The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-08-27

looked over twenty of the states of the Union.
He Is the only eastern monarch with western
education-the most democratic despot in the
world For Siam is an absolute monarchy; pos
siby the most absolute monarchy in existence
today. Rama vi holds in the palm of his hand
not only the property and possessions of his
aVoo,ooo 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
trickle down into little Siam, but stopped at the
border. Siam is called the kingdom of "NIuang
Thai ("the People of the Free) and nothing
could enter that paradise to disturb that "free-
dom. The country Is so prosperous, the taxes
are so low, the advantages are so numerous that
those living In Cochin. China on the east and in
Burma on the west camoring to get over the
Siamese fence to become partakers of the plenty
that awaits all who make their home in this en-
chanted land
ruler who is so wise and so good so pener
Gus and so 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
rather ruled for fortytwO his grandfather was
hale and hearty at siXty-three With his consti-
tuition or 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 one of the progressives of the age
over half century ago King Mongkut had in
his palace what he called his "Americon room -
Around the walls were paintings of every nres
dent OF the United States. Often he bas been
heard to say:
am planning my own country on the customs
and the laws of America"
Ills son, the late King Chulaongkorn sent his
son TO the White House in Washington for vis,t
that has been denied me, and which con.
susr 10 oe one OF the greatest of deprivations."
Ever since Siam was opened to the West
America has been foremost in the minds and enc
hearts of the Samese rulers. And IL In bis hos,
judgment this eastern monarch shall And q. sui,
aoe mate among the women of America no will,
out cement the long friendship between the lind
OF the free" of Asia and that other land of th
free" OF America " ''e
Many years ago a Samese monarch fonna hin,
SELF among people without a woman Of h,,
enough rank for him TO make his queen 60 ha
'harrieu MS own sister Since that time the enc
tom mas prevailed that the ruling monarch ,,rs.
marry AT least one of his half-sisters for the
neir must De possessed of royal blood on hotb
s.u.s' Inc 'a'e queen mother was the half. sister
" n's n"lesy' Mana Chulalongkorn Her sons
therefore, were eligible TO kingshp The late ,rino,
was the next In age to the king a,s T., 49,
way, was the rightful heir to the throne Ea,...
~ England and France and having lived for =
ohs Time In Russia where he was captoin 80 -,
guard 10 the car Il was but natural tha. ~
.o''o" IN the footsteps of many of the other ,,a
"e's vi the hooltlty and the royal family a., .h
N'"'neSe court and marry foreigner. His cho,.o
was Russian lady, not of roval h,r,b ~. &c
seeu lineage, who became Princess Cathon, "
Inc Sl"mese court The new princess yros -
VICIOUS young woman handsome clavsr -,
ana an ataround wife worthy of the hr,,
hant man she had captured le oi''-
she was quick TO pick IN tha Sia,,o..