The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-08
LATE RULER OF THE
KINGDOM OF SIAM

ctfcHloHies At the ceieDfatlon or tuat
monarch's eigbtieth birthday.
l spoke Of King Chulalongkorn OF Siam
as being a close second 70 the Haps-
burger IL the number of years on the
throne. And now he is dead.
chulalongkoFn had long name. many
titles. but still more wives $50 in all.
His full title vas chuIalongkorn. chiula-
Chom- Klao Somdet Phra Paramint Ma
ha. and ne WAS one OF eighty,four SONS
born to Maha-Mongkut He was born
at Bangkok IN September. 1853. and had
reigned something like forty years over
the empire of the White Elephant
The kingshlp in Siam Is hereditary and
the ruler is an antoerat, but he has
cabinet. composed Of six royal princes
and thirteen ministers Of state. From
the religious standpoint, the King OF
Siam occupied position OF more than
usual interest, for he was the' only re-
naming Independent sovereign OF Bud
dhist state, This gave him super
sanctity among the Southern Asiatie
Buddhists beyond the limits of temporary
sovereignty
Chulalongkohn's reign was quite similar
10 that of the Aikado. Both strove for
itiB1 III III UftAEHtFu ldNQSr Tic WeAar -
must be confessed, progressive and en-
lightened He m0dernized Siam. His
father died IN 1853, when ChdlalongkoFn
was but fifteen years old, not coming
OF age until 1873 The government was
carried on by a regent during his mi-
nority The first thing he did upon com
ing Of age was 10 break the power of
the so-ealled second king. making him
self ruler in fact as well as In name.
Right on top OF the ousting of his ''as-
sistant," who, by the way, held all-the
temporary power, the king-saint being but
a religious necef sity without in the least
being consulted on matters of state. the
young King settled the succession. Be
fore his reign, the King could nominate
his successor, but chulalongkorn promul-
gated & royal decree making every
crown prince heir 10 the throne.
Before his second coronation, the one
that made him real" king, natives
were compelled to approach the King only
on all fours. They also had TO raise their
hands TO him in alteration and bump their
heads on the mat before them. he
stopped all that nonsense, introducing
instead the American handshake into the
reception of foreigners. he spoke Eng
lsh, except when noted visitors were re-
ceived In audience. At such times he con-
sidered Il beneath lis dignity 10 speak
any other tongue than Siamese. As soon
as he had a firm grip on things he began
TO build railways and a navy. the latter
now numbering tNenlv vessels. They are
by Danish officers.
Chulalongkorn reign was peaceful and
prosperous barring his dispute with
France about the Tenquin China bound
airy, which was settled amicably IN 1906
He abolished slavery and the heretofore
exceedingly heavy taxes. opened up
canals for irrigation and transportation,
improved the court system, proclaimed
religious liberty. recognized the army,
built hospitals and even an art museum
In his capital OF Bangkok, which now
contains about 2oo.0Oo souls.
In Siamese his titles were something
Ike this: Supreme arbiter Of the ebb
and tide. brother OF the moon. half
brother Of the sun. and owner OF the
twenty-four golden umbrellas. What the
twenty-four umbrellas have to do with
biz dignities Is solely a matter for con-
lecture But. better than that. from an
Oriental point Of view, his breakfast was
served him on plates of gold by twelve
OF his wives, kneellng. His subjects still
had to PROSTATE themselves before him
whenever he appeared on his sacred
white elephant in the streets Of Bangkok
His income amounted to the astounding
sum OF 100000 annually. of which he
spent 100000 in jewelry.
The Siamese throne chair is decorated
with priceless diamonds. rubies, and en-
eralds. and IS second only in value 10 the
famous peacock throne Of Persia The
Kings mantle Of state Is the most costly
garment in the world. II has been
handed down from ruler to ruler, each
one adding precious stones, which cover
every part Of IL.
Chulalongkorn usually wore up-to-date
European clothes. He was fastidious in
the matter of dress. The crown which
ne used on state occasions was a pyra-
mid of gold, bejeweled and rising IN cir
cular tiers. diminishing as they so up
ward. until ending in a pencii-like point
which extends nearly two feet above the
forehead. The King visited Europe in
1907 with a large retinue. when his travel
ing expenses amounted TO SS.oo0 a day.
HIS chief wife was S0wapa Pongsi. his
NAlI-SlttrIs hNDGE sui AzaQhiA M&AlI
Vajirawudh the crown prince. succeeded
10 the throne. He is about thirty years
old and was educated In England, where
he spent nine years. Chulalongkorn had
two American advisers-Prof. Strobel and
Assistant Prof. Westengard, both of the
Harvard Law School.
The most amazing thing about the late
King OF Siam was the size Of his family.
Most likely II was the largest in the
whole world His children numbered
about seventy; the exact number is not
easily ascertained. Then ne had at least
fifty brothers and five times as many
uncies He was not without his little
eceentricities- One OF them was a lad
for collecting common match boxes.
His penchant for all kinds of gambling
"a cock fight, a beetle fight. a dog, horse.
or boat race. anything 10 lay money on
was well known. Once, it was said, Chu-
lalongkorn actually staked one Of his
wives con the result Of a race between two
fish. He paid the debt, but the lady.
who happened TO be IN love with her
royal husband, at once returned, after
numbering her new lord. OF course, the
matter never reached the courts. and in
his maJesty's hearing no mention ever
was made OF that little Incident" OF
course mott
The new King visited the United States
in 1902 He is a man of education, re-
finement. and energy. He was born in
1881. The poor fellow has but one mother,
but. alas for his youth. l49 stepmothers.
Il may be added that the new monarch
does not believe in polygamy. Why
Sln Ia eff an aS,arfarlpa at
the home where ne was brought up? His
next Oldest brother is the son of another
wife; besides. he has some nineteen other
brothers. and "a few" sisters In 1895.
when his older brother died. the Zena-
bodice. or crown council, declared him
the crown prince. He was sent to Eng