Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-26
QUEEN Is TO VISIT US
King chulalongkorn Is Also
Coming Along
MAJEsTlEs OF OLD SIAM
She is His Half Sister, Both Having
the Same Father.
WILL REMAIN IN sECLUsIoH
King Is an Absolute Ruler in Every
Sense That Term
Implies. II
WILL REMAIN IN SECLUSI0N

Special Cabiegram to The Star. - y
SAN RENO, Italy. May PA real queen
is to visit the United States soon. She Is
her majesty Sowapa Pongsi, Queen of
Siam. But not even the exclusive society
sets Of New York and Newport are likely
to see her, for she is making a tour Of the
world with her husband. King Chllalong-
korn, travelling strictly incognito. Hers Is
not the convenient incognito which Euro,
pean royalties assume 10 order to drop
majesty and mingle freely with the world
under the thin mask of a title or common
place name assumed to satisfy the demands
Of etiquette. She keeps in rigid seclusion,
obedient to the custom Of her country.
Newspapers have spread the news far
and wide that the king is accompanied by
his twelve wives" but only one woman is
recognized as queen in Siam. She Is his
half-sister. They had the same father, but
different mothers.
Gracious and Attractive.
The queen is most gracious and attract
i've; her hands and feet are the daintiest at
the court Of Bangkok. When it suits her
to appear in native costume-white silk
knee breeches and blouse waist of the
same material, set off by a broad sash
of orange sflk-she makes an exceedingly
pretty picture. "a woman is as old as she
looks" Judged by this rule, Slams queen
Is still young. Though the remorseless
record says she was born forty-three years
ago last New Year day and she has two sons
who have passed their majority, she pre-
serves the firm, well-rounded figure that
distinguishes young Siamese women.
Chuialongkern is ruler who rules. There
Is power behind the THRONE" in every
other monarchy, east and west, but he is
absolute. Yet he is the most liberal mon
arch in Asia and is up to date, with a
liking for modern things and IDEAS His
second son has studied military tactics in
the German army, and another son in the
Russian army. Last year the State Depart
ment at Washington received from Bang
kok an'inquiry If one Of his nephews would
be admitted to the United States Naval
Academy at Annapolis. Two Americans are
legal advisers of the king, Prof. Edward
tional law In Harvard, and Assistant Prof
J. l. Westengard. also Of the Harvard Law
School. - -
Itinerary Not Ironclad.
The king landed at Naples. April %, Wis
tied Genoa and then came to San Reno
where a large villa had been transformed
into thorough oriental residence for him.
After spending nearly three weeks here he
left for tour in northern Italy and Swift
-zerlands intendinG to- reach Paris late in
June to remain fortnight. after which he
will go to London and then to the United
States. = .i.i.5sgs.y.
His itinerary is not ironclad., On leaving
home he calculated that he should be away
seven months. That would mean that he
would be in Bangkok again in October.
When he landed in Europe it was tele-
graphed abroad that he would visit the
United States in May. That was erroneous
His original program would take him to
America in July. but recognizing that 1t Is
subject to change as circumstances or dis
position may direct. no instruction has yet
beep sent to the SiameSe legation In Wash
ingtou to prepare for his coming ON any
fixed date. The king does not really know
long 1t will take him to transact some
highly important business he has with the
King of England.