Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-04-06


throne OF his majesty. Mas
~ Vajirayudh, Phra -Mongku
Klao, king of Slam, which hav,
just been completed, set another mile
.Ptone In the rapid march which. Sian
% making, and which has astonishet
the nations Of the world. The fac
that the great powers sent members
OF their royal families to represent
them at the coronation is an evidence
OF the interest and respect which they
have for Slam.
Unostentatiously, without upheavai
but with amazing speed. the siamese
picked up the progressive ideas and
Inventions of the western powers, and
today foreigner who journeys !. to
Bangkok, the capital of the nation
win find there railways, street cars
large electric light and gas plants, tel
ephone service, In fact all of the best
features of modern civilization.
THE new monarch, who has ascend.
cd the throne under the most favor
able circumstances. takes up his reign
In the year 100, according to the reck-
ontng of the Siamese, who reckon
the years from the establishment OF
the national capital of Bangkok.
Their New Years day falls on April /
Of the Gregorian calendar. Among
the special ambassadors sent to Siam
for the coronation were: His serene
highness Prince Alexander of Teck.
and his suite. representing Great Brit
ain; his imperial highness the Grand
Duke Boris and suite, Russia; his
royal highness Prince Waldemar and
HIS three sons, Denmark; his royal
highness Prince William, duke of Sud
der Mamie, and suite, Sweden; his
highness Prince Fuhimi and suite,
Japan, and his royal highness Prince
Nicholas. Greece.
Much of the credit for the rapid
development Of Siam is due to- the
late king. Chulalongkorn, Phra Chula
Chom Kloa, who was man OF much
ability and who took the lead in the
adoption of the best features of the
western civilization. One matter
which his late majesty insisted upon
was the education of the people of
Siam, and the new monarch Is pro-
ceeding along the same line. In con-
sequence a system of public schools
has been established throughout the
kingdom and Is maintained on a high
plane
The late king sent his son. who is
now on the throne, to England, where
he went through the military academy
at Sandhurst and was attached for
two years to an English regiment. He
then studied at Christ's college, Ok
ford. For many years it has been the
practice of Siam to send 30 or. 40
young mon to European countries
and to the United States to be
educated. AS fast as they receive
an education they are recalled to
Siam and their places filled by others.
Upon these men is falling a large
share Of the work in undertaking the
kingdom according to western ideas.
Tho government OF Siam is a be-
despotism. The steps which
have been taken for the benefit of the
people and for the development Of the
country have all originated with the
king and the nobility. The various
OF the government, such
rs the foreign ONCE. the department
Of the interior the war department.
the department OF justice. are intrustl
ID to members Of the ministry. who
are selected by the king with great
care.
While Siam ID properly called a ies-
potism and the authority OF the king
Is absolute and ia handed down from
'ather to son in the royal family, the
unusual social system of Siam may
DO said to be all born free and equal.
With the exception Of the members OF !
he royal family. There is, to be sure.
he nobility. But no man is born a
iobleman. No title descends from
'ather to SON. except in the royal
'amiiy. The son OF nobleman must \
prove himself worthy of nobility be-
lore he attains thar rank And no
,ility Is won only because of merit
md OF good work performed. In the
.ase Of the brothers of the king their
ions do not receive the same title as
heir fathers, but are one degree lower
n rank, and their sons, In turn, are
me degree lower In rank than their I
'athers. unless by merit they may
Ittain the higher rank. Thus the de-
of the royal princes NAV
become the same as the |
est Of the people. There are five
,anks OF nobility.
stimated at about 100000. and the
'xsa Of the country Is about the same |