, i 1 ""Z . - , , .
I' kmAk miM?tf 1 - ... , . - i ;
I tCJMM&MMgM I of Sfam and very close to the Straits J lion more was spent for Parisian gowns ihe scese was changt .'in ; he vSt ni V., their dresses. '
I tSMStfeJ I Settlements, where large numbers of and millinery for the five brides. Con- I day. The usual performances -wen- The celebration of the lime bath was
P -' 1 Europeans have centered, many of whom i fetti and Wbons and other Parisian j Riven until 3 o'clock, when a procession held in a beautiful little pavilion sur
fs : ' hastened to see the show, which was as delicacies made a big item in the Sul- j around the -town began.- in which all rounded by a high brick wall with only
I fa f j R i picturesque as It was unique. The pre- j tan's bill for marrying off his sons, and manner of quaint and curious things two gates, each of them being guarded
I v-' a ! Hmlnaries took months to prepare, hun- j the rest of the monev is said to have i wer carried ahnnt. such as hiir hover? bv nolicemen. At 2 P. M. all the Euro-
I I ---A , i ?$ysVs s T - -H I dreds- of elephants of enormous size be- been eaten .up in the distribution of val- made up in the shape of birds, while - pean guests were directed io the pavil-
i
Aay down on the edge of Slam, that
"Jrloas tailend of Southern Asia.
, e re'gns no less a person than .'As-'
f-ah Tunku. Sultan of Kedah. brother
c' the moon, kindred of the . shining
an absolutely unhampered and ir
r'T.onsibIe ruler of some 30.00G . mapy
Asiai!es. Now. the habit of mary-
z and giving in marriage obtains in
"am rauch as it does elsewhere cn
r-r'. and. in fact, more so; fcr within
last Ij weeks the Sultan of Kedah.
w'o has been married some 22 or 23 ,
t:ais Hmt,.n i . i
-- i.j.-c.i, naa caretuny arranges
marriage of five of his several
2er.3 c: sons, each of whom took as
a bnle a graceful, shy and mnon-esed
' 'i:df n fl'cm ether minor kingdoms that
" 6 rally governed from t'arls through
i , Vac:i:ting person of his tmperml
-j..r.-ss. the Emperor of Siam.
.;:n the land of the original white
' ; ' 'n'- '-e buffaloes and beautiful
rn. d'j.ite the remarkable ease
v.n, -n matrimony can be arranged
-:n us borders, has never before ex-
; ' '1'Cf (1 s-ich a violent spasm of con-''
; :aiuy. v.hich has practically taken
VJ ,tl,fc ' '-itire time of the kingdom of
'lac'i the 1st of August. Sin.ce
date ao less than five royal princes
been married through the kind
es it their papa, who has not only
. ''n tifc trouble to select their wives
but has even gone so far
. 1 !:,-sh the necessary trousseaux
L"'.' t-aeh happy couple with a
I'lUuee and a suite of turbaned
' - s Euch little prince and the
' ' 'us is and the youngest 15
:i ll,ity turban, that remarkably
v a drum, patent ieatner shoes.
,i-u . " ani Eondon tour-in-hands
- aetd frock coats.
V. ho The Saltan Is.
The s
:tan of Kedah, who has thus
- t'j boldly butt Into the whole-
market, is fairly well
i'aris, where hla esearjades
lacognito of Prince TIbuco
- ''-
and his wonderful generosity to several j
notable Parisiennes as to diamonds and j
gowns, formed a three 'days' scandal j
and a nine. days' wonder even in that
whirling -cj-clone of cosmcpolttanism. ,
Paris. He Is nearly 40 jears of age.
.Tho Sultan is ;i: need Mahorrmedan
yin.V.tt bad debtor, 'hie rules 30.CCO people j
by the grace o the Emperor of Sium j
anrl the connivance of the 1- renen aim-
ister of Boreign Affairs, lie pays the
Siamese Emperor an anntial tribute.
consisting of two wi. '.e elephants.
1.000
f Vioo acfi " wazonloads of fine
bamboo trunks. a dozen carefully
trained dancing glr.s and a' small per
centage on the internal revenue duties
which are collected by the Kedahcse
custom officers These" latter collect
something over twice the amount and
turn what Is. left over to tlie ambas
sador of the Siamese monarch. KeUah
is really wealthy in proportion to its
po-ulation. as Southern Asiatic terri
tories go. The land is fertile, producing
practically every known tropical and
serm-tropfeal fru't. flower iand gram.
The rich ride elephants.; which , are very
numerous. The poor man wa ks beside
his oxen, whictt even his - patient cour
age cannot enable hiro to , ride. 1 hey
cremate their dead. x ' ; '
Crown Prluce Married Fir.t.
