The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-11
KING DANCED THE HULA-HULA.
How KalaI1aua Put Aside Dignity
and Entertained Americans.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer
81 witnessed a most extraordinary thing
in 1889, and one that never expect to see
again should I live 100 years-a crowned
head, a king, dancing on a billiard table"
remarked Paul Trommlitz of San Fran
cisco. to the Enquirer man at the Emery
yesterday, land there were several Amer
leans present who will testify to the truth
fitness of my statement There was
party of US from the Pacific coast stop
ping at the hotel in Honolulu in the year
1 mentioned. King Kalakaua was then or
the throne, little dreaming that his dy
nasty was fading away forever to b.
merged into the American government.
The old man, for he then appeared to be
nearing 60, was wont to come down 10 the
hotel every evening from the royal palace
and mingle with the guests. He was attired
ia ordinary citizens garb with no insignia
of royalty about him.
ION the evening l refer to Kalakaua
came to the hotel attended by several of
his best musicians and most accomplished
dancers. We all went to the wine room
below, which was also the billiard room
where We were entertained dl AS4is LAl.
Later. along midnight or after. when the
wine. song and dance had warmed his
blood to the boiling point King Kala
kaua leaped upon the billiard table witt
the agility of a cat and CONNECTED to give
us the 'hula-hula,' or native muscle
dance, in great shape, While we applaudeo
him to his most effective efforts. WheT
he had run the gamut of the exciting
dance someone bet him that he could no
kick the chandelier. He attempted 1t sew
eral times but failed, owing, perhaps, to
his exhaustion from the dance. Then onf
of our party jumped upon the table am
kicked the chandelier from its Fastening
TO the gas Jet The flow of gas was quick
w shut off with a bottle stopper. Al
damages were promptly settled by cash
on the spot. and the king and his retinue
retired from the scene. King kalakaua
died in San Francisco during the Knight.
Templar conclave few years ago. lie
was a Knight Tempiar, and after attend
ing the banquet returned 10 the hoteI anu
died
During our stay in Honolulu promi
nent native half-breed invited our par
ty. which included two American ladies
10 his handsome home TO be entertained
which included the 'hula-hula.' The VIC
men dancers were cad only in the close
fitting, light tan walking suits that Dam
Nature ldd maze IOr bASAls L Alc <Ail4Nlt
can ladies' stood it a little bit and thet
blushingly retired. The native half-breeD
women guests of the party remaineo
throughout the performance, for they dit
not regard 1t as anything out Of the way
for the 'hula-hula' is a part of the an
cient religious rites of those barbaric pee
pie. AS an evidence that the natives dc
not regard the 'hula-hula' as lasciviou.
the day after the performance l havt
Just related, an Italian count, who has
been one of the guests with us, and my
self were in a wine warehouse ATTENDING
to some matters of business and in tn
course of our conversation, which was
going on in German, commented upon
the dance of the night before in a face
| tious manner native half-breed clerk
who was employed as a clerk in the ware
house, spoke up in German to our amaze
| ment, and after begging our pardon, pro-
| ceeded to explain to us that the dance
| had no vulgar significance or suggestion
| to the native mind. When he had finished
| I asked him how on earth he got to speak
| such good German. He replied that he
| ought to be able to speak some German
as he had attended Heidelberg as a stu
| dent for nine years."