The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-04
MEMORIES
OF HAWAII
Mrs. Elizabeth K. Wilder
on Old Times.
FROM A KING
Alexander Lholiho and His Famous
Trip To Paris With Lot
kamehameha.

1T HE year 1S49 was memorable one
/ at the Islands, for it was in the
Il fall of that year that the two Ha-
waiian princes, Alexander Liholiho
and Lot Kdmehameha, left for jour
ney to the United States, England and
France, says Mrs Elizabeth K. Wilder
in the February Humane Educator
published yesterday My father had
been appointed by the king, Kameha-
meha III, to arrange certain treaties
! between the three great powers and
| the Islands, and so an opportunity was
given for the two future kings OF Ha-
waii to have all the advantages OF
| travel under the care of a wise coun-
selor and friend.
The world was not so small in those
days as it is now, and 1t was a great
/ event in the family when my father
I left on that important mission and for
such an extended journey. There was
no railroad across the 1sthmus then,
and the neck of land had to be crossed
! on horses or mules, but even that was
| a great Improvement on the five or SIX
months voyage round Cape Horn.
! The princes, who had been for sew
/ erai years under the care of Father
and Mother Cooke, were promising
/ young men: thanks to the good nome
/ training aqd rare influence of that
! school, my father found them on this
( trip easy to control and as he wrote,
'.desirous of doing their best on all
occasions" Alexander Liholiho, the
/ younger one, about eighteen years of
age, was handsome lad with a king
/ ly bearing. He was afterwards known
/ as Kamehameha Fourth and as the
! husband of the much-loved Queen
! Emma.
I We promised to write to each other
I
kept on both sides, and the letters
from my Royal friend on this trip
count among the pleasant incidents or
those early years.
There was weeping and wail1ng
among the natives before the party
left, some of them referring 70 the de-
parture of Liholiho (Kamehameha H.
who died in England) said, They will
never come back alive. This prophe
cy was strong incentive 70 my father
to guard them well, and he assured
the King that everything should be
done for their good health and we'll be-
ing.
All Honolulu, both native and for
eign. We're down at the wharf when
the Royal party embarked on the
schooner Honolulu" There was no
Hawaiian band in those days to give
vessels a send-off, but the King,
Queen and all the Chiefs We're at the
waterfront, anu tears IllllSleQ with the
alohas on that occasion, but all joined
in cheers for successful trip and a
speedy return. Even the ships in the
harbor manned the yards TO do them
honor. Thus sailed away the little
schooner freighted with the hopes OF
nation, and followed by the prayers OF
many.
/ Nothing of an exciting nature oc-
CURED on the trip until they reached
the Isthmus of Panama. Then Alexan-
der was thrown from his mule and
! came near being pitched into the Cha
/ gres river. Being a good horseman he
/ soon regained his seat and was none
the worse for his narrowaescape from
d bath in that muddy stream.
I On arriving at New York the party
We're very much feted, and large
party given to them at Staten Island
/ was considered the very finest thing
J that could be given in the city. At
/ Washington, too, they met with a most
| cordial reception, and my fathers let
tiers We're full, al this time, of the ia
1 vorable impression the princes made
! and of the pride and pleasure he took
in their good conduct and gentlemanly
| bearing. He wrote of them: They
always say the right thing in the right
place" This is certainly more than
can be said of many young men with
greater opportunities.
In London Lord PalmerSton was most
cordial in his reception of the Hawaii
| an commissioner and his wards. Later
! on their return from Paris at a dinner
given to them by his lordship Alexan-
der led Lady Palmerston to the table,
and charmed every one by his agreea-
bic ways and conversation. Where
did they acquire court manners?" ask
ed one lady. We have a little court
of our own" my father replied.
The following letter received by the
writer and written by Alexander Liho-
liho shows that while he improved his
opportunities for sight seeing, he did
not forget his country or his friend:
Paris, Hotel Meurice, April 4, 1850.
Dear F'riend-''Your letter of Deem
Der came to hand two weeks ago, when
We were very busy writing copies Of
the treaty between our government
and the United States to be sent to the
foreign office here
You cannot conceive our feelings
when we saw the clerk OF the hotel
come in with large package from
home. We have been in this city more
than two months. We like it better
than New York or London, the climate
especially.
We are at the hotel where Mr.
Richards and Hauliho stayed in 1913:
some of the walters remember them
very we'll. 1t is one of the finest s1tua-
lions in the city, close to the palace
| and GdrCen OF the IullerleS. The trees
are just beginning to put forth their
leaves, and this is the first time we
have seen spring. Last Sunday the
| fountains played in the garden, and
one of them spouted the water as high
as the steeple of our stone church in
Honolulu.
We take lessons in French two
hours every day, and spend one hour
with our fencing master. I hope we
shall be able, before we go away, to
speak French so well that we can talk
| together when we get home 1t is a
: very sweet language.
Last night we all went to General
LaHltte's, the minister of foreign rela-
tons, TO soiree. We saw Monsieurs
and Madame Dillon. We have been
, detained here longer than we expected
and L fear we shall be obliged to re-
main still longer. We have become
acquainted with a French family, who
are going out to the Islands with the
l new commissioner, N. Perrin who is
appointed to fill Mr.. Dillon's post
Your letter gave me great pleasure
| as | had received but one since we left
Your sincere friend
ALEXANDER LIHOLIHO.'
How sad il is tO think that all tbeSe