. much ; for Slam, .Kedah and the
Sultan thereof. ' ,',,,
His Royal Highness. Tunku Ibrah.m.
who 13 crown prince of Kedah and a
sallow-looking. - under-developed . cig
arette smoking Siamese, was the firs'
or the princes to wed
the middle of August Her Highness,
STnku Tyash-Tunku. by th way. being
ta?U-caie. the last or family name
m.Doi.tt t . ,rtflh. Every-
r the ros'at nwu ui
. . w i -: pet away
hnrfv in Keaan ' - -
family bamboo tree crowded
from the
: nf.f he ''little kingdom
into - the cu-Ji' - - o'
. . - k.rMr!i and eorgeous
ing collected, presents being ordered
f i urn Paris, the trous.erf if "rnade In Eu
rope and shipped to this faraway point
in Asia. Even ti e King of Slam. ...who
could v.ui leave his opium long enough which the "various performances' were
to dabble iri the ceremonies, sent one of j glvenl Every class of inhabitants and
his hundred sons. Prince Charan. who ( the town is as polyglot as Babel, in
traveled . cverland from the far-eastern J eluding Jfalays, Siamese. Hindus. Chi-
side of the peninsula .wit -i Ir.s elephant j
train, the Sultan of Kedah meeting him
at the gate of the capital and paying
h'm the obeisance duo to his political
superior.' the Siamese Emperor.
The Crown Prince, of course, had a
slightly mere gorgeous wedding than his
brothers and a longer and more varied
circle of fetes. ' precessions and - b-ili
masques. The whole affair was a curi
ous and somewhat ludicrous hodge
podge of oriental dressing with Parisian
veneer. The bride wore a vaienciennea
point d'esprit wedding gown, with the
traditional veil demanded by the religion
of Mahomet. The Prince wore a dress
suit and a turban., a purple sash and a
military helmet almost exactly like those
worn by German cavalry officers. The
marvelous gaidens "of . the Palace of
Kedah. covering 4D acres tind filled with
gorgeous tropical plants and blossoms,
were thronged almost to suffocation by
the thousands of wedding guests nija hs.
princes. Buddhist., and Mohammedan
priests joggled elbows with British tea
merchants from Ceylon, French finan
ciers from Siam and the Inextinguish
able traveling salesman of the enter
prising merchants of Germany.
What Tlte Wediline Cost.
The cost of these weddings is estimat
ed by the French Residente at Kedah.
the semi-official representative of the
French Colonial Office in this petty
Siamese state, at about a million and
a half dollars, equal by comparison to
$15,000,000 in this country. The cost was
borne entirely by the Sultan." who
pawned and sold a number of valuable
diamonds accumulated by his predeces
sor, Tima Ayra, who was as avaricious
and pecunious as his son and heir is the
reverse. Over half a million was ex
pended in securing the various ele
phants, tigers, buffaloes and rhinoceros
which were paraded and slaughtered in
the hunts and animal battles which
formed a most important part of the
bridal festivities. At least half a mil-
THE MORNING POST: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 1904.1
uable jewels and native orders to the
cnlef Kurdpean and Giamese guests.
Xiimhets: of open 'stages vere erected on
the rrart.;!es throi;ghoi:t the town, on
nese. Mohammedans and so on had a
stage to itself.
While these play-acting performances
were bein given the Europeans had
plenty of sporting facilities, for many
shooting parties were organised by the
Sultan's brother, the Rajah Muda of
Kedah. the father of the bride of the
Crown Prince.
A detailed statement .of the astounding
ceremonies which were thought neces
sary to make one the Crown Prince and
his bride would include:
1 P. M The first day of each wedding
began very seriously with prayers for
the bride and bridegroom, who had hot
met before.
4 P. M. The marriage ceremony, after
the Mohammedan manner, was cele
brated in public.
7:30 P. M. Dinner was served to almost
all classes. The European guests and
highest class of natives had the greatest
attention paid to them. The banquet
was served . in the courthouse, beauti
fully decorated for the occasion. The
largest room was laid out with four long
tables for the leading members of the
royal house of Kedah and the European
friends, while the Malay officials were
entertained in the adjoining rooms. Two
refreshment bars were kept open in the
courthouse day and night, free to every
body, during the two months of the cere
monies. Many temporary buildings were
also put up for the refreshment or all
classes.
Second Seventh Day.
From the second to the seventh day
a round of junketings was given, begin
ning sometimes as early as 9 in the
morning and lasting until 1 next morn
ing. Here is a typical day: ''.
9 A. M. to 4 P. M.-, various perform
ances; 1 P. M., tiffin; 4 P. M.. sports
and Malay fencing; 0 P. M., dinner; 10
P. M.j fireworks; 1 A. M., supper; 1 P.
M.t various performances.
Eighth Day.
As Glassford Bell would have said.
manner of quaint and curious things
ivors carried about, such as big boxes
made up in the shape of birds, while
people of importance 'were carried about
as part of the procession.
