The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-20


feminine maskers and strange voice
IN the men We're heard above the mu
sic, as each endeavored to search ou
the identity of the other. Many were
the fiirtations begun when only tn,
dancing eyes of the merry reveller whc
wore skirts could be seen between the
narrow Sits through which she sho
! her answers. Cajoling. pleading, per.
suaslon were all in vain, however. fol
the characters brought upon the floor
were sustained to the very last moment
None would divulge identity despite
the entreaties of those who would know
their partners before the signal to un
mask was given. And even when tn.
master of ceremonies declared that the
! hour for unmasking had arrived. some
| OF the skirted jewellers fed to the
! dressing rooms, flung off their masks
and completely changed their former
Identities by appearing later in differ
! ent attire
Not alone Were the maskers attentive
TO the least thing that would betray
identity, but the fashionable audience
(which leaned out from the boxes strain
ed every eye to learn who the mysteri-
Gus ones were. Lorgnettes were levelled
at the floor like battery of rapid-fire
guns but the maskers stood the test
bravely. There We're those in the boxes
VINO knew their friends upon the floor.
{ because they had been told exactly
what they We're to expect. The whis-
pered news of the friends arrival was
noised from box to box and all were
kept on the qui vive For two hours
or more the maskers revelled upon the
floor. During that time the judges
threaded their way through the maze.
Their approach to any group was omin-
ous and the characters were never bet
ter sustained than when the judges
were near by.
The Mardi Gras palace was a thing
of beauty From the great girders of
the roof hung long strings of flags,
banners and bunting showing the Mar
d1 Gras colors-red, green, yellow and
white. 1t was striking combination.
Ihe walls We're concealed by the folds
OF great flags, principally American
Hawaiian, Prussian and English
Smaller flags adorned the interstices
where bright bits of color We're needed
The throne was on the Waikiki side
iof the palace midway between the main
e. i
circular in form, with a projecting
canopy in the form of gilded dia-
dem From this glittering crest red
cloth was hung in conventional\s style.
draped over with white muslin The
background of the throne was formed
iof red relieved with dashes of muslin.
| The throne chairs were the ones which
formerly had the distinguished honor
| of resting upon the real throne of Ha :
waii in the royal palace.
| Near the stage was the box of Her
| Majesty Liiiuokalani. On the opposite
side of the hall thirty boxes had been
constructed in two tiers, which held
the wealth, fashion and beauty of Ho-
nolulu society These boxes were
draped mostly in red, relieved here and
there by the Mardi Gras colors. All
leach division of the boxes We're banked
masses of palms, ferns. eocoanuts, GRO
tons, all refreshing in their tropical
| lloVeliness. Over the entrance a gallery
was erected. where Captain Berger and
the Government band were stationed
and spectators We're given an oppor-
tunity there to view the scintillatins
spectacle.
! The stage was prettily decorated
with rows of green plants in pots, while
a background of flags formed a pretty
setting for the multitude which sat
| there to watch the revels of the mask
! erS. Chairs We're also placed in the or
chestra and although much space was
taken from the floor by so doing. yet
after all the dancers didn't mind
crowding. In fact they rather liked it.
| 1t was easier to make carnival ac-
iauaintances that way.
After the grand march and the Ian
GERS We're finished the master of cere-
monies waved his wand for silence
When all was stilled he opened roll
of manuscript from which was pendant
huge seal, and read to their High
nesses the following greeting:
May 1t Please Your Serene High
nesses: An era of uneQualled prosper
ity has blessed your realm. Upon the
fruitful earth copious rains have fallen.
The argosies of your subjects have borne
abroad products of the teening soil and
returned freighted with rich merchandise
for the use and adornment of prosper
! Gus people.
Your munificent gifts to public chari-
ties, the beautifying of your capital city
and the construction of magnificent high
ways have marked your reign and en-
deared yourselves to your subjects. The
diplomatic tact, the firmness tempered
with moderation which has characterized
Your Highness' intercourse with foreign
States has settled yexed and perplexing
disputes and carried the renown of your
sasacity TO the uttermost parts of the
earth. Within your realm rebellious
tribes have been suhdued and disarmed
by kindness, SO that now throughout the
length and breadth of your principality,
peace reigns.
Mindful of these many blessings, your
grateful subjects, and with them many
ENJOYS from beyond the seas. have
gathered here to do you homage, and
under your gracious patronage make