Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-11-24

men more expert IMAM Jne SIameSe
do not live in the orient, nor in the
world, indeed, unless it be among the
E5kimos or the south sea islanders;
and Saw Swee Ann was one of the
most skillful | met during my wander
ings in the far east. Saw, for so | at
once abbreviated his tunerul name,
was "saked" man and bore the in.
delible mark, which all those wear who
serve royalty without pay. Not
that it is a service of especial honor,
hut a species Of traditional slavery.
Nor does every saked man serve the
king. In the intricate and far-reach-
ing systems, which cross-section the
social fabric of oriental peoples and
2crplex the western mind. is provided
separate and distinct place for
every class of native mankind from
royalty to the lowliest subject. Siam
has perhaps more than its share of
such subdivisions, and so it happened
that Saw also had his servant. The
man is indeed low in Slams social
scale who is without a servitor. Saked
IHcus HOWcNtlt dlt tlOSS III LlS StINlCS
of the king or those attached to the
person of noble or a tribal head.
Those who serve about the royal
palace, and those in any of the com
panies connected more or less direct
ly with the king, are marked on the
left side, little below the armpit
all others are marked on the fore
arm. And the mark ("sak'D, always
the insignia of him in whose service
the man is enrolled, Is pricked into the
skin. and then made permanent by APP
plying a mixture of India ink and
peacock bile. None but a native,
believe, may be a saked man, and as !
Travelled and studied the country, II
seemed TO me that in the course of
another quarter-century pure Siam.
ese blood will flow In the veins only
of royalty and of the poorest of Siam 5
inhabitants. The average native is
an indolent, improydent, good natured
creature. who is happy so long as he
has elough to keep his stomach from
protest ting, and few tinals to gamble.
Great Britain, fortuo lfoly for the
commercial world, controls the export
uade of Siam, and the Chinaman Is its
industrial backbone. More than that,
John Chinaman is becoming Slams
small trader as well, and father of the
only dependable laborer growing up
on its soil; for the Siamese woman
marries him in preference to her own
countrymen. because he makes a bet
ter husband. The result of this union
is called Simo-Chinese, but is really
a Chinaman In looks, in habits. so
strongly does the Chinaman stamp
his progeny. Thus the native Siamese
is being crowded into the lowest
walks Of life. Even in Bangkok the
capital, where reside the king and all
government officials, he finds 1t df.
Hcult to retain prestige. while the
place itself is taking on the motley APP
pearanct of an Oriental city turned
tppsy-tur"y by electric lights aad troll
ley cars penetrating quarters of such
sQualor, one marvels that life can
exist there at all.
1t is a strange, halfoating city, this
Bangkok, overrun by pariah dogs and
crows; oriental despite it's improve
ments. and one Of the most interestipe
cities In the far east. Yet sad city
for The visitor with mind apart from
margins and money saving machinery
Al every turning are evidences of de
cay of native art. and in their stead
the h!deously commonplace things that
bear the legend Made in Germany.
One would scarcely believe today, after
a visit to Bangkok, that at one time
the Siamese were distinguished, ever
among Asiatic artisans. in silk weav
ing. in ceramics, in ivory carving anC
in silversmithing. Yet the roya
museum discloses treasures not founC
elsewhere in the world. which serve
10 remind how far Siam has faller
from the place she once occupied
among the art.producing nations O
the world. When, therefore. we behold
a people discouraging and losing thei
splendid ancient arts. and giving in
stead a ready market to the cheaI
trash which comes out of the west
we may hardly look for native indus
trial development. The day is probabl!
not far OF when Slams industries viii
depend upon foreign guidance; and 1
England, not France, supplies that i'm
petus. the world will be the gamer.
BY those people who delight II
comparisons-and read travellers fold
ers especially compiled for tourist
sumption-Bangkok has been var
iously called the Constantinople OF
Asia and the Venice of the east. True
there is much pertinence in both com
parsons. Certainly Bangkok is the
home of the gaunt aad ugly pariah
dog, which spends its day foraging &c
keep life in its NANCY carcass; multi
plying meanwhile with the fecundity
of cats in tropical cline. because the
Buddha faith forbids its killing. Nor
are outcast dogs the only pests OF
Bangkok to grow numerous because