THE CORNER-STONE OF TRUTH.
When sunset rays huvo tom-hoil tho earth
with gold
I ofthavo dreamed and built my eastles
fair,
Think rig I heard Love's story to me told,
Yet at the night but solitude was there. J
But now I dream —at noon and darkest J
night—
Naught but a gentle loving face I see. I
And time goes 011 but lea vet h Love's de
light—
My dreams are founded on reality.
—Flavel Scott Mines, in Harper's Bazar. |
A COLLIDE lIEIIO.
PSgwAMES MAXWELL
" • BBu ud his old class-
v mate, Herbert
Boynton, met bv
appointment and
proceeded to tho
' I'bTson train. They
' H ' ,v * n high
j >- . spirits. It was so ,
i° wn un d idle in
\'l WyiS/ lh e middle of the
r) lr fir (^a . v *° 1 )0 ft *d° to
F y jjjfl ,| chat and to smoke
*<c£r t ' \ withoUt R
1/ 1/ Jjjjß \| V know that the mor
|M| \ \ l(\ A j ruW ull d the day |
' fß' after, and its foi
| lowing day, Vould
\ increase i n
§ 6 pPiiJ careless freedom;
to anticipate pleas
ant greetings, which in reality would
be pleasantcr—no wonder that the
gayety of their youth returned to
them as they started for their class de
cennial.
Maxwell, from leading his class, had
swept, run errands, copied and served
papers for an attorney, but now had
an office, a practice, und a name of his
own. Boynton, from being class poet
and editor of the Summary, hail re
ported fires and police court proceed
ings, but now occupied a well-padded
editorial chair. Had these honors
come to them at once, they would
have found them fatigued by a sense
of their own merits, instead of, as
now, thankful to their lucky stars.
The Pierson train was that paradox
called au "accommodation," and a
crowded 011 c at that, consisting of a
"smoker" and an ordinary coach.
The two friends entered this latter and
secured a place directly behind a party
of three, a mother with her daughter
sitting beside her, and her little pale- 1
faced son reclining on the forward
seat, the back of which had been ,
turned over. The matron was buxom
and comely, with that noble expres
sion which consecrated maternity j
gives. The maiden was slight and
fair, with an uttcutiveness to both
elder and younger companion which
became her even more than the azure
of her eyes and the russet of her hair.
Tho Beats rapidly filled, until only a
single 011 cin the corner by the filter
remained unoccupied. Just as the
train was leaving, a half dozen rough,
stalwart young men, surrounded by the
nimbus of a grogshop, swung down the
aisle and grouped themselves careless
ly around tho four who sat directly
ahead of the little invalid. From nick
names and jocose blasphemy, there waf
an evident bond of sociality between
them.
"Say," said one who was standing
by the rear seat, "what's the matter
with me and Bill playin' you a:i .1 Tom
u game of cassen?"
"And what's the matter wiu puttin'
young bag ' bones in the corner by
the freezer?" added "Bill."
"We'll go ver," was the reply, and
the men in the aisle turned toward the
little boy.
The maiden grew pale and looked
around appealing}} ; but her mother
showed that intrepidity which cornea
with unselfish devotion. "You shall
not touch mv son," she cried. "Jle is 1
ill."
"Bights is rights, ma'am," said
"Bill" doggedly. "And when seats j
are skerso, even the cripple must take 1
pot luck. Come, stir your stumps,
sonny."
At this instant Boynton sprang from
his seat and laid a restraining hand on
the. ruffian's arm.
"What! be yerlookin' for a scrap?"
And the inau squared off while his
companions crowded about threaten
ingly.
"Not at all, not at all," said Boyn
ton calmly. "I'm no pugilist, and you !
could 'do me up'in a two-second round, i
I'm sure. But I know you men are :
members of the Nonpareil (profes
sional) Baseball Club. Now, just look >
at my card and see whether I couldn't
reciproo.nt M
'•< i. .to addc 1 Maxwell, -
"and I may explain for i <• pur nose of 1
lucidity that f dr. w the contract
wherein you bound you: q v . to 'ab ;
stain from the ine of j.!i intoxicating !
beverage.'-, and t so conduct your
selves in public as to redound to the!
