Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-02-03
Interesting Letter Written
Upon Her Arrival at
Bankok.
FOUND MUCH GAIETY.
After Short Stay Left For
Her Mission In the
Interior.

We are permitted to publish the
following letter to her parents, from
Miss Lucy Starling.-Editor.
Harriet House School, Bankok,
Siam, Dec 5, 19O9-Every day since
l have been here, have intended to
write. but | never was in such a
whirl of gayety as / have been since
arriving here, very unlike what the
life of missionary is supposed to
be. ! have enjoyed it all immense
ly, for the people here entertain
beautifully, but l need not tell you
that | have had enough, and will be
glad to settle down to a more quite
life, though from what Miss Buck
tells me. there is a great deal of So
ciety in Chieng Mai, as there are a
good many English there.
We arrived here about 7:30 p. M,
Nov. 25. Some distance down the
river, we were met by two boat
loads of missionaries, who had been
coming out for two or three days to
meet us. We went on shore, and
then to reception which had been
arranged for US and was nearly over
when we got there. | think l never
saw so many good things to eat.
The next night all the new mis-.
sionaries and all our party were in
vited to Hon. Hamilton Kings
(American Minister to Siam tC
} Thanksgiving dinner. There were
about "a at the table, and every.
thing was lovely. have seen a good
deal of the Kings this week, and they
have been most cordial. They are
lovely unpretending people. Satur-
day we had a picnic at Samray,
where we held services in the first
church built in Siam. We went
down the river for several miles in
the Brilliant a launch belonging
to the Standard Oil Company.
All this week have been invita-.
tions to tiffin, dinner and drives.
Friday | was invited to one place to
tiffin, to another for dinner, and a
party in the evening, yesterday was
the same thing. / had some pict.
ures made here, but they are not fin.
ished, so they will have to be sent
up to Chieng Mai, and it may be
February or March before you get
them. l have gained seven pounds
in the last two weeks.
, almost forgot to tell you about a
very interesting visit ] paid to the
Queens School" last week. The
principal is a princess, and nearly
all the teachers and pupils are of
royal blood. had my first really
Siamese meal, and l am glad / had it
under such favorable auspices, for !
felt less doubtful of the peculiar
tastes than | would have felt in an
ordinary Siamese house. After tiffin
we had a pretty hoop p-drill by the
girls. 1t was red day (the differ
ent days of the week have their own
colors), and the girls looked very
pretty in their white blouses and red
boomers. Many of them wore the
most magnificent solitaire earrings
and other jewelry, of which the roy.
al house has great deal. We were
then taken to see the artificial flow
ers and embroidery the girls do, and
were each presented with a silk fan,
hand embroidered.
Miss Buck and / have beer at the
Girls School, lovely place to stay.
My only objection to it is that it has
been on the other side of the river
from the rest of our party, and al
most an hours ride, so we have
spent a good deal Of time in coming
and going.
We leave in the morning, taking
the train for Pitsanuloke. We spend
the night with the missionaries there,
as trains in this country do not run
at night. We have three days spent
] in this Way. when we leave the train