Wichita eagle., 1888-03-08
THE FEATHER CLOAK.
THE FAMOUS WAR RC5E OF THE
kiMEhhAEHAS.

4 Lady Gives Her Personal Experience
with the Historical Garment-Chat
of Rare Workmanship.
Some years ago, during an extended yacht
ing cruise among the islands of the Pacific.
we ran into Honolulu, as we felt deeply IT,
tere.ted in the people of Hawaii from the
catering reports of the missionaries We
received a warm welcome from prominent
people to whom we had carried letters from
friends. This was during the reign Of Kane
haneha Ill The people were more simple in
their habits than now, and they were not de
morahzcd as now by the Chinese element.
Tho women in their floating garments now
called Mother Hubbards, with wrearhs of
natural flowers bound round their heads,
were picturesque objects as they dashed past,
sitting man fashion on their horses.
Mrs Judd, the wife of the prime minister,
took me to many of their houses and we were
always welcomed in graceful manner.
day or two after our arrival, Mrs Judd told
me that she had arranged to present me in
formally to the queen that afternoon.
Nothing could excel the beauty of the scene
as We walked from Dr. Judds house to the
royal residence. The sun was just sinking
afar of into the Pacific and the hills were
all aglow with his slanting rays. Vegetation
was most lu1urie1t In one place we passed
q hedge Of egg plant The fruit hung In
enormous masses and in all colors from deep
purple to overripe golden. Arrived at the
mansion the queen and the Princess Victoria
met us on the gallery, which ran quite
around the building. They greeted Mrs
Judd familiarly and kindly, and gave me
cordial welcome. l was soon seated beside
the dusky queen. Ny husband had gone
With Dr. Judd to make the acquaintance Of
the king.
found her majesty shy, and glad 70 shell
ter herself under the protection of Mrs. Judd
She was a short, stout woman; very dark,
with heavy features. She had been woman
Of the people, and for that reason her chill
dren, of whom she had several, we're not eli
gible to the succession. Her marriage to the
king, my friend told me, had been purely
love match, and that they were still an un-
usually devoted couple l found converse
ton with the princess much easier than with
the queen, for youth Is sympathetic, and
we were both young, barely out OF our
teens. She too was very dark, with pleasant
manners and rather a pensive air. She was
very curious about that far OF world which
she knew Of only by hearsay. We were soon
joined by the Prince Alexander, nephew of
the king and heir apparent to the throne, and
a young American naval officer who had
been dining with the prince.
Our conversation ran on charmingly, for
setful Of color or caste An hour had passed
all too quickly. We had forgotten our elders,
when Mrs Judd invited me into the house to
see some objects of interest, only two of
which, however, have kept distinct place In
my nemory-the full length portrait Of
Louis Philippe and the feathered cloak Of
the Kamehameha. The portrait had been
presented to former Kamehameha by the
King Of France Tho portrait held place Of
honor In drawing room opening to the
right from a wide hall. and the cloak hal
been brought from its repository and placed
in the queens bedroom for my inspection
This room we also entered from the hall To
the left Of the door and quite in q corner Of
the room stood high post bedstead, and ON
the bed lay the object Of nations venera-
ton, the war cloak of tie kamehaulehss
One Of the gentlemen lifted the cloak from
the bed and brought it toward a lamp in the
center of the room, the better TO examine lis
curious workmanship and extraordinary
beauty Holding corner Of it in my hand
heard scraps OK it. history from the various
mouths The work all done by royal
fingers "Only two of these feathers in a
bird" ''The race Of birds completely e1ter-
minated" The only one ike 1t ever made,
etc, etc.
As we stood thus expressing our sdnira-
Ion, the naval officer took the cloak from
-hc hand. Of the prince and threw If over my
shoulders, saying as he did 50. shat is the
costliest garment that ever lady wore"
felt inNinctivsly that he had done an i'm
proper thing, that hs had treated lightly and
lgTsverentiy an object Of idolAtrous respect
Showing by my manner that / disapproved
q the act, | turned 20 the prince 70 remove
ii, which be did in very graceful way.
However, the royal mantle lay on my
shoulders, the most expensive one certainly
that any human being ever wore II Is a
complete sernicircle, and fell in ample folds
about the bottom Of ny dr-s., and / Am tall,
ike Rosalini, more than comnsn tall Is
y made on foundation OF network weven
Of the fiber Of tree The feathers ar.
sewsd in with twin. made Of tbs nrne ma
terial Il is soft and e-cn A. plush, Of
beautiful golden orange, shading 10 silver
.ray The feathers were taken from the 90.
But tive feathers are ust from each bird
il is said TO have been generations in max
ing, and feathers aad work costing over
81 900 600 The feathers were paid for IL
pieces of nankeen, four feathers for piece
valued At $50. As the feathers are net
over two inches long. some idea may be
formed Of the number required for gar
ness os .hts size When KAlakaua Wa
c-o~eed In 1855 be wore this robe for bis
coronation, making the ninth king who has
been 30 naiorned-"NoodIaH IN New York
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Father Of New Crnse.