Reputation of tha profession for refine
ment and courtesy.' Ahem ! '
"Ah!" exclaimed Bill, us he scanned
the pasteboards with bulging eyes.
' The Cr P rion !' 'Counselor at law!'
Your battery is too strong for us. We
apologise and yours oi>- dieut, and so
forth. Come, buy.-, lb.* air m better
in the smoker!" and the gang slunk
away discomfited.
"You ar ; so very kind," murmured j
the matron to the young men.
"Yes," interrupted her hopeful from j
the front seat, "out Gnu-go Buggies
would have cross-count t-d on the
gillie and put him asleep n u jiffy." j
" 'Cross-counter !' 'Gillie!' Why,!
Johnnie!" from both ladies.
"Your little lad seems to he an ad
mirer of Picrson's famous athlete," |
ventured Maxwell.
"Yes," replied the lady graciously,
"my H'm Thomas and Buggies are class
mates and chums. He lias visited ut
our home and of course seema R d-rui
j god to Johnnie. We are on our way
to their commencement exercises. Per
haps you gentlemen aro also bound
thither?"
j Under this gentle encouragement
| Maxwell hastened to make his friend
I and himself known, and thus the for-
I tuuate fact was revealed that his mother
i and Mrs. Grenville had been school
friends. Soon pleasant converse en
| sued, Maxwell and the mother reviv
' iug reminiscences. Boynton and the
♦laughter Grace scattering the seeds for
future ones.
"Are you interested in athletics?"
asked the young lady.
"Not especially," replied Boynton.
"In my day they were a pastime, not
a passion." The girl looked dissatis
fied.
"I don't know what you mean," she
retorted. "Of course they merely
furnish a diversion from mental labor,
and I should think would keep young
men straight, and make them courage
ous and gallant and constant."
"But what if the diversion becomes
the purpose? There's George Bug
gies, for instance. A fine young fel
low, but I'm sorry for him. If this
land were Sparta, and this time the I
days of Leonidas, why, ho could con
tinue in fame and be a loider of men.
But the gate falls sharply on Com
mencement Day, and the graduate is
without in the dnrkness, and precious j
little light comes from physical train- !
iug."
"George Ruggles is my brother's
friend," said Grace, loftily, "and of
course I shall not discuss him."
"I'm sure I envy him," remarked
Boynton, inconsequentially; yet the
simple words seemed to promote
amity, and for the rest of the journey
this couple were engaged in making
agreeable discoveries about each other.
Grace was secretly amazed at the
simplicity of a post-graduate of ten
years' standing, as compared with her
brother's diguitv. Herbert was de
lighted to find that Buggles's high
consideration depended solely on re- i
port, as Grace had spent her holidays :
abroad and had never met him.
"There they are," shouted Johnnie j
as the train slackened in the Piersou j
station, and there indeed were tv.*o |
young men waviug sticks and hats in i
welcome; one, tall and slender with I
florid complexion and blue eyes that
[bespoke a relationship; the other,
swarthy and squat with the rectangular 1
lines of a stevedore.
"That's him, that's my George,"
continued Johnnie, "aren't his biceps
daisies?"
George Buggies underwent the in
spection of fair wyes from the ear wiu
, dow with complacency. He was con
scious that he was the best second
base, the most redoubtable rasher,tho
! stoutest oar, the fleetest, the strongest
man in his college. He was well satis
fied with his appearance. From a
tower of adulation he gazed critically,
near and afar, but the idea of intro
spection never occurred to him.
Thomas Grenville led his friend for
ward proudly. George greeted the
i mother, delighted .lohnnio with a slap
i on the back, aud was presented to tho
! sister.
"You will have an escort, Gracio,
for Commencement Week, which will
make you tho envy of all tho girls,"
- said the unupprociative brother.
s Grace looked curiously at the
11 cavalier, who evidently saw no reason
for disclaimer in this remark. An in-
voluntary comparison with the chance
acquaintance of her journey Hashed
across her mind, and she recalled his
remark as to envy. But George
smilled broadly, and scanned her with
tlio deliberateness of a farmer at a
fair. Then he caught sight of the
Nonpareils passing through the station,
with Johnnie's antagonist at their head.
