Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-11-23
OUT WITH THE KING.

I OUT WITH THE KING.
The Good Time Which Landlord LELAND
Had IN the Samd,cich Islands.
[Chicago Times.l
Louis Leland, proprietor of the Lee
land, Chicago, was the landlord of the
Occidental Hotel in San Francisco in
1864. During that year he sailed for
the Sandwich Islands, on the Ajax, the
first of the Pacific line of steamers to
make the voyage. His pockets bulked
out with letters of introduction to dig
nitaries on the island. The young king,
who had been educated in Europe, car
ried things with high hand. His pal
ace and all the surroundings were of
the latest designs. There was no sitting
on the floor in that court, even if it had
just emerged from barbarism.
Mr.. LELAND is extremely reticent re-
garding the high estate from which he
has fallen. Transition from the glitter
of a royal palace to an everyday Califor-
MIA hotel crushed him and he has never
recovered. A traveller who was recently
in the city, and who met Mr.. LELAND
first at court ball, is responsible for the
disclosures of the hotel m ans royal life.
Among the many beautiful Hawaiian
women was the wife of a banker named
Bishop, who originally came from Mas
o,,l ,r:%h iVo,,1.oo c1,,o.,,5
ness, rose high financially in the royal
favor. Mrs. Bishop was an estimable lady
and by her many graces and rich, dusky
beauty, led the society Of court. Not
only did mine host Leland capture the
king but he won favor with both Mr..
and Mrs Bishop, who introduced him
in court circles A magnificent court
ball was given, which the informer of
Mr. Leland's high life also attended.
"You should have seen it," he said.
"No sight on earth could equal it, I
think, in varieties of color Of the attend
ants. There were the white residents
upon the islands, and, by contrast, a few
full-blooded natives. There were dusly
beauties and knights Of mixed natives
and white blood. A few Chinese, Jap
anese, and Portuguese merchants were
present. 1t was the most unique sight
I ever saw. The King had given ban
quet to a few of the boys several nights
before, in honor of his distinguished
guest. His Majesty wore at the banquet
that famous feather robe which is still
in possession of his successor, Kalakaua.
This robe is composed Of delicate white
feathers, fastened blindly to some cloth
surface. But two of these feathers can
be secured from the throat of single
bird, native Of the islands. It is of al
most priceless value. AS His Majesty
prepared to withdraw he threw this
feathered robe, in his affectionate hilar-
ity, over Leland's shoulders. There was
Leland bowling himself out, beaming,
with q series of parlor-foor-suite SMILES
and clad in the feathered robe, with
royalty clinging to his arm.
"Leland's health began to fail with, SO
much high life. and the King rendered
him his summer seat by the ocean for q
few days recreation. The hotel man,
surfeited with royalty accepted. Some
OF his friends of the Ajax, jealous of Lee
lands life in the lap of luxury, visited
the country seat during the first night
Of his occupancy and painted in big let.
tiers across the front the name of Lee
lands carasansar.r in Friseo, Occidental
Hotel Theoccupant's amazement when.
he viewed the painting next morning
was apparent. With his remarkable
intuition Of the terrible consequences Of
royal disfavor Leland fled for the ship
aftera: hasty adieu to LIS kingly host
before the enormity Of the defense could,
be discovered. But he brought away
numerous evidences of His Maiesty's>
favor, switch lie is very prone to show
even at the present day