The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-22

contemporaneous history Is concerned,
with the reign Of King Kalakula, who
died in 1891 at the age of ffty-fve
years. It was he who visited this
country, as did his Queen, Kapiolsni.
Kalakaua was q good sort of King In
his way, but the Government business
was not exactly in his line. The civili-
zation that was brought to bis domain
was little ton much for him. BE was
very fond of entertaining the European
and American visitors and residents on
his islands in kingly style. The result
Of it was that his royal Treasury became
depleted, and during the last years Of
his reign he was probably the most Inn
pecunious King on earth.
His poverty resulted in no small de.
gree from his love for the game called
poker, which, it seems needless to say,
he learned from Americans. He would
sit up and play poker all night. II he
won the money of his guests he would
invite them to stay at his palace and
would kill the fatted calf for them. II
he lost, he would give the winners q
royal note, provided they were not 80
influential that he felt he must pay them.
In that event he would drain the money
of the pockets of some cne of his wealthy
and obedient subjects.
Old KaIskaua did not hesitate to re-
sort tricks to raise funds to have q good
time with. One of his victims in this
regard was venerable Chinaman, who,
by sharp methods, had accumulated
CSC, 900 or more. The selling Of opium
on the islands was illegal. King Kala.
kaus summoned the old Chinaman, and
told him that If he would drop $50, 900
into the royal Treasury he could have
the sole right to sell opium in the king.
dom. The Chinaman brought the $780,.
900. Kalakaua's debts had increased
in the meantime. however, 80 he told
the Chinaman that it would call for $780,.
900 more to Ok the deal.
The Chinaman brought the other $780,.
600. Kalskaua put It in his royal
pocket and then coolly announced that
the laws of his land would not permit tho
selling of opium and that his conscience
would not allow him to change the laws.
He told the Chinamsn that he would
give him back the $4,000 with rate
Of interest that would be truly kingly,
but the old Chinaman died of broken
heart Just the same.
King Kalakaua died of too much fun,
and nothing else. His widow 10 living
in Honolulu and lives on q pension. The
Queen who succeeded Kalaksus and who
has Just been overthrown Is his
Lydie Kamakacha Lii.
more generally referred to as
Princess Lydia OF Mrs. Dominis. Seated
beside her on the throne had been his
Royal Highness John o. Doninis, the
Prince Consort, an American clerk in a
Honolulu shipping house, whom she
married thirty years ago and who died a
year ago.
The Queen that was "a 6fty years old
md is a good. nstured, fat old lady with
a dusky skin and heap OF .'horse
sense" She speala English auently aud
Is fairly we'll educated. As heir pre-
sumptive she got salary OF $4,000
year and as Queen her salary was $2o,'
900 a year. She aud his Royal Highness
Dominis lived In the royal palace at
Honolulu, which Kalakaua built. Be.
tween them they had On income OF about
BIS, 900 year and they saved most OF 1t.
The next in line OF succession to the
Hawaiian throne Is Princess Kaisluani,
daughter of Colonel A. O. Cleshorn, Col
Lector of the Port of Honolulu, who
married the Princess Like.Like, now de.
ceased. The Princess, who Is about
twenty years old, has been at school in
for several years, and has been
brought under English in
1uence.
In 1887 the monarchy was practically
King Kalakaua had been