The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-08-12

"looked over" twenty of the states of the Union.
He is the only eastern monarch with western
educaton-the most democratic despOt In the
world. For Siam is an absolute monarchy; pos
sibly the most absolute monarchy in existence
today. Rama VI holds in the palm of his hand
not only the property and possessions of his
9,0O0,000 subjects but their very lives A few
years ago. when China was in the throes of not
one but Of several revolutions, and had declared
two republics the spirit OF unrest started to
tricke down into little SIAM but stopped at the
border. Siam Is called the kingdom of "Muang
Thai" Cthe People of the Free'), and nothing
could enter that paradise to disturb that free
DOM" The country is so prosperous the taxes
low, the advantages numerous that
those living in Cochn-China on the east and in
Burma the west are clamoring to get the
Samese fence ato become partakers of the plenty
that awaits all who make their home in this
chanted land.
A ruler who is so wise and so good so gener.
and far-sighted is capable of performing
many modern miracles. He is but forty years Of
age and has been on the throne ten years. His
father ruled for forty-two; his grandfather was
hale and hearty at sixty-three With his consti-
tuition Of iron and his well known temperance in
all things nothing but an untoward accident should
deprive Siam of her democratic ruler and the
world Of of the progressives of the age.
over half century ago King Mongkut had in
his palace what he called his american room."
Around the walls were paintings of every presi-
dent Of the United States. Often he has been
heard to say;
81 am planning my own country the customs
and the laws of America"
His son, the late King Chulalongkorn, sent his
son to the White House in Washington for visit
"that has been denied me, and which / con-
slider to be one of the greatest of deprvations."
Ever since Siam was opened to the West
America has been foremost in the minds and the
hearts of the Siamese rulers And If In his best
judgment this eastern monarch shall find a suit
able mate among the women of America he will
but cement the long friendship between the land
Of the "free' of Asia and that other land of the
"free" of America
Many years ago Siamese monarch found him
self among a people without a woman of high
enough rank for him 10 make his queen. So he
married his own sister. Since that time the
tom has prevailed that the ruling monarch must
marry ut least of his half-slsters, for the
heir must be possessed OF royal blood on both
sides The late queen mother was the half-sster
Of his majesty, Maha Chualongkorn. Her sons,
therefore were eligible kingship The late prince
way was the rightful heir to the throne. Educated
in England and France and having lived for a
long time In Russia where he was captain OF the
guard to the car Il was but natural that he
follow in the footsteps OF many Of the other men,
bers of the nobility and the royal family OF the
Siamese court and marry N foreigner. His choice
was Russian lady, not OF royal birth, hut of
good lineage who became Princess Catherine OF
the Sinmese court The princess vi
vacfous young woman handsome. clever good
lnguist and an al-around wife worthy OF the bril-
liant man she had captured.
She was quick to pick up the Slamese tongue