The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-20
A Glimpse Of Hawaii,

Below is part OF private letter written
by Miss Anna @. Edwards, associate prin-
cipal of Mount Holyoke Seminary, South
Hadley, Mass, who has been spending a
few months in Honolulu, that may be Of
interest to some of the readers of the
WAToHMAN, 1t bears the date OF June s.,
1898.
You would not call this foreign land if
you were here. In some things it is ultra
American. Think Of Memorial Day exer-
cises just like those at home, for there are
graves Of those who fought for the Union
here in Honolulu and all over the islands,
and there are veterans to ride in the place
of honor in the procession, and there are
speeches and the display Of the American
flag with fully as much heartiness as any
where in the States. AS for the war ex-
element, it could not run higher anywhere,
only we have to wait whole week Dust
think OF it) for the news, and the suspense
gives rise to all manner Of rumorS and &C.
casional panics. Last week when the troops
were here on their way to Manila wick
ed reporter said Spsniard had been caught
in an attempt to blow up the City Of Pekin
and the rage was 80 great that do not
know what would have happened II the
press had not promptly acknowledged that
there was no foundation whatever for the
story. Honolulu had been expecting those
troops every day for a fortnight and ex-
hausting its ingenuity in preparations for
their entertainment. Four thousand dol
lars had been raised, tables set and waiting
in the drill barracks, chicken, ham and
tongue cooked and put In cold storage, and
wreaths for every soldiers head manufac-
were used on Memorial Day, and the whole
city listening for the signal, fire whistles,
that was to announce their approach.
When at last they arrived, twenty-five hum
dred strong, many more than was antici-
pated, there was enough and to spare for
thAt,, oil nj fha
wharf as astonished the boys, such pealing
of cannon, such cheering and such display
of American flags as made them think news
of annexation must somehow have reached
Honolulu since they left San Francisco.
The soldiers were not allowed to land
out to them supplies Of fruit and all else
they could think OF, and the people on
shore were notified thot no one OF the troops
was to pay for anything while in the city.
Thursday they landed and went whittier
they would in street cars and hacks, bathed
at the beach, were taken home in large
numbers by the citizens for meals and pro-
vided with the best at restaurants. Even
the Government Building CORNER royal pal
ace) was given up to them and they wrote
over six thousand letters stationery and
stamps free) sitting in the desks of the
members Of the Legislature. Friday was the
great day Of the feast. The drill room was
appropriated by the officers while President
and Mrs. Dole, with other dignitaries, re-
ceived the privates in the grounds of the
Government Building, after which they sat
down to good square meal in the grounds,
while the whole city apparently stood
around to see them eat and also to load
them with additional supplies OF all sorts Of
fruit to take away with them. Poor boys
Can not quick, righteous peace be Sc
cured without the cost of their lives2 Sat
urday they sailed away with increased dem
onstrations, If possible, Of regard and we
are waiting for the next arrival, for 1t is
said there are TO be ten thousand troops
stationed here, but know not on what au-
thority it is stated think the hospitality
OF Honolulu seems equal to all demands.
l am and have been from the first strong