The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-03-20
IRELAND AND THE ORIENT
AN ALLIANCE FORMED THRoUGE
TOMA ABE.
Little Japanese Police officer Secures
Chester Doyle's Famous Green Vest
and Visits British warship


land has been formed. To Toma Abe
the Japanese police officer, is due the
credit of affecting this important treaty
The alliance is not a political one how
ever but is based upon male fashions
in waistcoats. Like other promoters,
Toma has been the principal beneficiary
up to date, of the agreement. Chester
Doyle of the police department who
speaks Tomas language as well as
Toma himself, was the representative
of the Old Sod. The articles of agree
ment were signed at an early hour last
Sunday morning.
The alliance had its origin in Toma 8
breaking of the Tenth Commandment.
During the plague days Doyle took
quite prominent part in the work re-
gulating the disease. At one time the
soldiers were without sufficient pro-
lection from the cold so Doyle pur-
chased a quantity of handsome blan-
kets paying a price which even in pla-
que times was considered exorbitant
In fact more than one person declared
that the rice was too great. The blan-
kets served their purpose though, even
If they did cost about a dozen dollars
or so pair. 40
Those who knew Doyle best felt the
utmost sympathy for him when they
heard the structures and criticismc
which were being passed upon his al
legged extravaganza. If any thing af-
fects Doyle more than another it is
criticism and his sensitiveness is so
great that it has become proVerbial.
Doyle did not indulge in any recrimina-
lions however. He chose a more effec-
tive way of rebuking the carpers. He
had one of the gay colored blankets
made into a double breasted waistcoat
which he proceeded to wear in public.
If any remarks were passed upon the
'warmness" of the garment DOYLE
would grow dignified with Indignation
and remark This ought to be warm
1t is piece of one of those twelve-dol-
lor-a-pair blankets" In fact this deli
cate piece of sarcasm had it's effect and
Doyle can be said to have worn, instead
of lived, down his reputation for official
extravaganza.
Toma who possesses the artistic eye
of the Japanese saw the vest and cast
longing glanCes at it. He did not I'M
derstand the significance of the article
but he did see that it was a fine piece
of goods and he proceeded to covet it.
In fact the vest reminded him of the
kimonas he used to wear in his youth
full days back in the old country when
he would pick chrySanthemums with
the little Japanese WahiniS who lived
next door, When Doyle did not know
how to pronounce a Japanese word,
Toma Immediately supplied the lack of
knowledge and Doyle told the little
policeman they were friends for life,
Toma demanded the vest as an evil
dence of this gratitude. Doyle at first
demurred but finally he agreed to pres
ent Toma with the article if he would
agree to wear the vest on st. Patricks
Day and take vacation in order to
show the garment. Toma promised.
Two months did Toma wait and final
ly at a. m. last Sunday morning,
10, 4 h.,
hearing a loud tapping at his window.
1t was not raven but an eager little
japanese policeman who was there and
with Shylock intensity demanding his
pound of green and yellow and red and
blue colored waistcoat. To get rid of
Toma and get some sleep Doyle parted
with the garment.
Toma took holiday that day and
wore the vest. If it had been in his
younger days in Japan he would prob
ably have donned nothing but the waist
coat. After standing on the prominent
street corners and giving the kanaka
girls a treat for several hours Toma
hired one of Young Brothers launches
and paid visit to Rear Admiral Bick-
ford aboard the British cruiser War
spite. The sailors were about to fire
a salute when TOma came alongside.
They thought a man clothed with such
brilliancy and dignity must be the
of some foreign nation. Toma
did not go as a representative of ia
pan however he inbibed the spirit of
green, the prevailing color of the vest,
and he proceeded to speak the Kings
English with an Irish accent. So where
the British officers would say "Kumba"
Toma would bow and scrape and reply
'Begorra" and "Bedad."
His visit was highly entertaining to
all parties. Toma returned ashore so
delighted with the navy that were it
not for his desire to wear his green
vest every Sunday he would probably
resign from the police force to become
one of His Majestys' jack tars.