Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-28
"Fu Brother Of the Moon and Supreme Arbiter Of the
Tides" Are Other Titles Borne by the King Of Siam,
Who is Now His Way to France, and
Who Will Also Visit King Edward.

man. And that man is the king. The
Siamese call the place Kang Nal c'The
Inside'D and so sacred is It held that ETH
quette forbids any open allusion to 1t.
The most extraordinary feature of the
kang Mai is the submerged harem, stu
ated In an artificial lake. 1t is built entire
ly of glass OF variegated coors, the plates
being Joined together by an insoluble ce
ment 1t is ornamented with quaint tur-
rets and minarets. When not in use it
floats on the surface of the lake. When
the king desires to take his within
fl. accompanied by his harem favorites, he
enters the single door, which, when closed,
is air and water-tight. At a signal certain
valves are opened and the house of glass
descends to the bottom of the lake.
The arrangements for supplying fresh air
are perfect. In the hot summer weather 1t
affords a deliciously cool retreat and there
Chulalongkorn is accustomed to while
many idle hours away, rejoicing. doubtless,
that fate did not summon him to reign
over progressive and civilized people.
That famous saying of Shakespeare's
Uneasy lies the head that wears a
crown does not apply to him.
In accordance with eastern custom he is
much married man. .He has score or
two of official wives and nobody knows
just how many hundreds Of what might be
termed courtesy wives. OF late years the
only trouble he has known has come from
his wives. And that was his own fault.
He is educated man. He talks Eng
lish fuently and is credited with knowing
Sanscrit and some half dozen other Asatic
languages, but probably his linguistic gifts
have been greatly exaggerated. However
that may be. 1t is a fact that in an evil
hour he conceived the notion that some Of
his wives would make more agreeable en-
tertaining companions If they were given
a smattering Of education In the European
sense. So several governesses wereN i'm
ported from England to enlighten them
Among them was lady who held ad-
vanced views on the subject OF women's
rights. The harem offered her a gorgeous
field for proselytizlng. And she made the,
most OF It. Before she was found out and
packed back home the mischief had been
done, the seeds OF discord and discomfort
sown. Several of the wives were signing
for larger sphere than the Kang Mai af-
forded them, and there were all sorts of
ructions.
One day one of them staggered the
brother of the moon and half brother of
the sun by telling him to his face that he
was a mere man and that she wasn't
going TO kneel to him any longer
Chulalongkorn acted with decision. He
started vigorous investigation and weed
ed out the wives who had been inoculated
with the domestic peace destroying notions.
Inc discarded ones were by a special favor
permitted to marry court officials. They
were readily appropriated, for 1t is re-
garded in Siam as a great privilege to wed
any one who has been an inmate of the
kings harem. Some Of the officials subse-
quentiy had cause to repent Of their eager
ness. but that did not bother the king a
bit. for he was the undisputed boss of his
own harem once more.
His No. l wife, Sowayi Pongsi, who is
designated the Supreme Queen Of Siam,