Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-11-08
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 8, 1884
BERyrcE PauAHI BTsHOp.
The Funeral serrice at KaohopUo- The
Procession Pageant The Last Mites

IrOcesstOH PuUf0Uf-fNr J0r htfes
The dirge is ended. The waing is still
The euloeies have been spoken. The tomb
is closed. And Bernice rauahi Bishop
sleeps with her fathers Not a day passes
over the earth but men and women Of no note,
do great deeds, speak great words and suffer
noble sorrows. or these obscure heroes,
philosophers and martyrs, the greater part are
unknown till that final hour when many that
are great shall be small and the small great.
The words, the acts and the latter suffering OF
Mrs. Bishop were not unknown to this com.
munity, because Of her social prominence
among foreigners and her rank among her
own people. Bu, the truth Of the quotation is
not less applicable for those reasons The
work Pauahi did for her people had in IT, at
least the elements Of greatness. Her plans
were broad, her impulses noble. Death
stayed their execution but the greatness was
not less for that reason. The words Of the
dead ehcfess may not have been great in the
accepted sense-thc sense that limits the great.
mel. Of words to half dozen volumes
Of the literature Of any century but her
words we're great in their helpfulness for the
women Of her race. Many an erring sister
found in Pauahi wise monitor and generous
helper to reform. In early days, not a few
happily.respltng marriages were brough, about
by her influence, between inconsidcrate men
and too fond girls, otherwise would have
drfted, the ono into ruthless neglect the other
into lasting shame; and her interest in the wo-
men Of her race-particularly in those most
tempted Of that race, the half whtes-has
been perennial interest, ceasng only with
death. The suffering Of Mrs Bishops las,
year Of life may no, be easily told For several
months before her death she realized tina, life
could be prolonged only short time The
pain Of the terrible operation she underwent,
while in San Francisco last Spring, was as
rothing compared to the dread Of the slowly
encroaching yet resistlcss disease that had fas.
tened so remorselessly upon her life. And yet,
through il all, she bore smiling face, had ever
a cordial greeting for every one that needed it
and, almost to the last, was cool headed and
clear headed in the transaction OF business and
in planning for the benefaction of her race
Her health had been almost continuously good
Life TO her was a well.ordcred round of dut,
and pleasure. She had so much to make life
worth living-a happy home, health, strength
and the power to do good that wealth brings
It was more than merely "sad" to sec this wo
man Gu, down in her prime. And the self re
straint, the dignity, the resignation with which
she considered and met her fate combined tc
make her grief truly noble as sorrow ever was
dreds--nay thousands-paid her the ungrudg
ing tribute Of respectful grief. Transient grie
Tor the most part--we cannot mourn long, un
less the shaft pierce the heart Of our persona
lives-but sincere grief, surely. The tenant
of Pauahi's large estates came and campet
upon the premises. Life long iricnds--natv,
and half white and white-made the funera
preparations their first work. In the big base
ment OF the great house, where the dead mis-
tress lay in her chill cerements, def -fngere,
natives, men and women and children, worke'
tirelessly to make kahiis in her honor. An
day and night, at intervals so brief that tn
sound seemed almost continuous, those loys
clansiolk walled their loss. Sometimes the
and passionate words that made the moor
light eene with their sound.
II was no small matter to house and fee
and direct and control the two hundred an
thirty natives who lived day and night on til
premises, during the two weeks Of funer'
preparation. But Mr. S. NJ. Damon was tn
most efficient and tdefatigable Of major domo.
and TO the arrangements perfected by his skill
tact, energy and good taste, largely was due III
solemn beauty Of last Sundays service an
pageant.
On Saturday night, while few fast FRIEND
Of the dead chiefess, including Queen Ennis
Mrs. w. +. Allen, Mrs. Antoine Rosa An
Mrs. s, NJ. Damon, we're in the funeral chan
Der, special mourning service was arrange
by the natives. The finest of,he large kahli
~ in nupber, were brought in and place
around the bier and in the corners Of the room
The gas Jets were turned low, the kahi
WANCts StOOQ rs " CuINCu uoW s,ouC, tuC III
tlves crowded into the open hall ways, Il
Few close friends sat silent, and on the ives
ward porch group Of native singers began
series Of specially composed meles to Pauahi
memory. The full moonlight streamed
through half closed shutter and its mol,e
silver danced in the yellow fame Of the g
Jets; while the meles Of Hawaii's past wei
sung in praise Of her who was the hopefule
promise Of Hawaii's future, II the moo
light meant romance, the gas,jets meant s,el
Teali,y;.if the meles told Of the pagan past, Il
Christian watchers symbolized the progressi'
present. Il was a strange commingling
conditions weird. pathetic, unutterably sa
ye, hopeful OF better things FOR all Pauah
people.
1t had rained daily from the day Of MI
Bishops death up to the morning Of Il
funeral. And last Sundays sun gilded clo'
bank upon Tantalus that threatened a stor
before noon. Blu, as the day waxed the dang
wsped, and at the appointed hour those vi
came TO the services at the house came ind
sammy skies.
Al the residence the arrangements inst
the room were as follows The coffin lay up
. bier covered with black satin and crep
above Il pail Of black velvet, edged wi
white. emhlaloned with the shield and CROW
II Hawaii. Al the head Of the coffin was
liable on which were three silve, candelabr
Thanking the table were three stands, two
them holding large vases. On the third rest,
floral crown, with base Of golden chrysa
thsmums and coronal Of yellow roses,
handiwoIk Of Mr.. J. o. Carter Behind u
crown rose tall floral cross, made by NJ
Annie Parke. On the head Of the coffin
pillow Of flowers. from which fell stream,
Of white satin--,he loving tribute Of Mrs.