"Excuse me," ho blurted, and away
be rushed, and in another moment was
' grasping "Bill" with one hand and
thumping him mightily ou the back
with the other. A confused murmur
of "Old boy," "Old follow," "You're
the stuff," and "Got there, Eli,"
greeted the party.
Grace bowed charmingly to Boynton
and Maxwell as they passed through
the doorway, and her eyes followed
their carriage until it disappeared
within its dust. Then her gaze hard
ened, her little foot tapped the Moor
ing impatiently. "Mamma! Tom 1
must we wait?" she cried.
"Really, my son,"began thematron,
but here Buggies sauntered back, liis
bauds in his side pockets, his hat on
j the hack of his head.
"Well, Tommy," he said, affably,
"there's nothing in this loitering.
! Suppose we get a gait?"
"i)o you know that—that in
; dividual?" asked Grace.
"What, know 'Bill* Stubbs, tho
king of the third, the best all-around
' sport in the country? Well, I'd rather.
Didn't he ami I invent three new
curves and a dandy set of signals after
<mr first game with the Nonpareils,
when we stood 'two and' at the end of
the 'tenth,' ami it was a draw on ae
-1 count of darkness? You remember
that night, eh, Tommy?"
"Yes, and the next morning, too."
"Mainma," said Grace. "Will you
lend me your pungent? Travel always
i makes my lieart giddy."
It was two days later, directly after
dinner at the l'ierson House, that
j Thomas Granville felt constrained to
1 expostulate with his sister,
i "Graoie," he began, "I don't think
| you are attentive enough to Ritg
...
I "What!" exclaimed the girl, "I, at
[ tentive to a young man, and such a
conceited young man as Mr. Haggles!
Remember, please, that relationship
does not sever 1110 from the reapect duo
a lady. Keally, I think your college
friendships have made you duft."
"Oh! well, you know what I mean,
i When a girl accepts an escort for Com
mencement Week, she is expected tu
stick to hint. He takes you here and
i there and doesn't look at any one else,
' although tliev are all crazy after him.
and yet, the fttet thing I know yon are
tulking with that stiff sprig of a Boyn
ton."
"And where may be this Bayard of
yours?"
"Oh! of course, lie is apt to be called
away for a moment. One who occu
pies his position is a sort of public
character. You ought to l>e proud—"
"To await my lord's leisure with !
folded hands and then listen to an in- J
comprehensible jargon about 'records'
and 'sprints,' and 'training,' with rap
| turc?"
I "But think how I've planned for
this week, and how delighted I was
[ when he promised to take you up—" (
"0 Tommy! Tommy! Can't you
see that you are fairly insulting me?"
"It's because you will not recognize
what a hero he is," said the young
man, doggedly.
"Come, then," continued Grace,
briskly, "let us see. Now, honor
bright, is he gallant?"
"Well, of course, as I said, what
with being captain of the nine, and one
of the eleven, and ('hairman of the
Athletic Committee—"
"Is he clever?"
"He is clever enough to hold all
these positions and to get anythiug
elso lie wants in the college. You
[ ought to see him toss the tabor just
once."
"Is ho cultured and intellectual?"
"Oh! as to his studies the fellows
have jollied him along, and the facul
ty, too, for that matter. They
wouldn't dare drop a man like Bug
gies, you know. As for reading, why
he has sporting of this country and of
England, too, at his finger's ends.
His word goes iu deciding a bet every
time!"
"But do you really think I would
enjoy hearing sporting statistics, how
ever accurate?"
"The finest men among our alumni,
by Jove, has been proud of his com
pany. Why, ut that banquet in tho
metropolis he sat on tho right hand of
the Hon. IJ. K. Nevitt with Bnrloo
right next to him. Didn't the law
yers and bankers and Congressmen
and Judges all drink his health and
sing, 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow?'
