The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-11-22
Stars and Stripes at The Grave
Of Gen. Lafayette.
Moi. Coohrans's inspiration = Mar.
mes search for Tomb Per.
sistsnt Americans.

mornings that the sharp bow, high
white sides and revised masts OF the
q. $ w. $. Philadelphia could be seen
from the wharyes OF Honolulu. The
splendid floating fortress, capable also
OF almost flying was a striking picture
from Punehbowl, from Roundtop, Tan
talus or Konahuanui, or from beneath
the palms at WAIKIKI beach.
Capt. Henry &. Cochrane, L. 5. NJ. C.,
NOW major with Spanish war record
had seated himself with the writer In
the shade of the shelter of one of the
heavy pieces OF the port battery. IL
was near the gangway. Out on the
other side We looked upon the odd little
lighthouse. with the reef and surf and
sea beyond. Along the opposite bend
Of the bay were the handsome homes
OF the local boat clubs-Myrtles, Hea-
lanis, Leilanis. Aloha. The young men
were getting out shells and barges or
we're lounging or swimming. From
small abandoned wharf native men and
women with shouts and laughter were
making running jumps into the bay.
Solely for the purpose OF drawing out
the veteran had remarked to him that
for even, full grace and genuine gen
eral charm the Hawaiian half-caste
woman was the superior OF the dainty
thoroughbred OF any kind or cline. 1t
was passing odd that there was no
german reply. 1t could not be that
he gave the matter no thought, and he
had met the beauties of all lands. Some
OF these ladies were arriving for break
fast aboard the ship.
Just then a sergeant of the marines
a fine, soldierly fellow-approached TO
make a report to his commander. As
the man left the captain began:
THAT young fellow Is the complete
ideal OF living BERTHE Cecil, stepped
from Ouida's Under Two Flags He's
Britisher, was educated as a barris-
ter, enlisted as bluejacket, became
a marine and was with me in Paris.
He Is capable a commission"
Capt. Cochrane had a detail of thirty
two United States marines at the Eiffel
Tower exposition. asked him what
sort Of showing they made with sam
pies of the other armies and navies
The captain now became unreserved
fluent and earnest.
They were the best looking, best
drilled, best dressed, best behaved, best
paid, best fed and most intelligent lot
Of enlisted men there. Their allowance
made them princes among their asso-
ciates and ] was proud of them and
our country and dts soldiery. Every
wealthy American who saw them made
them a present. They were in clover
ali the time and had furlough and hall
a dozen honorable mentions in orders
when they came home. l have a pic
ture OF the company, taken at the
grave OF Lafayette.
1T IL certainly pardOnable that
plume myself somewhat upon having
instituted the custom Of decorating tn,
grave OF Lafayette on the Fourth o.
July. II is a story that will interes
you.
Some sort OF a patriotic inspiration
suggested the plan to me. This was II
the month OF April. had thought o
May 80 as the appropriate day for tn
ceremony. Mr.. Whitelaw Reid, theI
our envoy to France was at once en-
thusiastic. He said he knew a Lafay
cite, a bachelor member OF the depu
ties or some legislative body. MI
Reid, certain that his acquaintance wa
a relative OF the man who made Franc
and America such great friends, at ono
dictated a letter 10 him, setting fort
fully the plan and indicating day an,
hour at which both OF us would call
when we made the visit We wer
kept waiting perhaps half an hour
when one OF the most delightful OF oil
gentlemen came in and offered witt
imperfect English the excuse Of deten
ton on Public business. Very pleas
antly did he entertain us. He was tn
only living male descendant OF tn
companion OF Washington. His widow
ed sister and her daughter were men
toned with the assurance that the
would cooperate In the proposed exer
cises. NJ. Lafayette, on condition tina
we should assume entire control an
direction and the management of a
details. consented to make an addres
in English.
'Mr. Reid was quite busy at this tim
and assigned me to executive worl
which included enlistment of a commit
tee Of prominent Americans. This wa
no trouble at all. Then. about May
set out by myself to have look q
the grave Of Lafayette and mark lin
OF march and parade position.
1T was most astonishing thing br