The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-18

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attractions. AS we were driven away
through the streets, up the mountain
side to the Punch Bowl, as it is
called, we thought we could never
find climate SO soft and SO beauti-
full. The breeze was gentle like that
which "blows soft o'er Ceylon's Isle. "
The air was laden with sweet per-
fume. Our lungs were not large
enough to breathe in all we desired
of this glorious air. Around us on
every hand the flowers were bloom
ing in profusion-fowers which we
never see in our northern land except
perchance sometimes in hothouses.
Tropical plants, date palms, cocoanut
trees were around and over us, the
birds made the air alive with music,
the very earth, indeed, seemed to
break forth into singing and all the
trees to clap their hands.
We are just within the tropics and
yet without the tropical heat. 1t is
very rare that the thermometer runs
higher than 80 degrees Fair. even in
the hottest day of the year. From
the Punch Bowl above the city we
look upon scene that beggars des-
cription. We are never given to
great enthusiasm, but we would have
been heartless indeed had we failed
to be profoundly moved at such a
picture. Below us lay the city with
its matchless homes and lovely
streets, beyond stretched the deep
blue sea, round about us and above
were the rugged mountains, and all
bathed in that soft, clear atmosphere
fragrant with the breath of ten thou
sand blossoms. Here in this favored
spot we witness the beauty of New
England with none of its harsher
features. Here and there we behold,
peeping out from the trees in the
distance, New England houses, homes
that have been built up by mission
aries from our native land. And they
have preserved the features of our
native scenes and life.
Here in these islands we have a
signal triumph of Christianity. Sew
enty-fve years ago there existed here
in this favored land nation of can
nibals, savages of the lowest type.
To these brave men and women
came, some to give up their lives,
some to labor for years under trying
circumstances, until at last the whole
nation learned to know the truth.
And now to look into those dusky
faces, to talk with these Christians,
to see their native churches and
Christian customs, is to marvel that
some still alive have seen with their
own eyes these people existing as
barbarians.
1t was Thanksgiving, and the whole
city kept holy day. We attended
divine service in a great stone church
which was perfect in its architectural
and church appointments. 1t was
like attending service at home where
the people had come out in great
numbers, Americans, New England
ers, to worship on Thanksgiving day.
President Dole, the president of the
Republic, was present, and we heard
much of his wisdom and high pur-
poses in conducting the affairs of
state. We inquired diligently con-
cerning the question of the annexa-
ton of the Hawaiian Islands to the
United States. Invariably amongst
the whites there was great desire
that they might become part of
America. We also asked the same
question of some of the natives,
Kanakas as they are called. They
all seemed desirous of reinstating
their deposed Queen. Yet it seems
very doubtful that Queen Lilliouka-
lani will ever again hold the reins of
government there. She has been
released from prison, where she was
confined for a season for plotting
against the present government. As
we rode about the beautiful streets of
the city we passed by delightfully."-
secluded home setting back from the
street among the palms and trees and
flowers. There the deposed queen
sat on the broad verandah with a
table before her, on which were the
morning papers, books, etc. There,
in that lovely spot, even queen
might be content, but doubtless
Queen Lillioukalani is bitterly Ia
menting her hard lot in being thus
dethroned. Yet from all we could
learn, however, it was inevitable that
the queen should be dethroned. Her
private character and her public rule
rendered it impossible that she
should continue as ruler either of
her own people or the large element
| from, fOreiUn lands who made the