There never lias been an undergradu
ate of such celebrity."
"But what will he do after gradua
tion?"
"Why, there's already a movement
on foot to persuade him to take a post
graduate course in law—that's for
three years —and thus he can still lead
Pierson on to victory. I wish you
could see some of the men who have
I plead with him. And yet you pick up
a stick like—"
"But what will he do then—will lie
practice?"
"Practice! Why, ho practices two
hours in the morning and one in tho
afternoon in tho 'gym' everv day. Oh,
law you mean. Well, I suppose so."
"He is n ready speaker, then?"
What, old George! His tongue gets
rather tangled when he's on his feet.
But that's just what Bnrloo said, "A
hero should ever bo modest. His deeds
speak for him."
"Asa college boy, perhaps, but will
they aid him hereafter in acquiring an
honorable livelihood? Let mo see.
He might become an all-around sport
like his professional friend 'Bill.'
But—"
• 'There you go! What a fool a man
is to ever argue with a girl. Her only
j point is to have the last word," and
j Thomas Orenvillo Hung himself out of
' the room in a passion quite incompat
' iblo with his dignity as a senior.
Meantime fihe subject of this discus
sion, in a dulbsort of way, was grow
ing dissatisfied with himself. Some
how this pretty young girl, whose
entertainment he had so obligingly
agreed to make .his care, didn't seem
to appreciate .tho distinction. Cer
tainly she was unlike her brother,
without a trace tof his enthusiasm ex
cepting—oh, ho didn't like to think of
it! Why, in tflio midst of some of his
most exciting reminiscences ho had
caught her jjawning behind her fan.
And she had .shuddered when he had
displayed the knotty muse lies in his
forearm, excepting—well, lie might as
well admit it to himself, she did
change and become winsome and fas
cinating and altogether desirable
whenever that elderly Boynton ap
peared, a man who had been out of
college for ten years, and didn't know
the difference between au in,curve and
a hot liner! Ah, ho would show her
what manner of man ho was* whom she
slighted, if only the chanco-would oc
cur !
The chanco did occur. There was a
Glee Club concert and the Grenville
party attended. After it was over, in
the press of coming out, (higgles and
Grace were separated from the others,
i As the distance was but short, they
strolled across the green toward the
hotel. Their way was well nigh de
serted, for the throng had passed up
and down Main street. Thomight was
delicious, warm yet invigorated by the
breath of the sea. Through, the inter
lacing elm houghs tho star* sparkled
and the moon rays streamed like
dushes of gold ou a verdant arras.
But George was glum. His companion
was so exasperating. She would talk
of Boynton, and the more she talked
the more unpleasantly distinct became
a vague comparison with himself.
"Mr. Maxwell showed me some beau
tiful verses of his lriend," said Grace.
"Are you fond of poetry, Mr. Bug
gies?"
"I think college songsaro jolly,"re
plied the young man simply.
"These were lines to Rogers on dis
carding the shield of Atlantes."
"Thero was a Rodgcrs that used to
; pull stroke on the Atalantas,but I never
1 heard lie refused a prize."
"Oh, dear!"
I George grew hot and ground his
j teeth. He was always doing it, yet ho
didn't know what! Oh, if there was
, only some one of his size how ho would
| like to throttle him. They were pass-
I ing by the Municipal Building. From
tho nppor side there came sounds of
Rong. A man lurched around the cor
ner and Htaggered heavily against
Grace. Ah, here was a change ! George
shook off the girl's entreating grasp.
He sprang toward the intruder.
"What, old rocks, don't you know
me !" mumbled the man. "Spoonin'
hey, with young bag-o-bone's gallus
sister? That's right."
It was "Bill," the "king of the third,"
; the "all-around sport," decidedly tho
! worse for consolatory draughts after
the afternoon game.
"Know you!" cried George. "11l
smash you!"
Grace screamed aud sprang back on
the steps, where she stood with hands
clasped across her breast like another
Andromeda awaiting deliverunce.
"Oh, yer lookin' for it, is yer?"
growled "Bill." "Well, come on then."
