New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-20
THE EX-QUEEN TELLS HER OWN AND
HAWAITS STORY.
now PRINCESS Is BROUGHT UP IN THE SAND
WITCH IsLANDS-H EIR-APPARBNT AND IKE
GENr-BRIEF RULE AND THEN A
QUEEN WITHOUT THRONE

given TO the volume that has just apPoa'o"
under the title Of "Hawaiis Story, by Hawah
Queen" In it Her ex-Majesty Lhuohaiahl re-
lates at great length the chief incidents u her
own career and incidentally. OF course much Oh
tho history II tho Hawaiian Islands Tor the last
fifty years.
According to her own figures. given on the
first page of the book. the author was Dorm III
1873 and js now Just sixty years old. In the
carly chapters devoted TO description OF her
childhood and early youth many amusing
incidents. Among other juvenile adventures IL
is related that the future queer and her broth
ers sisters and cousins were pupils in KIND OF
royal boarding school, where the meals of bread
and rnolasses were so economically dealt out
that their infant majesties were obliged to make
predatory raids upon the kitchen between whiies'
or falling in this. to beg favors from the cook
1t was while little girl in school that Liliuoka-
lani first met her future husband. John O. Domi-
mis- He was at that time a sturdy urchin in a
bows school which adjoined the grounds Of the
royal institute Of learning. The boys. most OF
whom were the children Of foreigners, were in
tensey curious regarding the little Hawaiian
princes and princesses next door and made a
daily practice Of climbing up on the fence be-
tween the two places to obtain better view or
them.
OF her school days the ex-Queen observes: Il
was studous girl. and the acquisition of
knowledge has been a passion with me during
my whole life. one which has not lost its charm
TO the PR sent day"
After observing that the Hawaiians were all
fond Of music. she goes on to describe her own
musical gifts;
The Hawaiian people have been from time inn
memorial lovers Of poetry and music, and have
l.r ant in inn kFist
love aLd chants Of worship. so that praises of
the living or walls over the dead were with
them but the natural expression Of their feel
ings. My anct stors were peculiarly gifted IN
this respect and yet il is remarkable that there
are few II any written compositions Of the music
OF Hawaii excepting those published by me.
To compose was as natural TO me as 10
breathe and this gift Of nature. never having
been suffered to fall into disuse remains a
source Of the greatest consolation To this day.
l have never yet numbered my compositions
but am sure that they must run well up To the
hundreds OF these not more than a quarter
have been printed. but the most popular have
been in such demand that several editions have
been exhausted Hours Of which it is not yet in
Place to speak, which l might have found long
and lonely passed quickly and cheerfuly by, oc-
cupied and sOOthed by the expression OF my
thoughts in music. and even when | was denied
the aid Of any instrument could transcribe to
paper the tones Of my voice.
In the early years Of the reign Of kameha-
meha he brought to my notice the fact that
the Hawaiian people had no national air. Each
nation, H. said but ours. had its expression of
PATRIOTISM and love Of country in its own music;
but were using for that purpose on state
occasions the time honored British anthem. God
Save the Queen" This ~ desired me To sup
plant by one Of my composition. In one
weeks time | notified to the King that | had
completed my task The Princess Victoria had
been the leader of the choir of the kawaiahao
Church. but upon her death. May - lS66.
assumed the leadership. 1t was in this building
and by that choir that | first introduced the
Hawaiian National Anthem" The King was
present for the purpose Of criticising my new
composition of both words and music. and was
liberal in his Communications to me on my sue
He admired not only the beauty Of the
music but spoke enthusiastically Of the appro-
pirate words so we'll adapted to the air and TO
the purpose for which they were written.
1t is sometimes rather difficult to follow Her
ex-Majesty through the bewdering confusion
which reigned in Hawaiian political affairs in
the earlier part Of her life. Monarchs succeeded
each other with unusual rap.dity. and there
apparently interminabe disputes over the
rights to the throne After the accession OF
King Kaakaua, brother of Liliuokalani. matters
simplifed considerably on April 10, 1877
Kaakaua appointed his sister his lawful sue
cessor. She says:
From this moment dates my official title Of
Liliuokalani that being the name under which
| was formerly proclaimed prirceSs and
heir-apparent to the throne of my ancestors
Now that this important matter had been
decided by thosc whom the constitution
invests with that prerogative. IL became proper
and necessary for me To make a tour OF the
islands to meet the people that all classes,
rich and poor. planter or fisherman. might have
an opportunity to become somewhat acquainted
with the who some day should be called
to hold the highest executive office. The first
journey undertaken was that Of encircling the
island which the capital city OF Honolulu
IS situated. We therefore started from our home |
to make the trip around the cOastline of oahu. !
tour If nearly one hundred and fifty miles. |
following the roads which wind along on the |