THE WHITE ELEPHANT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1398, 7 June 1883, Page 3

THE WHITE ELEPHANT.

' ! A London correspondent writes "The" aura sacra fames" of the poet lias often shown itself sacrilegious, but never more so in his Majesty the pre-sent-King of Siam. The irrepressible •Mr Barnum has been tempting him to sell him one of his white elephants, 'ls it possible you can be aware,' said the King to Mr B.'s envoy, 'that in that sacred creature dwells the spirit of Buddha f—' He shall be treated with every consideration due to that circumstance,' was the reply,' and Mr B. will give £20,000 down for him. Then the King answered, « I will consult my poi|rt officials, and lay the matter bpforo the high priest.' 'lt is nq won? (|er that Mr B. thinks ' the hesitation qf the King propitious,' but most people musjt ■ be surely rather scandalised. The Scotch, it is true, once sold fhejr king—but then they never pretcndp4 to values him very Highly. The tjewg, though exceedingly alive to yesdy-n)onoy transactions, never difr posed of what they held sacred, and nothing in the \yay of property or ljve Stock over was so sacred as is a white pieplant in the eves of the Siamese, J suppose the truth is (if the" story be true) that his Majesty of Siam has himself lost faith in the huge ( earth-, shaking beast 1 as spiritual embodiments, while ho entertains a very keen appreciation of the almighty dollar. The latter Court rumour is that the sale will be effected if Mr. B. undertakes that the purchase is always to be accompanied by Buddhist priests, a number of whom are to be 'thrown in' to the bargain, If Mr B, bids for Westminster Abbey this should be a precedent; he must take the Bonch of Bishops also."