The Raymer enterprise., 1913-11-06

travel returned home to take up the
serious study OF his fathers kingdom II was
thought that a matter of course he would fol-
low the custom of the royal house to which he
belonged and marry. But greatly TO the aston
lshment of the entire realm this he natly refused
to do, and not even his fathers kngly requests
could change his decision. Now. marriage by a
Slanese monarch means not the simple taking
of one wife, but the complicated and wholesome
absorption of a hundred. His late majesty King
Chulalongkorn had three wives when he was
crown prince and added 81 others to his house
hold before ascending the throne. and his father,
the great Mongku, claimed many hundreds OF
wives. So when young Prince Vajirayudh turned
his back upon the beauties OF the court and
would have none Of them he established a prece.
dent OF celibacy unheard of in his domain since
before time was.
There was never suspicion of scandal con
nected with the prince, either while he was at
Sandhurst or at Christ college, Oxford. nor dur.
Ing his many visits to Berlin, Paris Madrid,
Vienna LOndon-covering many years OF his
most impressiOnable age-not even word during
his flying trip through the states and II he went
back to his Asiatc throne leaving his heart here
or in Europe the. world has never been notified
of the matter nor has any particular caretaker
been singled out as the possible happy custodian
of the royal gift.
But should this rumor have more than the
usual claim for credence-should his majesty,
Maha Vajiravudh the supreme ruler OF all Siam,
marry an American then? There Is no
royal family in this democratic country from
which the young man could or should make his
choice and by so doing cement the bonds that
already hold his little kingdom in far away Asia
very close to Uncle Sans heart. But there are
American ladies aplenty that are fair TO look
upon. rightminded and talented enough to be any
monarch's queen, and II this be culture quest
as well as a longing OF the heart-there can be
no question OF money in the affair no bargain
OF gold for a title for Siam Is OF the richest
of the little kingdoms Of the world and her SOW
ereign holds by the right OF possession legal
title to about everything worth having in his
entire state-if this then be quest OF the royal
girl his majesty could make no better choice
than OF the true American nobility, many
OF whose daughters are already serving in similar
positions OF trust and responsibility with rare
distinction and dignity, though as corulers over
smaller principaes
When the writer a child he remembers
being taken by the hand by King NIongkut, Vail
ravudhs grandfather and being led into the
kings favorte room-hls American room. On
the walls rows Of portraits Of the presidents
Of the United States They were not good like
nesses-some OF them-but they we're the best
his native artist could make from the photo
graphs and other pictures his majesty had se
cured. They were all there. however. and in
order from Washington to- the ruler at that time
Abraham Lincoln.
i am very fond OF America" said his majesty,
as he closed the door, very fond, And some
day are to be united"
Was this prophecy, that uttered half cen
tury ago, is to be fulfilled by the marriage OF his
grandson TO an American?
Old King Mongkut patterned his policy OF
righteous rule" as closely after the principles
found In the Declaration OF Independence as he
dared and remain on the throne OF his father.
His son, King ChulalonCkorn, never ceased to
lament that he was pr- permitted to see the
promised land Of America. His multiplicity OF
wives and hS desire to bring more than one
with him on his official visit caused codness
In Washington diplomatic circles that damped
his ardor at the time-and he insisted upon his
son making special effort "to visit the United
great country OF which your grandfather was so
fond and which have been unable to see"
There have always existed the most cordial
relations between these two Numerically op-
posed governments-the most despotic and the
most democratic. France has bullied her Asiatic
others; the descendant OF a line OF princes dat.
ing back to time when Egypt was In her in.
fancy and before Greece was born he, the illus.
trious. the invincible the divine master OF the
immortal souls. has played football at Rugby.