbyterian board. In this mission
he served about two years and at the
earnest solicitation of the Siamese
Majesty's government, DR.. Hays resigned
his position at the mission In order to
organize and open the first hospital 10
Gam for the. natives. he established
three large hospitals. organized and
opened q medical college for the siamese
youth and had mt the start to fill all the
chairs OF the college, transIatlng the
medical literature into the Siamsse and
then delivering 1t to the pupils in their
own language. He opened the frat
lunatic asylum in Sinn, and finding that
the work which he was undertaking was
afsuming so large proportions he was
authorized to employ several physicians
whom he procured In America. Among
these were DR.. Paddock OF Cleveland,
Ohio; DR.. Lee OF New York; George B.
mcfarland of Philadelphia; DIR. Tinhes,
u Siamese graduate of Jefferson college,
and DR.. Adamson, graduate OF New
York college.
DIR. Hays resigned his position as sup
erintendent OF hospitals and lecturer to
accept. the honored post of consulting
physician to the Siamese court The
latter place he filled for tn rec or more
years, resigning 1t to take up and organ
lie the medical staff of the Siamese navy.
IL this work he is now engaged and in
recognition of the valuable services which
he has rendered, he has been raised to the
rank Of surgeon-inajor and has received
q decoration as an officer Of the "Order
of the Crown of Siam,. for special SER
vices rendered in 1858, during the French
attack on Bangkok, the capital of the
country.
He has taken a great interest as well
as time from his professional duties to
engage in such improvements as the
Introduction Of electric trsmways, cleo
trio lights and other modern conveniences
of life and has been so prominent In this
work that he is now director In several
of such companies.
DR.. Hays has two of the finest dru q
stores in the East. and one Of the objects
Of his visit in America at this time is to
organize what Is to be known as the
Siam-American Trading association,
which will deal with electric stocks,
lights, railroads. etc. He believes there
In q great future for American trade In
! Siam along these particular lines and
especially in what we call the "indus-
tries." steel, iron. etc.
When asked about the improvements
which OF late years have taken place In
Siam. he was quite enthusiastic and said
that Siam has improved mora in the last
ten years than in any previous 50 years
In its history, and believes that in the
next ten years she win make even NOR
rapid strides than ever before.
Speaking Of the King, DIR. Hays said
that His Majesty was anxious above all
others to see his country developed and
would throw no obstacles whatever in
the way of any Improvement that would
be to the benefit Of the country and the
people. referring to the personality Of
the King, DIR. Hays described him as a
man of very fine physique, Of about a.
years old, we'll versed in English and
speaking it very tuently, and since his
visit to Europe, where he won't In his
private yacht in 1887, he seems more
, determined TO bring siam to the front
and keep her in touch. so far as may be,
with the progress of civilization.
"a thing which augur well for Siam g
futured, in the opinion Of DR.. Hays,
was tho influx of very efficient and public
spirissd Europeans in the past few years,
who have been engaged In the department
Of public works. In the organization of
the police department.. in the realms OF
Jurisprudence and in every civic walk OF
life. They have large field to work In
for TIE average population Of Siam Ii
about i.0-1,O0o, and its area is nearly
four time that Of New York, say 1900
square miles. The capital ID Bangkok.
a walled city situated on the Chow
rhyah river. about rs miles from the sea
coast. The exports are rice. teakwood
gamboge. sticklao, cardemom and black
pepper. Mines Of gold. tin, ruby and
| aapnhfre are q, be found ecattered