Page:Harvard Law Review Volume 32.djvu/145

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HARVARD LAW REVIEW
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r JENS IVERSON WESTENGARD 109 to meet you here." Then turning to me he asked in a low voice, "Does he swear like his old father?" I denied it. Professor Westengard's interest for the Siamese students of this country began with the sending of the jQirst few while he was in Siam. He followed their career closely and visited them sometimes when on leave in this country. Thus Mr. Nai Aab, then a Siamese student at Harvard and for one year president of the Cosmopolitan Club of this University, received through this kind recommenda- tion a very beautiful portrait of the late King of Siam as a gift of His Majesty to the Cosmopolitan Club of Harvard. Last year the Siamese government was able to establish scholar- ships to enable successful students of Siamese law schools to come and perfect their training in American universities. Mr. Westen- gard, who always manifested sympathetic interest in the study of law by the Siamese students, was asked by the Minister of Justice to act as an adviser to the students sent by this scholarship. He gladly complied with the request of the Minister, and took up most carefully and individually the problems and needs of each of the young men. He corresponded with them and enjoyed the progress of even their English letter-writing. In view of the admiration the Siamese have for his knowledge of law it is not surprising that all our law students should have a great ambition to become one of his pupils, for this qualification would be better than other recommendations they could bring back home to Siam. The other students who do not specialize in law also receive their full share of his kind attention; they were free to come and consult him on all kinds of problems. In spite of his pressing work Mr. Westengard had time enough left to help everybody. The greatest benefit and at the same time the greatest pleasure derived from intercourse with the Professor was to discuss with him Siamese affairs. We could not find a better opportunity to learn the history of our country than from the statement of such an eminent authority. Professor Westengard has occupied one of the highest and most confidential positions in the Siamese government. He had access to all the archives of the kingdom, and was one of the best informed about her recent history, in the latter thirteen years of which he was one of the most prominent of its makers.