Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-15
At THE S|AMESE COURT
A Yankee Visitor and the
Stir He Caused.
CHULALONGKORN I
WHO IS MAKING A SANITARY
CITY OF BANGKOK.
Has Electricity in His Palaces and
All the Modern Com
forts.
CHULALONGKORN I
Copyright, 1902. by A. v. Gilespie)

Copyright 1902, by A. v. Ginespie)
Written for The Evening Star.
Americans have a fellow countryman to
thank largely for influencing potentate
Of the orient. to be the first reigning sover-
eign to announce positively a visit to the
United States. This young American is
Edwin P. Osgood engineer-in-chief of the
sanitary department to his royal highness,
Chulalongkorn 1, King Of Siam.
Without ever having been in audience
with his royal employer, Mr.. Osgood has
worked this determination in the mind of
Slams ruler. How he has done it the Siam
csc minister at Washington, Mr.. Phya Sa-
rasiddhi. explained the other day:
my royal master has one of your num-
Der, Mr.. Edwin P. Osgood, in his service in
Bangkok. Mr.. Osgood's work has SO
pleased and captivated his royal highness
that he desired to learn all that he can at
first hand Of country where such bright
young men as Mr.. Osgood are produced.
This, 1 believe, is one of the strongest rea-
sons that has caused his majesty to decide
upon visit here"
Mr.. Sarasiddhi paused a moment, then
with smile and true oriental suavity,
added:
"And my master will meet many bright
young men when he lands in America-hun
dreds and thousands"
Mr.. Osgood a Boy in Years.
Mr.. Sarasiddhi was instrumental in get
ting Mr.. Osgood-almost boy in years. for
he is only twenty six-so important a posi-
ton as chief sanitary and electrical engi-
neer to a kingdom as big as Texas in area
and with a population of 100000.
In the summer of 1901 the Siamese minis
ter received an official document from his
king, in which the latter commanded his
representative to secure him forthwith an
American skilled in sanitary engineering,
to put Bangkok in q sanitary condition.
Mr.. Sarasiddhi, in his endeavor to fill his
masters order, sought out his friend, John
d. Long, then Secretary of the Navy. told
him what he was commissioned to do and
asked the Secret ary's advice.
''Oh, just write around to some of the
technical Institutes" said Mr. Long.
but where are they and what are they?"
the Siamese minister Intercepted.
Mr.. Long explained, and named half
dozen Institutes.
After he had finished Mr.. Sarasiddhi in
sisted;
But the best one-I want the best one
for I've got to get the best man in the coun-
At that Mr.. Longs pride in his native
state rose in his breast.
THE best one." he stated solemnly to the
man from the orient before him, sis the
Massachusetts, Institute Of Technology"
Slams representative. duly convinced,
bowed himself out with profuse thanks, and
Immediately posted a letter to the Boston
schools president, In which he asked that
he be put in touch with the most expert
sanitary engineer that the president
knew of.
The Search for Mr.. osgood.
When the letter arrived at the school It
was referred to the professor who teaches
sanitary engineering. That gentleman
wrote in reply that he knew just the man
that the King of Siam was looking for,
and, in substance, he said:
His name Is Edwin P Osgood. He
graduated in '97, after having made a spe-
cial and exhaustive study of sanitary engi-
neering. Because of it's excellence his
thesis on the sanitary system of Boston
brought him high honors in the institute
and praise from all over the country. In
deed, on the strength Of this thesis the late
Colonel Waring Of New York, just before
he died Of yellow fever, contracted while
cleaning up Havana after its occupation
by the American army, was preparing to