Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-06
BEHIND THE THRONES
Yankees in Oriental Countries
Who Advise Rulers.
POTENTATES AND AMERICANS
Left College to Assist Maharaja Of
Baroda.
KING OF SIAM AND KOREA
Bucknam Pasha Assists in Governing
Turkey, Along With It's Sultan
His Romantic Career.
ING OF SIAM AND KOREA
Copyright 1907, by John Elfreth Watkins

Copyright. 1907 by John Elfreth Watkins)
From students bench in college to the
post Of official adviser to an old world ruler
IS the jump made within few months by
Ralph C. Whitenack Brown, 'O8. White
mack got his sheepskin only last June. Be-
fore autumn's frosts had scared the leaves
he had received the commission of Expert
Adviser In Social and Industrial Affairs to
the Maharaja Of Baroda, which oriental po-
tentate. with his wife, the pretty little
maharina, last year made a tour of the
world, including especially the United
States. The progressive maharaja's errand
was to study social and political conditions
of countries newer than his own-this with
the view Of making vast reforms after re-
turning home. That he chose America az
the best pattern to be followed in his en-
terprdse is proved by the fact that he Sc
lected a young and strenuous Yankee to aid
him in the undertaking. --.
This young man Of Hamiltonian prococity
halls from Wilmington. Del. His career has
been up hill. He worked his way through
Brown University by doing odd jobs at
stenography and typewriting between class
and study periods. During his Junior and
senior years he made political and social
science his specially. and obtained work
ing fellowship in research work In these
sciences at the University Of Wisconsin.
Last summer he wrote monographs on
social conditions In America and in the
fall was recommended to the mahara ia
by Prof. Bumpus of the American Museum
Of Natural History, to whom that pro-
gressive prince of India had applied for
an up-to-date American sociologist.
Maharaja's Gorgeous Palace.
Young Whitenack stood not upon the
order of his going, but bade adieu to fam
lily and friends and sailed at once for
Baroda. This oriental princedom, on the
west coast Of India and north of Bombay,
Is as great in area as the state of Mas
sachusetts, but Is more thickly popu-
lated. The maharaia owns all Of the land
outright, and receives rent from the till
ers of his soil. whom he now seeks to
benefit with the fruits which he has
gathered from their labor. His income
is something fabulous. and his palace,
balustrades, its open courts with foun-
tains playing and innumerable birds
singing in the trees. Is a marvel Of orr
entail splendor. 1t Is filled with the rich
statues of Indian types. and with price
less tapestries Of ages past. Its bed
steads are of pure gold and silver, and
$3.50, 900.
The young adviser is summoned about
three times a week to breakfast with
the maharaja or to ride with him over
his estates Since returning from his
world tour his highness has determined
to slowly undermine many of the Gus
toms of his principally, among them
that of secludng high-caste women. So
western visitors at the court of Baroda
may in the near future be able to feast
eyes even upon the maharaja's daughter,
the piquant little Princess Indria, far
famed over the orient for her grace and
beauty.
Advisers Bungalow and Retinue.
The maharaja has provided Mr.. White
mack with q bungalow. across the street
from the palace grounds. 1t Is brick
structure Of two stories. with wide veran-