Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-02-24
A EKW CORONATION EACES.

ny AN OBSERVER.
Shortly after II O'Clock of the 18th instant,
the eventful day Of last week, a dozen kanakas
appeared on the front steps of the palace arraycd
in sombrc suits of black, each wearing tiny
cape made of dyed hens feathers. The pre-.
vailing color OF the aforesaid capes was yellow.
with here and there a streak of red. Each
kanaka bore huge feather duster, known in
Hawaiian history as the kahif. These busters
were mostly made of ROSTERS tail.feathers,
considered very grand by all good and loyal
IIawaiians; their intrinsic value must be about
twenty-five cents each, though outside Of
Hawaii they might fetch $3.50, as curiosties.
The assembled multitude of native children
seated on the platform and their proud papas
and mamas who monopoized the seats in the
amphitheatre were expected to hail the appear
ance of the feather busters with loud exclama
tions of Joy, but somehow the aforementioned
multitude did not seem to enthuse worth a
cent. In fact, the solemn stiffness seemed
more like funeral, and all eyes appeared to be
anxiously looking for the corpse. After few
minutes of almost breathess suspense, there
appeared the royal imperial majestical ex-
Postmaster, acting marshal Of the royal house
hold. This dignitary (r) moved slower than
cold tar, followed by the various potentates in
the farce, among whom we observed His
Honor the Chief Justice and Lord High
Chancellor Of the Hawaiian Kingdom looking
very savage, painfully so; perhaps the strong
pede was crawling up his back; others at
tnbuted-the painful expression TO his lordship
having stepped on tack. Again, perhaps the
awful solemnity of the occasion was too much
for him, or, possibly the frequent rehearsals
produced that forced grimace so often observed
| in hfth-rate tragedians His Excellency the
Governor Of Oahu evidently desired to appear
as major general, commanding forty thousand
strong, but his figure was too thin to carry out
| the idea, even thinner than the savage express
sion of the previously mentioned Lord High
Chancellor. The royal family, very much
dressed, seemed to feel the awful solemnity OF
the occasion, rs each individual wore painful
expression which might be accounted for in
various ways; possibly their breakfast might
not have agreed with them; perhaps their
clothes were too snug fit, or too heavy, or
the march down the palace steps too slow, OF
the music too weak; possibly they were all
mad because the Postmaster went in first. The
appearance of their Majesties failed to call
forth the slightest expression of welcome the
assembled multitude Of their countymen were
as dumb rs oysters. The parson, who brought
up the rear, though clothed in the somber
habilments Of his sacred office, was evidently
the jollies, and happiest man in the crowd.
| Considerable time was consumed in getting
the little party properly placed within the
gaily-panted pagoda, thus aiiording the indi-
vidual members thereof an opportunity to pose
in various positions to be stared at, as well as
to stare at each others gay uniforms and
gaudy dress. The majority of the royal party
seemed cross and disappointed as though each
thought their neighbor's uniform OF dress bet.
ter than their own (the word own is used
on the supposiiion that the good clothes are
paid for). The King and the ex-Postmaster
seemed perfectly satisfied, each laborng under
the impression that he was outdoing the other.
The ceremony was opened by the cx-Postmaster
reading from manuscrip, lengthy account OF
His Majcsty's decorations, etc. The manner
Of reading closely resembled the school-boy's
first attemp, in rendering "The Boy Stood on
the Burning Deck We think the ex.Pos,.
master must have imagined the King himself
would do the reading and pin on the decora-
tions in regular order as a reward for his re.
cent distinguished services in Japan, but his
disappointment, mus, have been great, as he
was completely lost sight Of during the re-
mainder Of the performance.
| The next act was to administer the oath
which was properly performed by the Honor
able Chief Justice and Lord High chancello,
Of the Hawaiian Kingdom, who proceeded lc
act as waiter to His Majesty, passing in regular
order the crown Of state, the ring and seeptre,
not omi,ting TO affectionately fas,en hug,
eustard -eolored feather cape ON His Majesty
shoulders. Next the plain gold crown, which
His Majesty gingerly held by the little gill
button a, the apex long enough to be photo
graPhed before placing !, on his head. lii
Majesty then placed similar crown ON The
Queen, which, by the way, was esceedingl,
becoming and IN full keeping with her roya
robes. Did the multitude ehecri Nary q
cheer. Did they show any signs Of approval
No signs. Was there the slightest rustic. o,
even smilef Neither one OF the other
Slowly and silently the angus, company &c
turned from whence they came. The as
sembled multitude did likewise. save only III,
isw white people who acted as though the,
hoped TO get away without b~ing observed.
Finale--valleys from the lev ships In oul
hasbos. aid~i By the Punchbovl blundesbassei
and ssplanade potyuns. L. X.