Browse Items (105 total)
- Tags: Siam (Thailand) – General 1892 -1989
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Kenneth's Letter: Leaving Columbus, The Car, and Travel
Kenneth preached his last Sunday at Columbus. He only had his final Bible conference to do before leaving for Siam. He talks about his travel arrangements, the shipment of his car to Siam, and his travel expenses.
Kenneth's Ordination
Kenneth reads an account of his ordination from the Meadville newspaper. It was May 10, 1927 (contra an earlier account in which Kenneth insists that it was April 19, 1926). The articles describes the hymns, the sermon, and the ordination prayer…
The Trip to Siam: The Train
Kenneth and Margaret describe their train ride from Chicago to San Francisco. Many people came to the Wheaton train station to say goodbye, bringing flowers and other things that Margaret liked. They tell how they felt about leaving home, describe…
The Trip to Siam: The Ship to Honolulu
Kenneth and Margaret describe their sea trip to Honolulu. They read letters from that trip about their daily schedules, the food they ate, the activities they had, and the many people they met. Margaret remembers an elderly lady, the gayest person on…
The Trip to Siam: Honolulu
Margaret and Kenneth tell about their time in Honolulu, where they had only one day break. A fellow traveler, Mr. Kennedy, rented a big Packard car and they all rode in it, touring the city and the countryside. The Landons recall Kenneth becoming the…
The Trip to Siam: Kobe, Japan
The ship arrived in Kobe, Japan, for one day, and the Landons spent the time with their usual group, visiting the town and the countryside. Everything looked small, and the area seemed overpopulated. Margaret talks about Japanese quarantine officers…
Unrest in China
Kenneth speaks of the disturbance in China that started in March of 1927 and filled the country. It was a civil war between the Kuomingtang forces of Chiang Kai Shek and the various warlords of the country. It has been a guerrilla area ever since.
The Trip to Siam: Shanghai
Kenneth talks about their encounter with Mr. and Mrs. Vincent, who were missionaries in Siam and were now serving in China. The Landons arrived in Shanghai, where they celebrated their first anniversary. They met the Thomases who had also gone to…
The Trip to Siam: A Summary with Dates
Margaret rehearses the dates of the Landons' journey to Siam. They left Wheaton May 16, 1927, and arrived in Bangkok July 4, 1927. She gave dates, times, and places they traveled through between Wheaton and Bangkok.
The Trip to Siam: Singapore
The Landons arrived in Singapore, where they met Mrs. Dorothy Richard Starling, from Meadville, PA. She had married a man who worked for an oil company in Singapore, and her mother had specially asked the Landons to look her up when they reached the…
The Trip to Siam: The Trip and Arrival at Bangkok
The Landons boarded an English ship for Bangkok. It was very clean and comfortable. They talk about the journey to Bangkok and the food they ate on the ship, and the people they met.
Siam: The Seigles
In Bangkok Al Seigle, a missionary, came to meet the Landons, at their amazement. The Landons stayed with the Seigles for some time.
Siam: The House, the First Day and Language Training
Kenneth and Margaret talk about the Seigle family, their house, and the first day staying with them. The stayed there for some time, getting used to the city and beginning Siamese classes the very next day of their arrival. They tell about the…
Siam: Odds and Ends
Margaret tells about some odds and ends in the Siamese culture: cloth colors for each day of the week, pythons used for food or medicine, Mrs. Fuller and the rickshaw ride, the fire that wouldn't burn the mission compound, etc.
Siam: The Buying and Selling of Women
Margaret and Kenneth talk about the buying and selling of Women in Siam. A young girl was bought for $10 in Hong Kong from her parents. Another was sold for 110 tekals. They were working as housemaids for wealthy people in the town.
Siam: The American Minister Entertained Prince Damrong
Mr. McKenzie, the American minister, was entertained by Prince Damrong and wanted to reciprocate. He sent his number one "boy" to buy the best kind of Chinese tea for the prince's visit. It turned out that the tea cost much more he had thought, but…
Siam: John Eakin Gave a Speech for the King
John Eakin asked the king to give a speech in English, and he replied that he could do so if Eakin would give a speech in the Siamese langugae. Eakin was just beginning his time in Siam, but he managed to have a speech written in perfect Siamese. At…
Siam: Margaret is Asked to Play Tennis With the Princess
Paul Fuller invited the Landons to his house for tea and to meet the Prince and his daughter, who was an expert tennis player and who asked Margaret to be her tennis partner in a tournament in February. Kenneth also was asked to become member of the…
Siam: Language Classes
The Landons were learning about 30 new words a day, and memorizing two verses from the Siamese New Testament. Each week was a significant advance in their learning of the Siamese language.
Siam: Kenneth and Margaret's Progress With the Language
The Landons completed their first quarter of study, which they did in two months. As it turned out, Kenneth completed in one year a three year language program.
Siam: Language Progress
Kenneth tells again about their language training, his doing three years in one, and Margaret two years in one. She kept up with me, he says. Margaret remarks that it was agony.
Siam: The Language Exam
Kenneth and Margaret scored very high for their language exam. Their teacher said they were the best students she ever had. Mrs. Welsh wrote them saying that she had been praying for their language study (she was still a friend to them at the time). …
Siam: Siamese Culture
The Landons adjusted to the Thai culture very quickly. The Seigles and the Landon's teacher were all very helpful in their adjustment. The language teacher gave a great deal of her time taking them on culture tours in the city, teaching them the…
Siam: The Tennis Court, Theolbald Preached, James' Operation
The Landons tell about Albert and Kenneth laying out a tennis court behind the two houses. Margaret talks about Dr. Theobald preaching on Sunday. They also tell of the operation that James had to remove his arm.
Siam: Festivals, The King's Birthday, The Golden Mountain
The Thai loved festivals. The King's birthday, November 8, was a great celebration that lasted three days. They had built a 150 foot mountain that was believed to be the center of the world.