On the 24th of Februxry, the Americans of Bangkok presented the Hon. John Barrett, their retiring Minister, with a handsome and costly token of their esteem. They gathered in large numbers at the residence of Dr. 'T. Heyward Pays, who acted as bust and master of ceremonies. The Bangkok Times says that Me. Barrett's success as United States Minister, during the four years from 1894 to 1898, and his popularity among Americans, Europeans, and Siamese, are unprecedented, and no other Minister has ever received such a valuable souvenir from his countrymen. It is an unusually Inrge, beautifully oxecuted, solid silver Siamese bowl of old style workmanship. The exterior surface is of beaten gold and enamel, and the bowl is some fifteen inches in diameter, and stands, with its pedestal of like quality, over a foot in height. Upon a silver plat fastened to the inner surface and near the rim is the inscription: Presented to the Honourable John Barrett, United States Minister, 1894-1898, by the Amorican residents of Siam, as a token of their high esteem and regard." An address of presentation was read, to which Mr, Bar-Fete returned an appropriate reply." The utmost enthusiasm prevailed on the occasion.—Hongkong Daily Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.