The procession lasted an hour and was
followed by one of the most interesting
and vital parts of the ceremony, name
ly, "picking of enai." This consisted of
the entire procession parading seven
times around a garden planted with
artificial flowers'. Then the great ones
get out of their ornamented seats, and,
walking to the center of the artificial
garden, picked two handfuls of the
leaves from the enai trees. These leaves
were afterward taken to the house of
the bride and bridegroom and sprinkleel
over them, an address balng delivered
to each of the happy pair separately, for
they had not yet met each other.
The ninth day's program was the same
as that of the second, the natives revelling-in
fencing and cock fighting, a
favorite tbrm of recreating. At 10 o'clock
The Sinth Day. ,
in the evening, however, the bride and
bridegroom met for the first time. They
were carried through the town on a
throne borne by no fewer than 200 na
tives. j ;
Thf Tenth Day.
Here Is the round of gaities for this
day: 9 A. M. to 4 P. M., various per
formances; 1 P. M., tifiin; 4 to. 6 P. M..
sports and Malay fencing; 7:30 P. M..
dinner; 9 P. M., fireworks. ,
The Eleventh Day.
' The eleventh day was very similar In
character. 1 P. M.. tiffin: 7:30 P. M.,
dinner;,?:-) P, M. to 1 J. M., illumina
tions, various performances; 1 A. M.,
suppen -
The Twelfth Day.
This day was more crowded- with a
round of rejoicing. 9 A.M. to 4 P. M..
various performances;'-1: P. M., tiffih;
4. to 6 P. M., sports r.nd 31-Jay fencing;
7:30. P. M , dinner; 9 P. M., fireworks;
7:30 M. to 1 A. M., illuminations, va
rious performances; 1 A. M... supper.
The Thirteenth and Last Day.
The last. day. of all (Sunday) was
marked by a very curious ceremony
known as "the lime bath" (ber lfmoh),
which greatly interested the foreign
spectators, althpugh it must have made
the European ladies who were present
very indignant, considering the damage
' ti.en dresses.
The celebration of the lime bath was
held in a beautiful little pavilion sur
rounded b a high brick wall with only
two gates, each of them being guarded
by policemen. At 3 P. M. all the Euro
pean guests were directed io the pavil
ion, where the Sultan and the whole
royal family were present, together with
many hundreds of natives, in the yard.
Then the gates were locked until the
ceremony was finished.
The Mysteries of the Lime Oath.
The bride was then carried In and the
groom wiillted In supported by two best
men, and then seated themselves on a
golden bench perched on a platform.
The- were in their best state dresses of
silk and sparkled With gold and dia
monds. When they were seated some 13
old Malay ladies began walking round
and round the couple, first: on the high
est step of the platform, , then lower
and lower until they reached the bottom
and disappeared. Two ladies stayed be
hind, closed all the curtains around the
couple, took off their valuable dresses
and jewels and dressed them in light
garments. When the curtains were again
pulled open the serpents which formed
the sides of the thrcne began to belch
out water on thv couple, drenching them
to the skin.
The Spectator Drenched With
Scent.
The next part of the ceremony as
tounded the European spectators. Each
native seized a bucket, dipped It in a
huge tub filled with scented water and
proceeded to drench his neighbors with
the contents. It was impossible for any
one to escape, for the-gates were locked.
Not till every drop of water "was used
were the gates unlocked. When this was
done there was a perfect stampede for
dry clothes. ' ,
Now that the Sultan of Kedah has
happily married the available crop of
his sons, it Is expected that as soon as
the finances of the country recuperate
sufficiently to allow . it several of
his quite charming daughtersjwlll short
ly undergo similar1 initiations Into the"
wedded state. It Is only fair, however,
to say that the ordinary KedaheBe Is not
put to the irritation and expense of any
such marriage ceremony. ;- His usual
method of obtaining an additional bride
is to quietly present the father of the
lady with a few sheep, or some of the '
curious silver coin which represents the 1
most valuable medium of bargain and ;
barter tn Siam. 1 v -
The five newly married couples were
each installed, after, the last day of the
wedding festivities. In an airy and; com
modious bamboo palace In a corner of
the huge garden " that surrounds th
Imperial residence of the Sultan. "VvTiile'
the exterior is purely oriental, the fur
niture and finishing of these miniature
palaces were a curious hodge podge of
misplaced" Parisian finery and Asiatlo
simplicity. The floors were made of the
magnificent native ; mahogany highly
polished by slave labor, covered here
and there with superb oriental rugs; and
the principal furniture consisted of small
fancy tables Inlaid with gold. And of
sumptuous couches. The Sultan has the
true oriental idea that the only neces
sary furniture In an. oriental residence
is an abundance of .comfortable places
to lie down. The newly married oouples
are extremely lncky hv that -they , will
not be troubled at all with the Western
horror called the servant problem, as
the royal father-in-law presented each
of the dusky princesses with, a small
army of slaves. As a matter of fact.
