National Paradox

Bangkok, fair capital of warm lagoons and stately public buildings, rang last week with two sensations as opposite as her dozing Buddhist temples and clanging modern street cars.

White Elephant. From the tar north city of Chiengmai glad news sped that there had been born that rare marvel, a true white elephant, all pinkly pristine and signifying that the gods view with favor the ascension of pert brown-eyed King Pracha Tipok (TIME, March 8).

At Chiengmai stately priests flung garlands upon the baby elephant, poured lustral water on its quivering trunk and performed the complicated mystic rite of "Tarn Kwan." From Bangkok experts set out to confirm that the elephant was indeed a "true white" and therefore sacred. Siamese offered prayers of thanksgiving ....

Squash. Next day the brown eyes and fuzzy mustache of King Pracha Tipok betrayed animation as he delivered an address. "Squash," said His Majesty, "squash is nothing less than a godsend to a country like Siam." He was addressing the Royal Squash Racquets Club. "I find that since I have taken up the game I have been able to keep perfectly fit in the rainy season, whereas hitherto I am afraid that at this time of the year I have been anything but well. "But apart from the question of fitness, what other game is there for the rainy season? Golf or tennis is more often than not out of the question. Therefore squash is a game which should be encouraged, and I hope that Bangkok will provide more courts than it has at present. "I hope, too, that the Siamese will take up the game more keenly than before. It is a great game and is suited to the Siamese." Beaming, gracious, His Majesty then presented a gold cup to the winner of the Royal Squash Racquets Championship.

Occidentals recalled that the late King Rama VI (TIME, Dec. 7, 1925) introduced a resplendent offshoot of the Boy Scout movement into Siam and went about attended by Boy Scouts who were actually potent nobles clad in uniforms of his invention, portentous with insignia and crowned with regulation felt hats bedecked with plumes.