End of Sisowath

Since the Emperor Napoleon III pacified Cambodia in 1863, inhabitants of that teeming, steaming puppet State in southern French Indo-China have flourished and multiplied under but three kings. Sisowath I, the second of these, died ripely at the age of 87, survived by 800 widows. Stout, chatty Sisowath II, who followed him, made the good-humored best of a job in which the emoluments were determined largely by the necessities of Finance Ministers in Paris.

To start his reign, Sisowath II limited himself to 200 ladies. But when depression cut into his budget three years ago, good King Sisowath had to fire 100 of his wives. The dismissed ladies kept themselves occupied with classical dancing, at which they were also very good. The little King's affairs continued to deteriorate. When World War II started, he sent his son, another Sisowath, to fight in France. Such loyalty did not prevent the mediating Japanese, in March, from breaking off a succulent chunk of his sun-broiled satrapy, handing it to hostile Thailand. Last week, at his capital Pnom-Penh, weary Prea Bat Samdach Prea Sisowath Monivong Chamcha-Vrapong Harireach Barmintor Phou-vanay Krayveofa Sulalay Prea Chan Crung Campuchea Tippedey died.

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