And the twain faced each other and
mighty blows resounded.
A brawl at Piersou is magnetic.
It draws the human grains to a center.
From street, campus, hotel and dor
mitory the young men rushed. A
ring was formed, and college cheers
urged 011 the college champion. Oh,
the joys of physical combat when mus
cles are like bands of steel, and ever
increasing strength swells within
them! Forgotten now was the sense
of contumely ! Forgotten the envied
smiles of the maiden ! George Bug
gies was himself again, tho toughest,
grittiest man in the university, and
let all yield hm the meed of praise !
On the outskirts of the crowd, two
young men were enjoying their cigars.
"This reminds mo of old times, hey,
Herbert?" said one.
"Well, I guess. What? By Jove—"
and the other dashed away toward the
Municipal Building.
"My dear MissGrenville," exclaimed
Boynton, "this iH no place for you.
Permit me to escort you."
Grace's lips were tremulous; her
gaze Was distraught.
"Oh Herbert—Mr. Boynton." she
pleaded. "I'm so frightened. Take
mo to mnmma. You are always/so
gentle and considerate."
And yet, when they were away from
the tumult, perhaps they lingered to
listen to the tender suggestions of the
glancing moon rays. At least it was
quite late when they parted atithe ele
vator, for George Buggies, flushed
with victory, had found time'to punish
a quart of ale at tho "Retreat," and as
he idly gazed through the glass bot
tom of the pewter mug was beginning
to wonder as to the fate of his charge.
"A good time, old fellow, and soou
over," said Boynton as the train neared
the metropolis. "Well, in five years
we have another reunion, and that's
not long to wait."
"No, indeed," replied Maxwell,
"and then a wedding may intervene,
you know."
"Ah, but you would lmvo all tho
i fun with tho boys."—New York Times.
WISE WOK 18.
There is more shame in silk than in
cotton.
Money is the best slave and the wor3fc
master.
A broken heart will always show in
tho face.
Splendid misery is the most difficult
to (Hire.
Three's a crowd except when Cupid
is the third.
Men of motley minds often havo
motley morals.
Most of the most beautiful things in
nature are silent.
A dollar will go a long way if you
only encourage it.
The worst people in tho world arc
the richest and the poorest.
What you do, take a hearty interest
in it, or be assured you will certainly
fail.
Garner up pleasant thoughts in your
mind; for pleasant thoughts make
pleasant lives.
Tho most delicate, the most sensible
of all pleasures consists in promoting
tho pleasures of others.
A sound discretion is not so much
indicated by never making a mistake
as by never repeating it.
Men of tho noblest disposition think
themselves happiest when others share
their happiness with them.
The best teachers are those who learn
something new themselves every day,
ami are not ashamed to own it.
Keep your eye 011 that young man
who would rather wear a SSO suit of
clothes with $lO in his pocket than to
wear a $lO suit of clothes with SSO in
the pocket.
Pay of Parliamentarians.
Tho British Parliament has not al
ways been filled by unpaid members.
In 11327, knights of the shires were paid
four shilling ($1) and burghers two
shillings (50c.) per day. Special bar
gains were sometimes made. Ipswich
beat down its representative from a
shilling to nothing at all. Sir John
Strange, of Dunwicb, served for a stip
ulated number of herring. For nearly
a century 110 member was sent from
Lancashire on account of the expense.
Payment gradually became obsolete.
The British colonies usually pay their
members, Canada allowing $lO a day,
with a SIOOO limit; New South Wales
and Victoria paying SISOO a year; Cape
Colony, $5 a day.
Continental deputies are generally
paid, except those of Spain and Italy,
who travel free on cars and boats.
Franco pays the highest, S3OOO and
$1750; Dutch members get SBSO and
expenses; Swedish aud Grecian, $350 ;
Portugal, $5 a day; Norway, $3.30;
German States, from $1.50 to $3.75;
Belgium pays l>y the month, SB4.
Japan pays about $075 per annum.
Tlie United States members, with SSOOO
a year, are almost at the top of the
ladder. The Argentine Republic is
supposed to pay SBOOO, but things aro
mighty uncertain down there now.—
New York Recorder,
SIAM AND ITS PEOPLE.
