The Portland daily press., 1899-02-16
PROGRESSIVE SIAM.
A Resident American Talks Interesting-
Iy of the Country.
(From the Baltimore Sun.


DIR. L. Hayward Hays the physician,
friend and adviser of the King of Siam.
who thirteen years ago left Baltimore for
that country and has been there ever
since, Is now visiting this city.
DR.. Hays left Bangkok, the capital OF
Siam, Nov. "a. He left here in 1855. going
to Siam to engage in missionary work,
having been graduated in medicine from
the University Of Maryland and later
from the College of Pharmacy. He
worked as missionary two years and
then gave up at the instance of the King,
who had decided to establish hospitals in
his country and wanted American brains
to help In his enterprise. DR.. Hays en-
tered into the work with zest and estab-
lished in Ban akok hospital, medical
college, and lunatic asylum. Previous
to that time there had been notprovision
of any sort for the insane of siam, and
no care had been taken of them. DR..
Hays also established the only European
hospital in the country. and American
and English sailors are treated there at a
nominal cost. Other hospitals were built
Ly him. and at the death of the king's
physician DR.. Hays was appointed to sue
coed him. He will return TO Siam in "a
few months
In speaking of the country aud its
people. DIR. Hays said: 1.-The young
Siamese are progr essive, and II you treat
them squarely they will treat you the
same WAY. The country Is rich In rice,
teak, runies, and sapphires. The King Is
u wide-awake man, with European ideas
and y fright mind. Physically he is fine
looking and has an impressive personal
ity. lie l. endowed with plenty of en-
ergy and has the good OF his people at
heart Our capital city, Bang kok, Is thor
oughiy lighted with electricity and has 2
population of $50. 100. The prevailing re-
iigion all over the country is Buddhism,
but there j. no reason why the Siamsse
should not embrace Christianity II they
desire, as there IS but one man in the
kingdom who is swor1 10 believe in Bud
dha, aud that is the King. Ins mission
arg Held is entirely IN the hands OF the
Presbyterian Church, ami l believe pro
gress is being mnde.
"Our City Gov eminent Is based upon
the same principle rs the modern city IN
this country. There is n Lord Mayor
and body corresponding to your City
Council. Men who are especially fitted
for the work are placed at the heads of the
different departments There is absolutely
no politics in national or city admins
tration, The Kings power is absolute be
holding life anu death in his hand, but
only ON rare occasions and for aggravated
crimes does he sign death warrants. The
country has progressed greatly in the past
few years Slavery has been done away
with by the present King. who oeoreed
that every child born after no had taken
his seat although their parents might
have been slaves. should he free
Railroads are being Juiit. ANA in the
course OF time 1t is reasonable 10 hope that
our road to Korat will be- connected with
The great Russian Siberian Railway. Mr.
T. N. Bennett and | are about this only
Americans aeti vely engaged in business
in siam, the first being in missionary
work. A good many years ago the
American flag was often seen in the
harbor of Bangkok, and American
schooners did brisk trade there. OF late
years, however. an American boat Is q
rarity and the trade has been lost in some
way. The climate, of course, is warm
the temperature never going below 90
degrees IL Is the exceptional man who
can live there five years without change
vet it has done me good, and weigh
thirty more pounds than when / went
out.
Everybody stops work at O'Clock in
the AFTERNOON ami turns to the clubs for
amusem eat. There is great deal of
drinking. and with the malariRl nature
of tho country it cannot be wondered at
that men drop off suddenly. 1t Is not
uncommon 20 meet a In'~a at club one
afternoon l.ld on he next be invited to
his funeral, No.wit1stsndin0 tAis the