Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-24

shower baths AS he entered his new home
troupe of Siamese dancing girls began a dance
on the lawn. Far into the night the celebration
continued There were dragon dances in which
huge paper-mache dragons were employed; can
dies were burned in all good Samese homes,
and priests offered millions of prayers to Buddha
for the little pachyderm who signified af1ucnce
and prosperity to the new kings reign.
IN THE hubbub and furor of the night saw
my opportunity. I approached the white ele
plants stable. 1t was strangely quiet, most of
the guards and attendants doubtless taking part
In the celebration. The lights in the little fell
lows stall had been extinguished. Two men sat
just inside the gate of the compound, and
beyond saw an occasional shadowy form stink
by in the darkness. In another stall was Phra
Svekvajera, the white elephant presented to the
late king. There were two others somewhere in
the compound. How to get past the guards,
however, presented a problem.
1t was a woman who did the trick for me.
One of the girls Of the dancing troupe passed
near me. She was alone, evidently on her way
home or perhaps going to join in the celebra-
ton. Since the beginning of time women had
played the temptress. Why not now? raced
after her, fearful the while that I could not
make her understand. Overtaking her, doffed
my helmet and bowed
II beg your pardon, Miss but do you under
stand English?" She stopped short and looked
at me in surprise. held my breath.
Little Bit" she lisped.
What a break! slipped ten ticals (about S5)
into her hand and, stepping closer, whispered
mysteriousy into her ear. She shook her head,
drawing away. I added another ten ticals in
desperation. She probably had never had so
much money at one time in her life. She looked
at 1t thoughtfully moment and then nodded.
So far, so good. OF course, hadn't told her
what really wanted, or doubt if any amount
of money would have influenced her. strolled
back to the gate of the compound. I waited
several minutes but nothing happened. Had she
outwitted me and was even now running through
the night laughing at the "crazy" white man =
my 20 ticas held tightly in her little brown
hand?
Then it camel A thin feminine voice calling
from the corner of the compound = calling the
guards They rose to their feet simultaneously,
came outside the gate, listening What she was
saying don't know but, after moments hesi-
tation, they walked together along the wall
toward the voice. Here was my chance. Like
second-story man. I skunk across the narrow
roadway, and with heart pounding against my
ribs, ran through the gate and straight for the
stall of the little white elephant. No one was
in sight, and as I ran drew fingernail clipper
from my pocket. AS reached the STALL open at
one end, I almost stepped on man sleeping
just inside the doorway Making my way eau
tously around him, approached the elephant
no doubt also asleep after his weary trip and
day of triumph. The moon was full and could
see clearly The little tail hung Imply and ap-
preaching cautiously with trembling hands
reached out, and without actually taking hold Of
the appendage, clipped off several of the brittle
hairs from the tail with the nail clipper. I
stuffed them hurriedly into the inside pocket
of my coat and, leaping over the sleeping man,
ran back across the compound
A emerged from the gate, the two guards
~ came walking back along the wall in ami
mated conversation. From the tone of their
voices, drew that neither of them had made
conquest with the dancer. Since, have often
wondered what she told them, but after that
night never laid eyes on her again and would
not have recognized her If had I was lust
outside the gate when they saw me. 1t was in
deed an uncomfortable moment. Would 1 be
arrested and dragged before the Siamese Gen.
darmere or perhaps King Prajadhipok him.
self? They stopped short and gazed at me in
silence Boldness would be the best move I de-
cided. Nonchalantly, showing my hands into my
pockets, | started to hum softly and walked
directly toward them. AS passed the men, I
waved my hand in a friendly way and pro-
ceeded on as if taking an evening stroll I
didn't look back, and no word or sound came
from them
They probably thought was strange for
egner, perhaps with some foreign embassy, who
had witnessed the ceremonial and was still wan.
dering about the grounds. don't believe they
ever suspected that had actually been within
the elephant compound. I'm sure they never
missed the hairs from the white elephants TAIL
Safely back in my hotel, examined my treas
ures as if they were pearls or jade l was tri-
umphant! Six weeks later, in Shanghai I had
them fashioned into bracelet and ring both
of which still keep an ever present re-
minder of my adventures in SIAM
Next day, before members of the diplomatic
corps, princes and dignitaries, all in regal full
dress uniforms, His Majesty King Prajadhipok.
christened the white elephant Phra Savek Co
jadej Dilok, as stood on the edge of the crowd
and watched the little fellow shaking his tail -
the tail from which had pilfered bristly
talisman and wondered II he would bring me
the good fortune that all Siam believed was
embodied in the sacred white elephant
I'm still wondering