FACTS ABOUT THE LAND OF THE
WHITE ELEPHANT.
Cannon of tho Difficulty Hot ween France
and Slam—Extent of the Slanieno Em
pire—lts Dreat Natural Wealth—lts Capi
tal the Oriental Venice.
Coveted by the French.
The trouble between Slam and
France, is only another ] base of the
ever-recurring and never-ending East
cm question, the difference between
this and' former appearances heing
that in this case the trouble broke
out a little further east than usual.
For over 200 years the French have
been longing for an Eastern empire.
In the time of Louis XIV. the dream
of empire seemed about to be real
ized, and but for the almost acci
dental formation of a company of
English traders the Empire of India
might have lecn French instead of
English. The marvelous growth
of tho East India Company, the
equally marvelous success of lis
armed agents in Hindustan, put att
end to tho French hopes, and
until the present generation little or
nothing was accomplished. About
1787 the French, however, estab
lished a fool hold in the Indo-Chinese
Peninsula, and by treaty with tho
government of Cochin China acquired
the island of l'ulo Condula and the
light to cstabli-h a station on the
main land. The right, however, was
never exercised until 1815, when, a
dispute arising between the French
and tho government of Cochin China,
Saigon, the capital, was occupied,
and the whole of Cochin China b ■-
came a French province. In 1802 fur
ther conquests began, and the sur
rounding country began to suffer. Ir.
the following year the kingdom of
Cambodia was formally taken under
the protection of France, which then
began to exlend its dominions still
further to the north. In 1884 trou
ble broke out, or was provoked, It
matters not which, between the peo
ple of Tonquln and the French,
aud after a bloody struggle this
country, then a dependency of China,
was made a French province. This
lelt the two French possessions in
this part of Asia widely separated,
and in order to consolidate them the
coast territory lying between them
and known as Anatn was taken pos
session of. The area of Cochin China
Is estimated at 23,000 square inihs,
and its population at 2.000,000.
Cambodia has an area of 38,000
square miles and an estimated popu
lation of 1,800,000. Tonquin has
an estimated area of 34,000 square
\ —• -
AMAZONS Of THE II AH EM GCAnt).
miles and a population of 0,000,000,
while Anain has 40,000 square miles
of area and 5,000,000 inhabitants,
the aggregation of all these giving a
very fair start for a colonial em
pire.
To the west of this territory lies
tlie valley of the great river Menang,
which, rising in Thibet, over 2,000
miles away, Hows with many wind
ings in a general southeastern course
through Thibet, a portiou of China,
a part of British Burmah and Siam,
passing through tho French domin
ions just before entering the sea.
The Menang is tlre greatest river in
that part of Asia, both ID the length
of its course and Hie volume of its
waters, comparing favorably with the
Ganges, the Indusorßrahma-Pootra.
The French found that the possession
of the coast lying to the east of the
river was of little value without the
river valley itself, and accordingly,
to secure possession of this valuable
and coveted territory, they laid claim
to the oast I ank of the Jlenaug and
all its islands. As through a largo
part of its lower course the river
(lows through Siamese territory, this
claim was equivalent to a demand on
Siam to give up about one-third to
one-fourth of ils best territory.
This, in brief, Is an explanation iff
the difficulty between France and
Siam.
The limits of Siam on the north l
and east have always been rather in
definite, for to the north, adjoining ,
British Burmah, there lay a number i
of semi-independent states, which
sometimes owned allegiance to Siam
and sometimes to Burmah, as the in
fluence of one or the other preponder
ated. The same difficulty existed in
the east, where the Anamites some
times paid tribute to China and
sometimes to Slam. Siam itself lias
in times past been a dependency of
the Chinese Empire and even now a
sort of alleglan c Is acknowledged and
a tribute paid. So far as the Siam
ese territory can lie estimated, its at
most limits at the time of its great
est extent tvere about 1,200 miles
from north to south and 700 miles ia
width, or very nearly one-third the
size of the United States. That,
however, was before the English con
quests iu Burmah, which considera
bly reduced the nominal size of the
empire. Its present area is esti
mated at 250,000 square miles, while
it has a population of 2,000,000 Siam
ese, 2,000,000 Luosians, and 1,000,-
000 each of Chinese or Malays.
