Arizona republican., 1919-03-11
MRS. BLOUNT VISITS KING IF SIAM AT
 CAPITAL, BANGKOK


 entered missionary work ill Slam-
 The Arizona Republican has ar ranged with Mrs. Blount for series of letters containing first-hand impress sions of interest regarding her eXperi- | ences in that country.
 The first of the letters follows:
 First impressions may not be in variably correct but they are usually vivid and color for long time ones after thinking. I am passing through the days of first impressions Tn the land of my adoption" and they may hold something of the interest for my friends that they afford me.
 First impression No. 1. There is great rejoicing over my daughters re- turn to take up her work in Wang Lang, the most important school for girls in the kingdom of Siam, and our welcome has been touching in hearti- ness and extent Friends met us as our steamer docked and soon had us on our way to the school compound Here We found the school drawn up m long lines bordering the wide walk leading to the entrance and teachers grouped on the palm -embowered porch above. to give us welcome. AS we neared the lines, the girls dropped to their knees and bowed their faces to the ground. their hands with finger tips touching and palms facing each other brought in front of their faces, according to Siamese manner of show ing respect on meeting. They call it "weying" I shall never forget the ap- peal made to me by this first sight of 200 young girls so much in need of the inspiration of American Christian womanhood.
 First impression No. 2: First view of crowned head.
 Like most Americans who rejoice in a country ruled by the people, for the people, I had a consuming desire to see a king. My first opportunity came quickly through an invitation by an American friend who is a lecturer in the Royal Medical school in Bangkok, to attend with he and his wife, a Brit ish Red Cross fete, to be given in the grounds of one of the royal palaces. The grounds themselves are very at- tractive with a wide spreading banyan tree, shading a beautiful fountain in the center, from which radiate walks and drives. bordered with hedges of l flaming hibiscus, graceful cocoanut and betel nut palms and other plumy trees of the tropics. The gayly- trim med Red Cross booths and refresh- ment pavilion and palace buildings occupied by the royal family, in the mellowed light of colored electric bulbs and festoons of Chinese lanterns, helped the suggestion of Fairyland At a given signal the royal musicians struck up the Siamese national anthem and everybody. even this democratic American, stood at attention as his majesty appeared in the balcony of the royal pavilion surrounded by his body guard and princes of the royal house. 1 hold. He is a young man Of forty, short and stout of stature with intelligent face He was educated at Oxford and | has travelled in Europe and America, and is alive to the value of western | civilization. So far as my questioning has revealed, his kingdom is as stable as before this day of toppling thrones.
 First impression No. Christmas.
 Christmas in the tropics seems in- congruous to a native of the northland no snow, no frost, no hanging up of stockings by a people who go bare footed the year around. My first Christmas in Bangkok however. in- clines me to the belief that the Christ mas spirit is not confined to any special habitat. but flourishes in any cline where there are children who may be made happy and where there are grown ups" filled with the spirit oi Peace on earth. good will to men
 At Wang Lang, Christmas enrolling ushered in the natal day and a religious service was held in the schoolroom al 6 o'clock when the children sang Christmas songs and the native pastor gave Christmas message that must
 hsaxr hsx .ff
 attention and changing expression o
 faces. Then came breakfast and after
 1t the Christmas tree on the lawn.
 Around this beautiful tree. gay witl
 garlands of bright color and tinsel ant
 loaded with tokens of affection tn,
 girls were led by my daughter in {
 march, finally seating themselves in
 groups upon the lawn to receive thei
 gifts. Each girl received from tn, . school a generous bag of confection. |. and such other gifts as her admirin. sehoolmates may have prepared fc her. Their graceful ''weying' as tn, gifts were presented was fascinatin, to me. The rest of the forenoon wa. spent in joyous chatter and in admira , ton of each others presents.
 In the afternoon all enjoyed a selecte, program at the cinematograph througl ? the kindness of the manager. who sai, i when giving the invitation to tn [ teachers that he liked children an, r liked to make them happy"
 Twelve row boats, each carrying l maidens in holiday jackets and ga, . panunGs. made a picturesque proces sion as we padded up the river to tn
 moving picture house.
 . The evening closed down with 1 frolic on the lawn. Someone starte
 a song and for an hour those girl. without any lead of teachers or an pre- meditation of anyone, sang hymn and sonss-sacred and secular-until marveled at their memory of words. l was just a natural. joyous ending of joyous day.