The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-04
A Hawaiian Incident.

Once Lord George Paulet, in command
Of the British man -ofwar Carysfort, was
cruising in the Pacific. He ran into the
harbor of Honolulu and took look ut the
islands He liked them. Accordingly,
with the true British instinct, he decided
to annex them to the extensive dominions
of her Britannia majesty. He lapded a
company of marines, hoisted the union
jack, fired q cannon, broke bottle of
wine and announced that Hawaii was
British colony.
There were not many whites in Hawaii
then, and the native government was not
strong enough to resist Great Britain.
The few whites there were chiefly Amer
lean missionaries. But they were the gen.
.uine New England stock. They never
lacked for backbone. One Of them, DR..
Judd, the father Of A. F. Judd, the pres
ent chief justice of Hawaii, was man Of
singular courage and great mental force.
He was the first white man to hold Office
In Hawaii and was then prime minister
of the king, Kamehameha, third of the
name In fact, DR.. Judd was the real
ruler of the kingdom. Dr. Judd prepared
to visit Washington to induce the United
States to interfere In behalf of Hawaii.
But before he could go Admiral Thomas,
in command of the British squadron in
the Pacific, arrived at Honolulu. He dis
avowed the act of Lord Paulet and ordered
that the British flag be taken down. Soon
attcrward his government approved his ac-
ton.
Admiral Thomas became an immense
favorite with the Hawaiians. They thought
there was nobody like him. The king de-
cidcd to give him splendid banquet at
the palace. But the kings knowledge of
topics such as AdmiraIf'homas would be
likely to discuss at the banquet was linn
tied. So DR.. Judd arranged that the king
and the admiral should sit opposite each
other, while he would sit beside the king.
Admiral Thomas, who was known to be
fond Of talking, was to be allowed to mo-
nopolize the conversation. The king was
to say merely yes or no. Dr. Judd was to
kick him on the right shin when he should
say yes and on the left shin when he should
say no. The afternoon before the banquet
the doctor coached the king carefully, and
the king said he understood.
The banquet was really sumptuous. The
admiral was much pleased with the well
meant and well cooked compliment to
himself. The king also was in his best hui
NOR By and by when the edge was tax
en- off appetite, the admiral began to talk
about public topics, and frequently he
would appeal to the king to know if he
didn't think that way too.
At the first question Dr. Judd kicked
the kings right shin under the table, and
the king promptly answered no to the ad-
mirals question. According to the prear
ranged code, he should have said yes Dr.
Judd gave him another kick, and he has
tily said yes. But a minute later the king
got mixed again. and the doctors kicks
confused him more than ever The king
made SO many mistakes that the doctor
was busy throughout the banquet kicking
his shins And his vexations at the king S
mistakes caused him to kick pretty hard
| too.
But the king was king, sure enough,
mindful of his dignity. He never kicked
back, nor did he cast one cross look at DR.
Judd. He merely listened to the admiral
and smiled and said no when he should
have said yes, and yes when he should
have said No. The signals were inextric-
ably mixed In his mind.
When the banquet was over, 1t was
found that the kings shoes were full of
blood, and his shins were gashed by the
toes of Dr. Judds stout boots, He had to
be carried to his bed, and he was so lame
he could not walk again for two weeks.
But the king was the right sort. He
had true grit. He said to DR.. Judd in
Hawaiian:
You did right. 1t was my fault.
got mixed, but you kicked pretty hard. "