The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-07-04
SLAMS KING WILL
SOON BE HERE.
The Exotic Monarch Sends Word That
He Desires to View Our Free
and Lovely Land,

Siam has announced his intention of
visiting the United States, if not in
the near future, at least within six
months OF before another cold winter
shall have settled down. The King be-
ing an exotic monarch, would lind zero
unendurable and this fact would keep
MIN from seeing some Of the most in
teresting portions OF the United States,
were he to make the trip in winter
OFTEN has the King travelled out of the
little oblong country into other lands,
and several times has he been a guest
or England. Between him and the Eng
lish Queen there Is a strong bond of
sympathy, and ii is well known that he
respects her with feeling. which in
the Orient is called love.
II Is now twenty-seven years since the
King, who is named Chulalongkorn as a
shorter and more distinguished one than
the others which he bears. was placed up
on the throne of Siam Though only
twenty at the time he had wife and
immediately added other wives, increas-
ing As he saw pleasant
No one in all Siam was sufficiently
royal for this boy king, so his half-sistef
was selected for him, and he welded her
and. as the Siamese story tellers will
relate. lived happily ever after with her
Certainly not even the oldest inhabitant
Of Bangkok ever heard n row in the
picturesque palace, though there are
now tive hundred wives living there. aud
though the King spends almost all his
time IN company with them and his
children, for he is Il very domestic man
and loves the joys Of the home
RAISING SIAN.
II tho tirua = hi Ct. -.
an obscure country. known more In lest
than in reality. Its inhabitants were
supposed 10 be eccentric members of
the human family, unciviized aud next
to barbaric; and it is doubtful il the
great majority Of Englishmen and Amer
leans ever heard of Siam at all, unless
through the immortal Siamese twins
These Youngsters of Siam, joined by
liganent, were the curious connecting
link between Siam and the world
As soon as the young King became
hrmly seated upon the silver and tur-
quoise throne which is Slams greatest
possession, he began the making of new
laws. These We're along the lines of
progress and reform such as existed. he
had read, III other countries. where the
work of man was done by powers of
mechanism. The labor saving principle
WAS in his head. and he carried it out.
Immediately after his coronation Chu-
lalongkorn began work OF reform and
progress which has now reached results
of magnificent proportions. He began
by adopting. save on special occasions,
European dress. He abolished the old
form Of sslutation. by touching the fore
head TO the ground, and babe his visitors
walk up to him and shake hands like
men.
He proclaimed religious liberty
throughout his realm, and decreed the
protection of Christians in their OBJ
seryance of the Sabbath.
He reformed the executive and ju-
dicial branches OF the Government, light
ened taxation. partially abolished slave
ry. opened new canals and roads, estab-
lished an admirable postal service, built
telegraphs, lighthouses and a railroad,
surveyed aud improved all navigable
waters. founded fine system of public
schools. built hospitals. asylums temples
and art museums. introduced innumer-
able useful inventions. and set to his
people personally an admirable example
OF virtuous. temperate. Industrious. up
right and exalted manhood.
LIKES THE ENGLISH
In doing this he found il necessary 10
take Journeys into the world and. so.
England aud the continent were shown
him. He journeyed everywhere, saw ev
erything. and studied all he saw. His
sons. too, grew to benefit by this pater
nal progress. One went to the English
Naval Academy; another to Elton. both
We're bright; and soon they became more
English than Siamese. On their trips
home they took modern furniture and
the drawing-room AT Bangkok soon came
to resemble the grand salon nj Windsor.
Even the bric-a-brac was modcrnZed
and in place of the hide0us little idols
aud squatty jars there We're choice pieces
of statuary and the husts of celebrities
These trips have been described with
much spirit by visitors To Bangkok. who
declare that the Siamese sons are every
whit as English as the sons of the Eng
ish Queen.
The King himself did not enjoy all
these advantages of education. but has
made up for il since, and is, as far as
Orientals 30. extremely civilized. He
dresses in the European fashion. his
fothes being made by the best London
tailors his palace is lighted by electricity
and connected by telephone with the
various departments OF State. He plays
billiards and keeps an excellent table
and a French chef. He reads Shakes
peare. and is we'll posted on the current
European and American literature of the
day.
The Kings full name and titles are as
follows: Somdeteh Phra Paraminda
Maha Chnlalopgkorn Patindir Debia
Maha Mongkut Purusiaratue Raja Ra
Wongse Warnt Mabrongse Parabut Wa
rakhattiara Raja Nikaro Tama Chatu-
rsnta Parama Maha Chak Rubar Tira
Gasangkas Parumahdarm Mika Maha
Rujad Hiraja Para Manarth Pabite
Phra Chuls Chomklal Chau Yu Hua.
SLAMS HISTORY.
The Kingdom OF Siam has in its long
history had several changes of dynasty.
But just as all the Roman Emperors
We're Caesars and the old Egyptian
monarchs Pharaohs. SO all SiameSe kings
have borne the half-name half-title of
Phra. which. indeed Is probably closely
akin 10 Pharaoh.
The present dynasty according to the
ste Phra Chomklau Chau Yu Hua,
Somdetch Phra Maha Mongkut. father
u predecessor Of the present King,
- founded by a family living formerly
the city of Hanswatty, in Pegu. Mem
rs Of this family became great Min
-ers Of State, and one OF them led the
t Siamese Embassy TO France, in the
ign OF Louis XIV. Another, about the
middle of the last century, was made
Niceroy of the northern provinces Of
Siam, with a court at Phitsanulok. and
in May, 1852, was proclaimed King Of
Siam. under the style Of Phra Budhyot