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Siam: The Length of Margaret's Stay in Phuket & The Sheehans
Margaret stayed with the Sheehans for three and a half weeks. They were delightful people though uncultivated. Mrs. Sheehan was a devout Catholic and Mr. Sheehan was often singing a song (his only song) while working around the house. Kenneth sings…
Siam: Margaret's Letter: Girls School, Customs. Peggy
Margaret wrote in a letter that she was going to assume responsility for the girls' school. Many of the students were Buddhists. She describes the Siamese customs and how she thought they were superior to the Chinese and Indians customs. She talks…
Siam: Bill's Social Instinct
Bill never had Peggy's social instinct; it was just born in her. Bill was always self-absorbed and he was so busy from the day he was able to get around. By the time he was two he was really maneuverable and showed a gift for language.
Siam: Margaret's last Letter of the Year (Cont'd)
Margaret continues to read her last letter to home. She writes about the children's health, their growth and some specific ways in which they behave. She returns to the story of Dan and Doris Hume Bovee and what they meant for the Landons, in…
Siam: Margaret's Last Letter of the Year
Margaret wrote about the Christmas presents from home that came the day after Christmas. She describes the presents and how the family reacted to receiving them. The Mortensons were so thrilled when they received the movies Kenneth made at Bill's…
Siam: Margaret Writes Home: Birthdays, Weather, Food
Margaret remembers two little girls who walked four miles to come to Peggy's birthday party. She recalls getting a cable for her own birthday. Kru Chin Da brought Margaret nice things for her birthday (she also taught Margaret incredible cooking…
Siam: Ah Sim and the Market
Margaret talks about her servant Ah Sim. She couldn't read but was very bright. She would keep the market list in her head. Kenneth was keeping track of the market. Once Kenneth was away for six weeks. Upon his return Ah Sim gave him a report of her…
Siam: Servant Problems
Margaret often had problems with her servants not being responsible enough. The Chinese servants tended to be noisy, negligent, dirty, and dishonest. But they were tremendously hard workers. The Siamese were quieter, cleaner, and more careful, but…
Siam: The House at Trang
Margaret talks about the house in Trang. She explains about property ownership in Trang and the acquisition of the mission compound. She describes the house they lived in and the building style that took into account the monsoon. She explains the…
Siam: The Landon's Cats
Margaret remembers the "cats" the Landon had. There was a small "panther" (a cheetah type). At some point the Landons had nine cats, seven dogs and one hornbill.Â
Siam: Margaret's Garden
Margaret reads about her work around the house and her having fun doing activities she never did before. That was the beginning of her gardening. Kenneth and Margaret talk about the food in Trang.
Siam: Margaret's Loneliness, Kenneth's Seafaring Adventures
Margaret tells of the second time in a year she had to cope in loneliness with what was required of her. She reads about Kenneth's seafaring adventures, the storm, how they waited on the sea for an entire journey for a steamer that wasn't coming.…
Margaret and Kenneth on Her Chinese Paintings
Margaret tells the story of her Chinese pictures of Christian scenes. It began when the Landons were living in Siam. Margaret received a magazine for women that contained a picture of a Madonna done in the Chinese manner, and she wanted to have the…
Kenneth and Margaret on Prince Damrong
Margaret and Kenneth explain who Prince Damrong was. He was a very powerful and highly respected person, not only by the Thai but also by all the foreigners living in Bangkok. He was the premier prince. They tell of the coup d'etat that led the…
Margaret and Kenneth Tell Stories About Ants
Margaret tells of the Landons' first Christmas in Thailand. It was Peggy's first Christmas, and presents came from the U.S. Even though Adelle and the girls had very little money, they always found ways of sending gifts. She tells of the customs and…
Siam: Kenneth and Margaret on Burmese Sayings
Kenneth and Margaret perform the Burmese Gospel chant they learned when they were young. They have no idea what it means. A group of young Siamese taught Kenneth one sentence in their language.
Siam: Margaret's Letter: First Date, Social Times in Wheaton
Margaret recalls her first date in college, with Alexander Gale. It was very trying, because Alex didn't know how to talk. She tells of social times at Wheaton, when her mother would invite students over to her house, or they would go over to the…
Siam: Stories from the War
Margaret tells of the day they left Phuket and their visit to Phangnga, where there was a cave with a temple inside. Kenneth recalls war stories associated with the area and tells of his visit to one particular island. It was eerie. He tells of his…
Siam: The Tin Dredge
The Tin Dredge was a huge boat built on dry ground before being moved to the sea. Kenneth and Margaret describe the fascinating process of moving the boat to sea. It was used to carry the tin, and several people with different expertise were working…
Siam: Ma Pawm and Ah Sim
Ma Pawm and Ah Sim came to the Landons very poor and not so nice looking. Margaret taught both of them many things and they greatly improved. Ma Pawm was fond of Kenneth and even more so of Carol when she was born. There was a lot of work to do, and…
Siam: The Thai Servants Were Superstitious
The Thai servants would fill the children with all kinds of superstitions. Margaret and Kenneth remember the lasting influence of these supperstitions on two children, their own Peggy and another missionary child. Margaret hired a second generation…
Siam: The Landons Made Durian Ice Cream
Kenneth describes how the Landons learned to use durian (which the Siamese called "the king of the fruits") in ice cream. It was a delicious fruit though it smelled terribly awful. Both Kenneth and Margaret comment on their living conditions in…
Siam: Kenneth and Margaret Entertained the Church
Kenneth and Margaret once had the whole church over to their home "for a frolic." They had a fun time playing American games with the Siamese. They intended to do that often, but were not able to do so the way the Dunlaps did: a frolic at every full…
Siam: Phya Ratsida
Margaret reads about Kaw Su Chiang, a Chinese immigrant who became extremely successful, having started from insignificant beginnings. He lived to be 96 after a very successful career. His son Phya Ratsida was more interesting for Margaret (Margaret…
Siam: Mr. Snyder Died at Nakhon
Kenneth tells how Mr. Snyder suddenly died in Nakhon from a stroke. Kenneth and Dr. McDaniels made the coffin and shipped the body to Bangkok where it was burried. The Landons remember Mrs. Snyder as a bitter woman and how she failed to crush…