. they are not called slaves, as this would
wound the sensibilities of Parisian cab
inet officers, but the domestic servant
of Kedah, who would take it upon him
self or herself to deliver a month's
warning would quickly be hurled into
another and better world on much
shorter notice than 30 days.
All the native peers of the Sultan of
Kedah sent a few of their surplus dia
monds and pearls, and each prince and
princess was decorated with the mag
nificent Order of the Sun, which is the
highest Siamese decoration. As shown
In the photograph of the Sultan him
self, this Insignia Is made up of a Sin-.
gle hugedlamond. In the case of His
Majesty, however, it is surrounded by
rays formed of several hundred superb
stones, the whole . making a dazzling
sunburst of exquisite gems.- The beauti
ful star of diamonds worn by the Sul
tan as head of the order is Itself worth
probably over $1,000,000. and Is one of the
wonders of Southern Asia. . ; ,
The stars worn by the royal princes
and by the lesser Siamese nobility are,
of course, much smaller and infinitely
less valuable than the marvelous in
signia which it is for the Sultan alone
to wear. In addition to these costly
presents of jewels, each of the five cou
ples was presented with numerous serv
ices of gold and silver, which were sent
in carefully guarded chests to the '-little,
palaces, also presented by the im
perial papa.
According to last reports, the , Ave
princely couples are each peacefully In
habitating their airy bamboo palaces,
and contentedly jogging along the Siam
ese pathway of married life. '
"Pat" Campbell At Home.
That undeniably great actress and
English gentlewoman, known to count
less friends as Stella - Campbell when
happily domiciled in a quaint, white
paneled house In Kensngton built- In
the time of George II., blossoms out
into that marvelous actress heralded as
Mrs. "Pat" Campbell.
The home of Mrs. : Campbell Is In
a sweet bit of London, where one may
indulge in the luxury of forgetting -the
madding crowd; yet sitting with the
actress beneith the shady trees -on a
summer's afternoon, though the birds
be singing their lustiest In the boughs
and an occasional butterfly, comes cir
cling over the beds of mignonette, one
can scarcely' remain for long oblivious
of .the great public outside, for; as one
very naturally leads the conversation
to the art of Mrs. Campbell , and to
Mrs. Campbell herself, echoes of ap
plause seem to resound, from every
quarter of the kingdom.
Many actresses are hardworking, but
no woman" I ever met could rival
Stella Campbell -in. industry. The mere
thought of her day would prostrate any
ordinary woman. Rising early, she finds
a big packet of letters upon her break
fast tray. As she is an actor-manageress,
she cannot afford to leaye one
of them unopened. Here is an invita
tion to . dine on Sunday next from a
cabinet minister' wife,, an entreaty
from a great painter that she should
"sit to him for her portrait" any day
that she chooses to appoint, d02ens of
missives from tradesmen begging the
honor of her Inspection of their mil
linery, jewelry, books; china or engrav
ings, as the ' case may be- Notes,, .too,
by the dozen craving her -autograph;
photograph, her. charity, an, interview
with her; and then, besides, the hun
dred and one letters from " actors and
actresses seeking an engagement.
As to dramatic authors and author
esses, they overwhelm her with plays,
and promises of plays. Aftter a hasty
breakfast the actress answers the pile
of . letters In that singularly nervous
characteristic hand of hers and flies off ,
to her looking glass; and If you - watch
her dress for her outing, then you knoWj
the woman. The face reflected at , the
moment may seem beautiful, or the re
verse, just according to her mood. Tired
or displeased, a dulness comes over her
eyes, her mouth droops. But tf her
thoughts take a fresh turn the gloom
dispels, and her smile, the happiest pos
sible, irradiates every feature with a cu
rious charm. . Heavy is her mass of
ebony black hair, which as she talks
she pushes back from time to time with
an impatient gesture, as if Its weight
hampered her.- Again and again the
hair falls- into curves about her fore
head, curves such as were the Joy of
Rossetti and -Burne-Jones.
Her hands, exquisite in shape and
mobility, are the hands of an artist to
their finger tips. As she dresses with
extreme rapidity, she looks less In the
glass than do most women. Vanity,
indeed, Is no weakness of hers. Her
toilette, then, is completed-in the most
expeditious, businesslike way possible.
Snatching a big parcel' of books and
manuscripts, she runs down stairs,' says
good-by to a menagerie of pet animals
carrying away with her 6nly her tiny
griffin, by name. "Pinky Ponky Poo." .
Such is the domestic side of the lit
of that incomparable artist who is con
ceded to be the greatest of English-'
sneaking actresses.
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