San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-03
. ING RAMA vi, the strange little
n King of Siam who died recently of
disannointment at not having a

N Ming OF Oldm WHO uleu recently VI
disappointment at not having
son, enjoyed the most remarkable funeral
of modern times.
The climax of the funeral was the burn
ing of the Kings body upon a pyre,
throned and crowned as in life But first
Of all there was an elaborate ceremonial.
The body of the King, clad in robes of
gold lace and wearin9 a golden pagoda
hat seven stories high, was carried out of
his palace amid an army of Buddhist
BONES ringing bronze bells, and placed
on the great state barge.
The body was then carried through an
intricate route of waterways and canals
so that the Kings ghost might not find
its way back to its former home, but
would go straightway to the place where
it will await rebirth in>Heaven.
At last the procession reached the fu-
neral pyre. This was arranged inside
beautiful conical gilded pagoda with
pointed roof one hundred and fifty feet
high. The King in his robes and crown was
carried up the steps of the pagoda and
seated in a natural position on a golden
throne, which was placed on structure
of logs arranged on an iron brazier.
Then began incantations by choirs OF
thousands of Buddhist monks, who also
scattered lotus flowers. Feasting, music
and theatrical performances were held for
two DAYS in temporary buildings around
the pyre, in order that the Kings ghost
might be happy and honored.
All the time the dead King sat upright
on his golden throne wearing his golden
pagoda hat. Lotteries were held In which
the tickets were free and the prizes
numerous, and money was distributed
among the poorest people. Thousands of
people Toasted free at the King's'expense.
At shutdown on the second day the
actual cremation began. Az TINS point
golden doors concealed the King from the
common people. The new King applied
the torch to the logs beneath his brothers
body, while the choir of monks chanted
around him, and soon King Rama's re-
mains went flaming upward.
When the fire had burned itself out
the ashes were reverently gathered up
and placed in a golden urn, which was
carried to the royal palace. 1t Will be
taken out on the Kings birthday and be
made the centre of solemn ceremonies.
The late King Rama suffered probably
the strangest death that has happened to
any monarch in our time. He died of dis
appointment the day after he was IN
formed that he had become the father of
daughter. He had set his heart on hav-
ing son to inherit his throne, his golden
umbrellas, his elephants, his diamonds and
treasures. He had gone through all sorts
o strange maneuvers with that end in
view and the news that, after years of
planning. he had only daughter, thereby
making his brother his heir, was more
than he could endure.
According to the reports which have
reached Europe, all the blood in His
Majesty's body seemed to dry up. He
turned green and passed away.
King Rama VI had passed through very
peculiar matrimonial experiences. He
was the son of King Chulalongkorn, who
had 1874 sons and 236 daughters and left
GOO widows Rama's grandfather had
10000 wives, the government of Siam
being conducted at that time on the theory
that its first duty was to select the pref