Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-26


during her stay.
The following sketch Of the late
queen of the Hawaiian islands was
written in 1891 by Hon Gerham -. Gill
man, Newton. Mass. formerly of Homo
lulu. now Hawaiian consul in Boston:
BY the death Of King Kalakaua, his
sister, Lila kamakameha Liliuokalani
became the sovereign of the Hawaiian
islands in 1890 1t was on the sunny
slope of one OF these islands, Puma
Waina looking out in the blue sea that
the new sovereign was born on the
second of September. 1888. Her parents
were of the old chiefs who came in with
the Kamehameha regime and We're of
the mobiles of the kingdom
"A peculiar custom used to prevail
among the high chiefs which amounted
almost to a sacred obligation. Prior 10
the birth of a child of high rank, some
other person of equal position could
claim the expected babe, ana the 70
quest would not he denied. Thus, most
Of the children born to chiefs We're not
brought up by. or considered as the
children Of their natural parents.
"Liliuokalani was no exception 10 this
strange exchange for within q few
hours of her birth she was taken To The
home Of Paki and konia, and adopted
by them and reared as their OWN
daughter. Her foster parents were Of
the nobest blood Of the ancient kings.
and the little one was known onlt AK
their child Most fortunate for h~i- al
30 was the fact that ~ this adoption
she came To be a foster-sister 10 the
hon Lady Bernice pauani Bisnop. the
child of Paki and konia puc M the
best and purest. most intelligent and
ACCOMPLISHED OF all the Hawaiians
I'm 1872. when but years Of ag. she
uttered what was then known as the
Toune chiefs school" az about tn
anne time that Quecu Emma joined Il.
This institution was started under the
auspices Of the mission ~ tir Anicri-
an board in charg" 81 MI aad Mrs.
'ooke The special object of this select
ana nom" school Was ~ prepare the
young chiefs. nv careful training and
Natchful oversight III morals. character
and religion for the high positions they
acre in all probability. 70 occupy as
he future rulers Of the country
The government soon saw The great
benefit to he derived from this work,
ana assumed The entire expense ~
carrying it on. and with Increased elf
eiency. out of the II in the school in
1872. the ex-quc"n is thr only one nnW
living There have been four kings ana
lwo queens from among the scholars.
1t was at this school that he eT-
Majesty met a young American. wli"
Nas day pup. Of about the same age
IS the other scholars. and who in later
years became her husband. Her mar
.iage took place September II. So,
when she was united To John pWin
Domnis who, having enjoyed the
companionshit ana friendship Of his
royal schoolmates, was later called by
them, as they seVerally came into
power. To important positions in the
state and council Of the island king
lon.
.Iiliuokalani was the elder # the two
sisters Of the late king. and is now the
only one living. She has evidenced
lisposition to command and cara bill
lty for assuming the high positions
which have fallen TO her. and when the
king her brother. made the tour OF the
world several years since. she WAS pro
,laimed Regent and showed very PLAIN
ly that she could hold the reins OF
power and guide the affairs of state.
When King kalakaua left the Is
lands on his late and last visit To Cali
fornia. where he died in February. 1891,
she was again proclaimed Regent and
came to the duties and responsibilities
with an apparent ability to act the
sovereign. Not acquainted with the
Obligations of the position. with a com
manding presence and grace of manner
Her eX-Majesty possesses the ami
able traits of her race and characters
tics of her people. and at the same time
retains the dignity Of her hereditary
lineage. She has a ready command OF
the English language and is interest
ing and intelligent in conversation. She
is fond of music and has composed
several popular airs, the music to the
national hymn. and has done much for
the musical education of her young
countryWomen.
In 1887 the eX-queen. with her sister
law. the wife of the late king. visited
Boston on their way to attend the cele-
bration of the jubilee of Queen Victoria,
and the pleasant impression she made
is we'll remembered. She evinced an in
teligent interest in social and eduCa-
tional matters. She attended the Park
street church. where the first church
for the Hawaiian islands was organized.
and she received most graciously a visit
from a delegation from the prudential
committee of the American board. The
royal visitors recognized the work that
had been done by that board at the is
lands in former years. and expressed
their high appreciation of its great
value.
While she was princess. Liliuokalani
was quite closely identified with the
old mission church of kawaiahao at
Honolulu. the state churchill such there
were. where royal marriag es and funeral
services have taken place. Aside from
her EFFORTS in developing the love of
church music among the young. she
has been active in educational interests
and in mission work among her own
sex.
Among the royal treasures of the
palace the most unique and valuable is
the famous feather cloak. Other king
doms have their costly jewels and bril-
liant regalia. hut for royal mantle
there is probably not one that can COM