Uuvcrnmfnt of Slam.
The Government of Siam is in
some respects much like thatof other
countries having a limited monarchy,
while in one particular it is curiously
different. There are two Kings, a
first and a second, each of whom has
a state establishment, but only one
is honored as a sovereign, the other
acting as a sort of Prime Minister.
The whole country is divided into
districts, the government of each be
ing administered by a local official
who is Siamese, orLuosian, or Malay,
according to the promincnceof people
I of these nationalities in the popula-
I tlon. The reigning King is Chula
long Kom 1., krown also as Som
] detch Phra Paramindc Maha, wlioas-
J TIIK MOST FAMOUS TEMPLE IN SIAM.
| cended the throne in 1808, and who
governs by means of a council of six
| Princes and from ten to twenty mem
bers appointed by himself. N'oml
| nally a limited monarchy, there aie
so many ways of setting aside the os
tablishcd laws of the kingdom that,
I although the Maine.-c call themselves
1 the '1 hal, "tho free," and their king
j dour the Muung Thai, "the free king-
I dom," they are practically under the
j same kind of government as most
I other Asiatics.
| The King of Siam Is, comparatively
j speaking, a rich monarch, having an
annual revenue somewhat exceeding
£2,000,00.1, of whi h sum £287,000
come from the land taxes, £65,000
from the taxes on fruit trees, £IOO,-
000 from the spirit tax, £120,000
from the opium tax, £IOO,OOO from
the gambling tax, £143,000 front tlie
customs duties, £OO,OOO from the tin
tax, £27,000 from the tax on edible
birds' nests, and about tho same
amount from the fisheries tax. As
all the taxes are, however, farmed
out. and Siamese tax farmers are no
more honest than the people of the
same business in other parts of the
world, his Majesty of Siam loses no
small sum annually from the pecula
tions and cml.ezzlements of his
agents, and it is even asserted that
scarcely more than half the amount
due reaches the royal ciders, lie
probably makes up the difference in
the personal service exacted from all
Siamese natives, every Siamese in
habitant of the kingdom being re
quired. if railed upon, to give at
least three months' labor in the year
to his sovereign. The result may be
beneficial, so far as the King is con
cerned, tmt as lie frequently calls for
this service at a time when the crops
should be planted, or cultivated, or
gathered, the result Is far from bene
! llclal to either the agriculture or the
I general prosperity of the kingdom.
A similar state of things prevails in
regard to military service, all the ln
haiiitants being re piired to render it,
exceptions, however, being made in
favor of the priests; of the Chinese,
who aro taxed Instead: of slaves; ot
government officials, and of those who
are willing and able to purchase ex
emption by hiring a substitute. The
whole kingdom is practically, there
fore, at the King's command both in
time of peace and of war, and al
though it is, in some respects, one of
the richest countries on the globe, its
natural advantages lie unimproved,
and a territory almost the size of
Texas has thus an annual export of
only about $12,000,000 a year, con
sisting mostly of rice, tea, pepper,
and other tiopical products.
Bangkok it Singular City.
Bangkok, the capital, is In many
I respects a singular city. Its popula
tion is estimated all the way from
500,000 to 1,000,000, and is curiously
MAM'S PAVII.ION AT THE WORLD'S FAIR.
mixed and cosmopolitan. Siamese
an 1 Chinese predominate in its
streets, though the Malays are also
very numerous, and frequent Euro-
I cans in its streets demonstrate
tho presence of Western civi
lization and interest. They are,
in fact, the leaven of Slam,
and to their influence and the spread
of Western ideas arc due the various !
improvements noticeable in the great
city, from which political power pro
ceeds to the utmost boundaries yf!
| Siam. The army is officered b?
