The morning call., 1893-08-20
BLouNr ON THE HAwAIANs.

Ex-CODgresSman, ex-CommissioDer and at
present Minister Plenipoteniiary and Envoy
Extraordinary to Hawaii James II. Blount
stood knocking his heels together on Market
street day last week. His hands were
thrust deep In bis pockets and thin brown
suit, OF Honolulu make, clung to his we'll
rounded form as the trade-wind swept down
the tboroughfare. a little slouch hat on the
back of his head looked like wreath over
hanging bis smOOth-shaven, almost cherubic
face 1t would Do oherubc were it not for the
mouth, which comes together like steel
trap when a question is asked that he does not
care to answer.
began conversing about those far-away Islands
from which he had just returned, and OF the
social life there he had much to say.
LISA most peculiar country" he unused
aloud; "a country where people live on one an
other. They don't chew one another up Ike the
old islanders did. that Is bodily; put they do
maSticate one anotheps character Such
place for gossip! Cut OFF from all the world
save by an occasional steamer, they have moth
ing TO talk OF except one another. And then
the rumors ! A rumor is born In the morning.
IS at manhood by noon and dies at night. AT
breas fast it is limited that an attempt will be
made to assassinate the President or ex-Queen;
at luncheon everybody Is talking about an eX-
pected uprising and say they think blood will
flow in an hour or two; at dinner they get back
to oysters, ice-cream and side dish Of pol. for
getting the talk OF the day, or If 1t is recalled,
say that the conspiracy has been thwarted or
the conspirators have postponed action. Then
night steals over the scene and all grow
friendly, while the music of the taro-patch
fiddle floats abroad. and by and by the mOsQui-
toes, the only bloody-minded animals on the
island, drive Roy lists and Annexationists TO
seek shelter in bed under the canopies Of
muslin.
Americans who have been there longer than
six months get TO be as bad as the naIives-that
is most of them do There are few who retain
their conservatism. When 1 first arrived at
Honolulu and saw copies of the newspapers
with alarming headlines and read the para
graphs heaping invectives upon one another
would squnt out of my window expecting to
witness fight or hear OF a duel. But several
hours after would see the shoud-be COM
batants playing game of billiards or frater-
EiZing over a mint juIep, and 1 became con-
vinceG no harm would be done. Yes, II is Pc
euliar country, most unique country.
"But | met some very nice people there. 1
think Judge and Mrs. Rlckerton were as pleas
ant persons as 1 ever became acquainted with.
He is an Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court and a evel-headed conservative man.
And Mrs. RickertOn would grace any society.
She and Mrs. BlOunt became quite attached to
one another"
Ellis Mills of Staunton, Va, returned with
Colonel Blount. Mr.. Mills has a grievance.
He was appointed, or better say detailed, by
the State Department 10 accompany the Com
missioner TO Hawaii and act as amonuensis.
From the day of embarkation from San Fran.
cisco the colonel spoke of him as "My secre-
tary, Mills" This irritated the Vlrgnian. II
am not his secretary" said he, 81 am state
Department official" III anybody can't un-
derstand why Mills should "kick" let him ask
that person and he will soon find out. 1t was
not bed OF roses that he rested on In Homo
lulu, and 1t is an actual fact that he averaged
twelve hours a day while there. "Aud the
byes at Washington thought 1 had a 'pud'
when | was sent away said he. "Pud" is a
choice expression used by the elite at The
DatiOnst capital. II means much the same
as "soft snap or ''jolly good Iime." Truly
Mr.. Mills 'pud" was cold and hard. without
any sauce piQuante. c. II. w.