Page 9 Advertisements Column 3

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 179, 27 January 1912, Page 9

A HAPPY KINGDOM The little kingdom of Siam is looking forward to years of happiness and prosperity under its new ruler, King Vajiravudh, who was crowned recently. The King, who is thirty-one years of age, is 'a Iman of striking personality, and, though he is an absolute monarch, his six million subjects are confident that they 3till will be able to call their country, as they named it during the late King's reign, the "land of the free." King Vajiravudh was educated at Cambridge and at Sandhurst. He is an accomplished linguist, and has written in l ? rench a number of delightful Siamese folk-lore stories. As Crown Prince he was a keen supporter of Siamese literature and drama, and his theatre was an institution in the life of Bangkok. The Royal patron's company regularly produced new plays, which for the most part dealt with the past glories of Siam or its picturesque legends, and though their authorship was attributed to a mythical nobleman it was understood that they came from the pen of the Crown Prince. The new King takes a keen interest in the army of his State. The defence system of Siam is based upon compulsory service, every man who is not a civil servant being required to spend two years under arms. Members of the Siamese nobility form the Honorable Volunteer Corps, whcli is commanded and drilled by the King himself. Siam has made remarkable progress in recent years, but it is still backward. The people are unambitious and extremely fond of pleasure. Holidays are numerous, and they are accompanied invariably by great festivities. One of the principal carnivals of the twelve months marks the beginning of the year on April 1. There °are many picturesque ceremonies associated with this festival, conspicuous among them being the ploughing of the first furrow of the year by the Minister of Agriculture. Processions and daylight the- • atricals are popular holiday amusements, and feasting and gambling* tccupy a prominent place in every festive program mo