Europeans, chiefly English and Danes,
I the n?.vy is commanded by Euro
| pcans, and of the many business en
, tcrprises in Siam, most of those
whi h conned it with the outside
world are superintended by Euro
peans. There is little love lost, how
ever, between the native and foreign
elements of society, and the intense
hatred felt for all foreigners by the
large Chinese population may at any
moment prove disastrous to all for
eign interests. English, French,
German, Russian are all alike to tho
low-class Chinamen, who cannot dis
tinguish between their languages,
and all are hated alike. There is
every reason to believe, therefore,
that the presence of a hostile fleet iu
the river may at any time excite tho
passions of the populace to an uncon
trollable degree, and mob violence
in the East has a meaning which is
unknown in Western lands.
llangkok Is the Eastern Venice.
Formerly all its houses were built on
the land, but the p evalenee of chol
era many years ago so alarmed the
Government that it ordered the
houses on the banks to be abandoned
and directed the people to live on the
river itself. Thousands upon thous
ands of houses were consequently
built on rafts and moored to the
banks of the river, and although tho
policy of river houses has been to
some extent modified by the Govern
ment, no inconsiderable part of the
capital is still on the waters of tho
Menam. The houses are of slight
materials, constructed on bamboo
rafts, each attended by a canoe, for
to the river resident of fiangkok a
skilf is as indispensable as a street
car to the suburban resident in an
Ameri tan city. Formerly the right
to build on the banks was reserved to
tho king, nobility, clergy and privi
leged characters. This right has
been greatly extended and now Bang
kok has spread its limits on both sides
of the Menam. The most striking
features of the city are the palaces
and the temples. The former are
located in a citadel securely fortified
. against sudden attack or prolonged
siege, and comprise the palaces of the
two kings and a variety of temples
and other structures pertaining tp
the court. As the flrst king has about
5,000 women attached to the court in
one capacity or another, the palaces
are, as may be conjectured, very
roomy. Prominent among the at
tendants are the ainazon guards ot
the harems. They are women trained
to the use of arms an 1 employed
to guard the king's wives, and when
ever a lady of the harem ap
pears in public, she is attended
by a retinue of these female
soldiers, who answer with their lives
KINO OF SIAM
for her seclusion. Several very mag
nificent temples are within the limits
of the palace walls, the most remark
able being that of the "Sleeping Idol"
and that of the "Emerald Idol." The
Sleeping Idol is a statue 150 feet
long, overlaid from head to foot with
plate gold, in many places covered
with Inscriptions and representations
of the transmigrations or Buddha.
Not far away is the palace of the
White Elephant, who is really a
deity, and throughout Slam 1- rever
enced as such, lie has his court, his
attendants, his throngs of servants,
and Is treated like a prince. The
White Elephant is an albino, not
completely white, but here and the:o
having spots of cream color over his
otherwise dusky hide. The Emerald
idol's temple is a wonderful struct
ure, of the utmost magnificence, tho
doors and much of the wall being
plated with gold. The Idol Itself is
said to be a solid emerald 12 inches
high by 8 wide, the luiir and dress of
the rude figure being made of gold
studded with precious gems. In spite
of their barbarous magnificence, how
ever, the pagodas of Bangkok present
a wonderfully impressive appearance,
as, situated in large parks and cov
ered with porcelain p'atos and decor
ated with bells which sway to and
fro chiming with every breeze, they
gleam through the tropical foliage
and suggest that a people which could
build such shrines as these should
not be designated as savages; for, al
though their civilization may bo dif
ferent from ours, it is nevertheless
of a kind that perhaps suits them
quite as well.
Ail Ancient Eye-Brightener.
Compositions have b '.oil found in the
tombs of Egyptian ladies, whoso mum
mies have lain in their catacombs up
ward of 3,000 years, which, when sub
ject to analysis, reveal, it is said, some
mysterious beautifying properties.
Among other things an artificial eye
brightenor was discovered, which im
parted to the iris a beautiful verdant
sheen. Tho uso of this artieal may
possibly have given rise to that famous
classical expression perhaps first
used by Egyptian belles to their maids
upon tho completion of their toilets -
"i>o you see any grooti in my eye?"