Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-14
VISITED KING KALAKAUA.
Capt. Arson Tells How His Baseball
Men Were Treated.

II
Capt. Anson Tells How His Baseball
Men We're Treated.
Correspondence chicsso Herald.
| Since writing these perhaps duh and uninter-
ssting stories Of my life on shipboard have
been on land Tor sand, rathsr) and seen the
king Of the Sandwich Islands. This il the first
live king have ever seen. Hitherto these au-
tocrats have appeared TO me in the form Of
mute, sightless creatures printed on linen backs
| and usually held by other persons. But have
| now seen king in hesh and blood. King Kala-
ksua, the monarch of the dabs of dirt in the
| soup known % the Sandwich Islands, has re-
ceived rs in grand style. The attention he
showed me was most hattering, and - now
think IL all over feel good deal like king
| myself Isuppose the correspondents have told
You all about our reception and luncheon with
King Kalakaua, and told it much better than
could, but as am . sort Of bushwhacker In
| this tour-writing business shall not hesitate
| to give you my opinion Of the monarch and his
| manner OF doing business, and the first authen-
| tic story OF my interview with him. 1t was q
| torridly hot day when the Alameda swashed
around in the white harbor of Honolulu. There
was scarcely ripple on the ocean and the
foliage Of the trees hung rank and limp. Amid
| some stirring patriotic music from the kings
|
| surrounded by thousands of natives, who stood
about with mouths agape. As soon as we had
| got our land legs we were hastily driven to
| the kings palace, which stands among
| some of the most beautiful trees have ever
beheld. And right here want to say that /
was crowned with wreath of white flowers,
the name Of which cannot, for the life of me,
remember. The crown was tenderly hung upon
my brow by pretty Kanaka girl, who laughed
bewitchingly she noticed my embarrass-
,pyK a1a ban IN, h
| tion-room. He is q stout, middle-aged man,
| with large full face and bright eyes. He ex-
| tended his hand to President Spalding, who
reverently bowed as he grasped the outstretched
fin. Then I was introduced With the white
flowers dangling annoyingly from my brow,
seized the imperial ripper and squeezed it with
all the ardor of bowling wolf. Then the rest
of the boys and the ladies were
PRESENTED TO THE KING,
who showed graceful attention to each. The
monarch Of the Sandwich islands needs exer-
else. He ought to go to the Hot Springs and
boil out His flesh is soft and don't believe
he could do hundred yards in less than two
minutes. OF course didn't tell him this, but
1t is my honest conviction that if he would take
course Of training, such as the boys are used
to, he would last several seasons. The king
dresses with considerable gorgeousness When
I first saw him he reminded me of a horse doc
tor know on the West Side. His diamonds
were large but genuine. There was great deal
OF white shirt about him and his coll
lar was Of the turn-down variety with
an old-fashioned fyblown, butterfly neck
tie. His clothes were neat but lily cut. At
the luncheon, which was held on the imperial
grounds and beneath stars so large and lus-
trious that they appeared to be electric lamps
swaying in the dark, l had an opportunity to
talk with the king. One of the first questions
he asked me was about the presidential cleo
ton. He could not have pitched a better ball
for me to hit, for l had been printing myself
with politics for six months or more.
HOW THE KING KNEW HARRISON WAS GOING TO BE
ELECTED.
''It was clean sweep for Harrison, /" replied
Sand lost s250 on the game" This seemed
soul
THAT speaks well for your loyalty to your
party, but very poorly for your judgment" he
replied and for a moment I sat wiggling my
finger in a native dish called poi. Before I
could make answer to the kingly sally Kally
(this is the disloyal nickname applied to Kala-
kaua by the natives) resumed:
Il did much better than You, Monsieur Ang-
song. knew three weeks before the election
who was to be the successful candidate
"TipT" I inquired, not knowing what else to
mo; Zeep," replied the king. "she knows
everything. I'll call her."
A messenger was dispatched to building
near the kings palace, and in a moment little
dried-up woman with yellow face and scrawny
hair approached US in timid sort of way. In
some lands she would have been called witch.
To King Kalakaua. 1 soon learned, the woman
was a clalrvoyant. With profuse courtesies the
bag approached the king and was introduced
to us we sat, tailor fashion. on the mats
spread out in the banquet garden.
'She can tell you anything, Monsieur Ang-
song, the king whispered to me and bowed
knowingly. Then waving his hand in an i'm
perial way, Kalakaua demanded OF the witch
that she tell my fortune. The old woman ran
her fingers around my head and chanted some
meaningless doggerel Her eyes were always
fixed on the stars. Finally she blurted out:
The tiger lilly stranger is great. He will
marry one Of Kanaka's feather ferns and the
buds will outbloom in warmth of color Hawaii's
fairest peonies."
/ heard q snort from some disreputable men,
Der at the board. I could have snorted, too if
snort had been proper, but it wasn't. The
king was profoundly grave, although thought
discovered in his fat brown face a look Of
pleasure. Having finished, the witch looked at
me admiringly. I smiled and nodded my head
who'll win the championship next season %
finally asked. wishing to test the fortune tell
rspowers. Masonic signs and the words Of q
dead language passed between the king and
Zeep. Then the old woman again ran her fin
gers through my hair, and with her eyes still
fixed on the blazing stars exclaimed:
america
She then disappeared, while we all clapped
our hands Justify. The king, proud of his
witch's knowledge Of the base ball situation in
the United States, returned to his food with ap-
parent satisfaction. Meanwhile the imperial
band began to play with great vigor and
merit. When the repast was over we were re-
called with
DANCE By SEVERAL KANAKA GIRLS.
Such supple maidens never before beheld. The
earth upon which they tripped seemed to have
an elasticity about it which sent them rollick-
ing of into the air. And such eyesI II NV
boys had them we would lead the batting for
years to come. With fingers daubed with
poi and my stomach filed with all the good
things that grace kings table on state occa-
sions, sat in the balmy air watching these
, 1.-the, queenly creatures float and glide among
the flowers and FERNS The king suddenly with
| drew during the festivities. but / saw him
again before we embarked and received from
him as a mascot for the coming season purse
made OF sharks teeth and cinnamon fiber. We
were to have played at least one game Of ball
| for Kalakaua and the royal household but some
missionaries whom the cannibals did not catch
| In years gone by rebelled against such sport on
Sunday, and We were forced to leave Hawaii
| without showing our skill with the ball and bat
Thus far we have been blessed with good
health, fair winds and most enjoyable compan-
ions. hope you will correct any grammatical
errors in this letter, as the business is entirely
| new 70 me and am aware Of having made
many misplays. We are now sailing for Auck-
| land, from which point you will hear from me.
| lnclosed you will find some sketches by Ed.
i Williamson. He reuuesta that thew ha min fad