The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1910-12-25
King Chowfa of Siam Has
Golden Opportunity Before Him

Chowfa Maha Eaiiravudh. This is
the name which despite ins anything
but harmonious tone. it is confidently
expected, will, before many years have
passed over the head of its youthful
owner. be known all over the world as
that of one of the old world 5 most pro
greSsive rulers. II i the name of the
new King of Siam who recently, midst
great acclaim and rejoicing, ascen3ed
the throne of his late father, the good
King Chulalongkorn.
There are very few. if any, person
. alities in royal circles more interesting
than this newly throned monarch.
Living in the midst OF superstition,
reared partly in Christian lands and
partly in the land of his birth, it is a
surprising fact that King Chowfa is
endowed with traits that mark him as
wholly different from the men who
ruled Siam before him This despite
the fact that his father was one of the
most willing of Eastern monarchs to
adopt European customs.
The new king, whose coronation dur
ing the early part Of November was
marked by a tremendously joyful season
at Bangkok, the national capital. is
a finished diploma He is not only a
diplomat but be is a trained soldier.
He is an author aS well. and has writ
ten books on hiss native land that have
been well received
King Chowfa is master of several
really good plays. He is an amateur
actor of distinguished and recognized
ability.
Since youngster the new king has
shown a great liking for literature and
has read the best efforts of British.
American, French German, and Siamese
authors
King Chowfa has Just passed his
twenty ninth birthday. He has had
thus far a remarkable career for one
so young.
When still a young man his father,
King Chulalongkorn, dissatisfied with
fhe opportunities for education offered
by HRS fatherland decided to send him
TO ENGLAND and placed him under the E,
tutorship of Professor Basil Thompson.
Later he studied British military meth |
DDS at Sandhurst and subsequently |
passed a credtable examination and |
was admitted to Oxford university |
whore he graduated with honors
SO pleased was the old king with his /
eldest son s success that he eaused ten /
of Prince Chowfa 5 stepbrothers to be |
sent to Eton to receive an English |
education.
A little less than five years ago King /
Chowfa created quite a stir in literary .
circles of France when he published an |
volume telling in quaint but !
charming stvle the mysterious and
curious folk lore of his native land. !
4 bout the same time several Of his +
dramatic productions were staged al /
Buda Pesth and attracted much atten-
ton not solely because the Young mon
arch finished his education in that city
but because of their merit
The new King Of Siam knows every
Of the Intricate British and
German manuals of arms. He has
mastered the science of SOldiery to the
las letter for not only has he studied
a+ Sardhnrst hrt he has been q cadet
p. potsdam and has been attached TO
Drrham Light Infantry at Aldershot.
Kiro Chowfa onarates a tvDewriter
with the ease of % eXn"r;e""ed stpno~-
rapher. He was pleased with the first
machine he saw as a voungster and or
dered one made especiallv for him with
a keyboard of Siamesp characters
The old King Chulalongl1orn was so
pleased with the idea and so tickled
that his son had caused the inaugural
ton of the Siamese typewriter that he
ordered all manuscrints presented at
court to he written in this manner. 1t
was not long before the typewriter be
came mnch used in Siam.
Recently the new king nad a long
visit to this country and showed great
interest in the big workshops and
offices through which he was
shown.
Since his coronation as crown prince
II 1905 the people have looked forward
% the dav when the Young man would
become ruler
Siam is in great need of reform in
n"nv wavs and the people believe that
King Chowfa, with the wide experience |