The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-17
A ROYAL GAME.
How Robert Garrett Played Poker
With King kaIakaua.

~ I'm ANAmE AAAAhAMas
From the Philadelphia Times.
The newspaper Biographies OF the late
Robert Garrett contained no mention Of
the fact that he once enjoyed the dis
tinction Of playing the great American
gamc-not base ball, but poker. OF course
with a real live king. Some time in the
year ISIS he determined TO journey to
Mexico in search OF the health which he
had lost in vexatious financlering. The
original programme was altered after
the trip had begun. and it was finally eN-
tended TO the Sandwich Islands, and
thence to China and Japan He was &c
cOmpanied by his wife and sister and a
number of other relatives and friends.
II was during his visit to the Sandwich
Islands that the incident referred to oC-
CURED. kalakaua was then upon the
throne-the same kaiakaua who once Wis
tied Philadelphia.
Mr.. CARROTS party had scarcely been
Quartercd in their hotel in Honolulu when
the royal chamberlain OF the Hawaiian
monarch called upon them and said that
King hdlakaua would be pleased to have
| the gentlemen take dinner with him. but
| prior thereto begged them 10 witness
| boat race that day between a Hawaiian
| crew and one from an American man-Of-
/ war lying in the harbOr. The royal cham
/ berlain escorted them to the kings sea
palace, which was situated on a rock be-
| yond the Pacthc' angry breakers. kala-
/ kaua greeted them most graciOusly. Mr..
/ Garrett was surprised to find the black
/ king courteous gentleman, speaking
| English fluently, and reminding him much
| of Chester A. Arthur. His greeting was
decidedly funny. Mr.. Garrett he said,
/ Il am pleased TO meet you. We have a
/ bond Of union. You have just tried TO
/ borrow 100000. and have just borrow
/ ed $1,000, CO." No one laughed at this sally
/ more heartily than Mr.. Garrett himself
! At a signal from the chamberlain four
] N livery
| each bearing a solid silver salver as big
| as the top of a writing desk-presents from
] Queen Isabella Of Spain-and each load
| ed with twelve glasses OF champagne.
| One servitor approached the king, who
was the first to take a glass from the
| tray. The other gentlemen followed his
example. except Mr.. Garrett who during
! the trip abstained rigidly from all slim
ulants. The king nodded his head, threw
| 1t back, parted his lips. raised the glass,
| and the sparkling beverage disappeared
| in a fash. The Americans eyed the royal
| gullet enviOusly. Without moment
| delay the first servitor backed away and
| a second approached with twelve more
| trimming glasses. Again the king nodded
his head and again the wine was sudden
~ absorbed. And 50 with the third and
fourth servitors, until the forty-eight
glasses Of champagne had accomplished
| the purpose of their being. Then they
| We're ready for the race.
1t was actually for a purse Of $1,000
| The entire population of the town, 1900
| in number. turned out to witness the con-
| test a majority of them viewing IL from
the ocean on which they dispOrted. par
ticuarly the girls, who seemed like deni-
zens Of the deep. Mr.. Garrett to in
gratiate himself with the king, bet 500
on the Hawaiian crew and then told his
majesty what he had done. Instead of
receiving royal smile, he was aston
ished by Kalakaua saying quietly: In
deed, but / wish the Americans to win"
"Why, your majesty" said Mr.. Gar
rett in surprise. "Wen ! have bet $1,000
on them that is why" was the frank
response. The Hawaiians, in race Of
eight miles, won by about ten feet, but
in consequence of the royal wager it was
announced that the Americans were the
victors.
We come to that next. After dinner
in the sea palace, the king said: Gen
tlemen, it is our custom after dinner to
indulge in a game of poker, with little
| limit of S.. Is that agreeable TO your.
Mr. Garrett and a few other members OF
the party determined to have a go at
| tho Hawaiian treasury. The company
was seated in an immense hall, and
when the cards had been shufiied there
appeared at one end of the apartment
| eight natives with harps; in. front of
these were eight mandolin players; a
| third row was made. up OF eight choris-
tiers, and finally in front or all, elght OF
the loveliest royal concubines took posi-
tons Then while the singers warbled
to the accompaniment Of harps and man
| dolins the girls swayed their bodles ana
postured most gracefully, the movement
| of their limbs being family revealed
| through diaphanous robes. The melodies
were American and consisted largely OF
improvisations on the names OF the va
| rious members of the party. 1t certainly
was rather alarming to hear one soloist
in a parody on "The Colored Dude" grave
"Oh, there sits Robert Garrett. the
Vet that was what greeted the ears of
the Millionaire, and the reference was
nIainIv for a compliment. But this di-
vertissement was almost too much for
Mr.. CARROTS calmness of mind, and as
n result he soon found himself several
hundred dollars poorer than when he en-
tered the palace. The Hawaiian treasury
appeared very far away. But just then
during a large Jackpot he found three
kings in his hands, and after considerable
betting all the players except Kalakau
laid down their hands. He had three
queens. He dallied with Garrett until the
pot was up to handsome proportions, and
then called Your majesty" said Mr..
Garrett smilingly, IF l had you in my
hand 1 would, with what 1 have, be pos
sessed of four very handsome kings"
| His majesty was quick to see the point
and he promptly replied: THAT knocks
the spots out of three of the royal concu-
bines," and he at, once wrote out a due
bill for $500, beneath which he signed
"Kalakaua, Rex" Garrett looked dis
mayed but said nothing. Early next
| morning however, while he was at break
fast with the ladies Of his party, the roy
al chamberlain appeared before him,
bowed and presented the astonished
American with $500. 1t required all his
as to why he had such early financial
| dealings with the Hawaiian government