Morning journal and courier., 1891-01-26
SANDWICH ISLANDS.

To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
The Hawaiian, or so-called% Sandwich
islands, are situated about half way be-
tween San Francisco and Hong Kong,
China. My impression before visiting
them was of a group of islands like the
Thimble islands or like the islands in New
York harbor, with a ferryboat running
among them, and the islands within sight
of each other, but they are really from
fifty to hundred miles apart, and in
stead of ferryboat small ocean steamer
is required to transport freight and pas
sengers between the different islands. The
first thing of interest, which attracted
midnight, at the wharf in Honolulu was
the great interest of the people in the
arrival of the steamer from San Francisco.
I could not understand why hundreds of
people should be at the landing at mid
night just to see a steamer arrive, but af-
ter remaining there few weeks came to
understand the matter more clearly; it is
because there is no communication with
the outside world at any other time. ALI
of the outside world, Europe, Asia, Amer
lea. might be destroyed, and the people of
Hawaii would be ignorant of the matter
until steamer should arrive from the
United States or Australia. No news can
come in any other way, and as two weeks
often elapse between the arrival of steam
ers, it is no wonder that the American and
European resident of Hawaii should evince
great interest in so trivial matter
as the arrival of steamer. When a
steamer from San Francisco arrives off
xUhi 10 rofp
situated about five miles from Honolulu,
the fact is telephoned to the city, and then
stranger might imagine that he was in
New Haven just after victory of the Yale
base ball nine, as even if it be midnight he
will be awakened by the blowing of horns,
which he will afterward learn was the sig
nal to the citizens that the mail steamer
had arrived. This is the custom always in
Honolulu. While the steamer is entering
the harbor the citizens of all classes and
compilations and creeds will hurry to the
wharf to be there as she steams slowly
through the coral reefs to the wharf The
first news of the death of King Kalakaua
will be received by his subjects as
the United States steamer approaches the
wharf about q week from now I can i'm
agine the scene of excitement which this
important event will cause. There are
representatives fromthe courts of England,
Germany, and in fact all nations Eng
land and Germany both desire the islands
as coaling station in case of war with us,
while "Bre'er Blaine" also has his eye in
that direction in the interests of our coun-
try. The excitement will be intense Per-
sonally Kalakaua was noS popular with his
subjects. He was a rogue and could adapt
himself to circumstances: Would 'pray
| with the pious or drink with the dry
could play sharp game of poker ad-
| dress the young men in the native Sun
| day schools with equal skill; break
a bottle of champagne with a
high naval officer or take a
drink of poor whisky with common hack
man at common saloon. I should not
have said that as there are no common sa-
looms in Honolulu. The license fees are
one thousand dollars and the result is two
or three gorgeous palaces of hell with the
| price of drink twenty-five cents, whether
it be beer or what not. The poorer gin mills
have been driven to the wall, but these
two furnish enough drink to satisfy all,
for men will have the stuff no matter how
high the price; but the burden upon wife
and child is still heavier. King Kalakaua's
death certificate reads, "Bright's disease, u
which, being interpreted in his case, as in
the case of many others, means rum, as
the primary cause of death. The remains of
the dead king will be conveyed to the
palace, which is not a grass hut such as
I expected to see but beautiful modern
mansion, somewhat like the Waddingham
mansion at West Haven, and furnished a,
least equally as nicely as our own White
house at Washington. My wife and I at.
tended the queens birthday reception al
this palace and made our salaam before
the dusky monarch, who were surrounded
by as much of the pomp of royalty as one
| 70 of fha rrt of ;oko
ria. The body of the king will lie in state
at this place, and when the funeral takes
place the best military band perhaps in
the world will play the funeral dirge. This
band took the prize at the great inter
national band contest at Chicago
some years since, and is a most
wonderful band. Shall never forget hear
cession asst passed down the principal street
of Honolulu when we were there. Al
the solemn and beautiful strains Of
"Nearer, My God To Thee" fell upon ou1
ears all business stopped and every hal
was removed until the procession had
paused and as they turned into the GENE
terry we heard "Safe in the Arms OF
Jesus" from fifty or more instruments
played by musicians who are in constant
practice. This band always played while
the king was at breakfast and was ALWAYS
|
America as the United States mail lief
for San Francisco. I heard the king ad
dress the scholars in one of the
large native churches while there
His address was upon the proper training
OF the young by parents. The queer
wore garnet silk dress cut la "Mothel
Hubbard" All the native women wea,
this style of Dress They were dressed like
"Flora McFlimsey of Madison Square
when the missionaries first found them
and would not wear the tighter dresses o.
civilization which were given them by the
missionary wives, at least not more thar
half day. Along in the cool of the morn
ing they were all right, but when the
burning rays Of a tropical MONDAY sun
beat down upon them it was too much, anc
off came the dresses; so the Mother Hub
bard was invented, and you will see ne
other style of dress. Queen Kapicilont il
beloved by her subjects and by European
residents alike, but will no longer b.
queen, as Kalakaua's sister will be the can
date for his throne.
Although the king was nominally 6
Christian, he had a streak of heathenism
about him, had his astrologers and sooth
sayers about him and was governed in his
public and private affairs, to great de-
gree, by their representations. England
will no doubt make strong effort to i'm
prove this opportunity to gain control Of
the islands, as the kings successor, his
sister, Princess Liliuokalani, is married tc
General Dominis, who favors England as
well as his wife, and this will give "Br'e1
Blaine" chance to exercise his fertile
brain with new turn of affairs in diplo
matte intrigue, and he will have to play 6
sharp game, or Great Britain will take the
islands. G. A. DoRMAN, NJ D.
| North Haven.
Jan. 24.-Judd Foote in the employ OF
G. b. Cooper, the Montowese grocer, was
out taking orders on Thursday, when the
sleigh slid down an embankment, throw
ing Mr.. Foote out and frightening the
horse, which ran past Mr. Henry Pardee's
turning short corner aud upsetting the
sleigh and breaking a leg of the horse. The
animal had to be killed
The press says of Mrs. g. NJ Allen, who
is to assist in the literary exercises at the
entertainment at Memorial hall on Wednes
day evening, January %: "Mrs 6. M Allen
elocutionist, charmed the audience with
her humorous and pathetic selections, and
| %ha