Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1901 — WHITE ELEPHANTS’ DECLINE. [ARTICLE]

WHITE ELEPHANTS’ DECLINE.

They Remse No Enthusiasm Among Siam* ese Except When Advertised. Time flies and customs change, even In the most conservative countries, of the conservative East, and the glory of the white elephant Is fast waning. Before the Influence of another white animal, the European, he is passing slowly, but surely, into limbo. The greater part of Indo-China is now possessed by England and France, whose rulers lay no claim to Seyka Waday descent, and who can usually find sufficient exercise for their diplomacy and their armies without recourse to zoological freaks, while in Siam long years of uninterrupted accumulation produced a collection unrivaled in extent. Forty-five years ago His Majesty King Mongkut of Siam was the possessor of one white elephant, which was his chief delight and pride. As the greatest compliment he could think of paying to the Queen of England he sent her, by the hands of her envoys, a few hairs culled expressly for her from the tail of his beloved animal, and when, a little later, the arbiter of his destiny departed this life, he sent as a present to his friend Sir John Browning, accompanied by a touching letter in English, a small piece of “its beautiful white skin.** How changed are the present conditions of existence of the white elephants in Bangkok! The recent addition of a young specimen to the collection afforded an opportunity of noting the miserable parody which is all that survives of the ancient ceremonies connected with the capture and installation of the white elephant. The animal in question was captured in the forests near Lop buri, a place once famous as the summer palace and hunting lodge of the kings of Slam. No patent of nobility or alliance with royalty rewarded the finder of the animal; a small pecuniary recompense was thought quite sufficient to meet the case. When it was announced that the animal was sufficiently tame his transfer to Bangkok was ordered. Thereupon he was marched down to Ayuthia, where a specially constructed railway truck was in readiness to receive him.

But where were the gilded pillars, the silk and satin hangings of the pavilion which should receive the august creature? Where the reverent multitudes to do homage to the mascot of their king and country? Alas! these things have departed, and are no more seen, a little red calico and a group of stolid railway porters and Chinese coolies alone representing the gorgeous decorations and adoring populace of the past. In Bangkok, however, some preparation had been made for the reception. The fact of the impending arrival had been published in the papers some days before. Consequently, a considerable crowd assembled at the terminus to witness the disembarkation. The streets were decorated here and there with bunting, and a procession, headed by the four white elephants resident at the capital, escorted the newcomer to the palace. The trappings of the white elephants were most pitiful to view. Tawdry, threadbare red cloth now takes the place of jewel-studded velvet and silk, diamond and ruby rings no longer ornament the precious tusks, nor are gold bangles to be seen upon the august limbs.—lmperial Asiatic Quarterly Review.