The National tribune., 1902-10-30
SLAMS HEIR.
The Future Ruler Of One OF the Queer Lands
of the East Visitor to Washington.


His Royal Highness. Somdetch Chowfa
Maha Vajiravudh, Grown Prince of SIAM
is the latest scion of royalty to set official
society in the East agOg. Official society
is easily upset, however. 1t gags at an
educated African, and swallows a Kanaka
King, Queen and Princess, Haytien
diplomat, Celestial Minister, and a
horde of foreign representatives whose an
cestors were not only cOpper-cOlored but
cOal-black and napHy- y-headed. Official So
ciety strictly draws the line on Utah Nor
mons and then throws the mantle of OBJ
scuration over the multi-marriageS of the
Turks, Chinese, Siamese and other Orien-
tai dignitaries who swarm in the courts
of American society"
You must wear your rue with a diff
ference"
His Royal Highness, s. c. NJ. w., how
ever. is one of the most interesting char
acters who has even visited Washington.
Just now the United States is after the
trade of the Orient, and hopes to establish
such fraternal relations as to secure all
the commercial advantages now going to
other countries. By establishing friendly
relations with Siam much in this direction
will have been accomplished.
A QUEER LITTLE COUNTRY.
Siam is a queer little country. 1t has
and population of about G,00O,O00. The
King of Siam is very much married to
GOO wives, each selected with the utmost
care for her beauty of face and form.
His Royal Highness, S. G. M. ", is the
son of the second Queen. The first Queen.
it is said, has given the King no children.
In Siam woman does not reach her high
est estate until she has become mother,
and il children do not come to her she
believes that she is being made to suffer
for sins of her previous reincarnation.
Women lead a strange existence in Siam
This land of the White Elephant is unique
among the Governments Of the earth. Its
history is ancient, beginning nearly five
centuries B. c., but is not authenticated
earlier than A. ID. 1850, in which year
Ayuthia, its former Capital, was founded.
The present dynasty ascended the throne
in 1882. The Government is an abso-
lutte hereditary monarchy, the reigning
King selecting his own successor. He
may go outside his own family to do this,
but he has not in over 200 years. The
first King reigns and governs. There is a
those of n Privy Counselor. Unless Sc
lected by the King tOidorsO, he never as
cends the throne as an absolute monarch.
He gets about one-thiYdT Df the revenues
Of Siam, and has his Ohynl,army Of about
1000 men. Both the reigning and second
King speak and writer English f1uently,
and are well educatedLi to1
Buddhism is the religion of Siam. Mis-
siOnaries have been working in Siam for
several hundred years, blH have to their
credit scarcely as many .eenverts as mark
the years since LOuis,sXLE sent the first
Christian teachers into Ithis odd little
country. The Siamesei King is liberal in
the matter Of permitting priests of other
religions to enter his ,kmgdOm, but the
people, fully one-third i6f whom are Chi
nese, stick to Buddhislnte This religion in
culcates the highest vey,4TatiOn for life in
every form. The true Siamese will not
kill vermin or serpents.
LAND OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT.
The emblem of Siam is the white ele-
plant. which is said to be peculiar to that
country. 1t isn't white, but dirty
Whitley brown, idealized as white" They
are sacred, supposedly the Incarnation of
some future Buddha. and able to bring
blessings and power to the country which
possesses them. Hence it is almost i'm
possible to get white elephant out of
Siam. They are fed ON the daintiest of
grasses and sugar-cane, from beautiful
dishes, live in handsome houses attached
to the palace of the King, enjoy the rank
of nobility, and have staff of officers,
guards, Wallets and other attendants.
The white elephant does ont enjoy a
monopoly of venera:iOn. however. 1t is
IA criminal ofense to kill an elephant Of