The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-07-18
A SCOT TISH
REVIEWER
Sets Praise Upon
Armstrong;
Work.
Piquant Volume Brim-
full of Racy Comment
on Customs.
incidents of KaIakaua's Grand
Tour Related with Perfect
Freedom,

The Scotsman, Edinburgh's great
daily paper. has the following review
of Hon. w. N. Armstrong; book:
Around the World with a King. By
William n. Armstrong, Is. Cd. net.
London: William Heinemann.
Kaiakaua, the last King of the Ha-
waiian Islands, was the first Soyer-
eign to take trip round the world.
Whether the honour be a distinguish
ed one or not may be safely left to
posterity to determine. The wisdom of
the tour may be questioned also in
the light of the subsequent destruction
of the Monarchy, evidently FASTENED
by the inception of ideas gathered on
the journey as to the divine right of
Kings and the effect of ostentatious
display. The tour itself was a brilliant
success. 1t was conceived in January,
1881, and carried out within the ten
following months, during which time
King Kalakaua became the guest of. or
/ was received in state ceremonies by,
the Emperor of Japan, General Ii Hung
Chang, the Governor of Hong Kong,
the King of Siam, the British Cover
norS of Singapore, Penang, the Malac-
ca Straits, and of Burmah, the Vice
regal Court of India, the Viceroy of
Egypt, the King of Italy, the Pope,
Queen Victoria, the King of Belgium,
the Court of the German Emperor, the
officials of the Austrian Empire, of the
French Republic, and of the Spanish
Court, the King of Portugal, and finally
the President of the United States, from
which country he returned to his own
kingdom. His retinue was of the most
i
the author of this volume, who was
member of the Kings Cabinet, and
Colonel c. H. Judd, his Chamberlain
(both of whom, the sons of American
missionaries, were born on the islands,
and were school companions of His
Majesty, and a German known as
Robert, his personal attendant or valet,
IAN educated man of prepossessing ap-
pearance, and a remarkable linguist,"
who, owing to his Incorporate habits,
was the cause of no end of amuse-
ment if also of incessant anxiety, par
ticularly when, in an effort to impress
strangers and to secure for himself
handsome apartments, he assumed the
titles of Bearer of the Royal Stand
ard and Keeper of the Royal Feather
Cloak" and in this high role became
incapably drunk. With these COM
panions King Kalakaua travelled in
cognito.
Although a Polynesian, he was cap
able of appearing as a well-bred man
in any society or in any Court. He
was above the medium height, and of
large proportions, and had received an
education in the English language in
school especially organised to instruct
he Oh;
The King had a retentive memory. He
had read many books in the English
language on religion, science and poll
tics; but he had not digested this read
ing, and his learning was therefore
somewhat dangerous, although it's ex-
tent surprised visitors to his kingdom,
as Well as many persons whom he met
during his long tour. He was an ex-
cellent musician, and had collected a
band of native musicians, numbering
about thirty, who, under a German
leader, had made a reputation for skill
in rendering foreign music, which
reached Europe through the reports of
tourists and of the officers of warships.
He often referred with a smile to his
first savage predecessor on the throne,
who once received a serenade from the
band of British warship, and when
at the close of it he was asked if he
desired the repetition of any piece. made
1t known, but not without some diff
Guilty, that the tuning of the instru-
ments gave him the most pleasure"
Following this rapidly drawn outline
of the dark-skinned Monarch, Mr..
Armstrong proceeds with the paint
ing of portrait with the wrinkles:"
other 10 ra1 OF
cidents of the tour with perfect down
right freedom and an adherence to
truth which can only be adopted when
the subject of the narrative as in this
case, has shuffied off this mortal coil
Throughout he does not conceal his con-
tempt for the assumptions of a King
Insignificant in contrast with the
crowned heads of Europe; and. while
he disclaimsa the admixture of carica-
ture, one cannot lay aside the volume
without feeling that the author began
the task with the avowed object of
making fun of the whole trip. while
giving, no doubt, an exact enough rec
ord of events The result naturally has
been the production of piquant vol
ume, interesting in its narration of re-
gal dignity and almost savage simpIi-
city of historic happenings and per
sonal pabulum, and brimful of racy
comment on the customs and habits
of the numerous races on the earth's
surface. The Kings excellent COM
mand of the English language is fire.
quently referred to. In Japan it was
very much admired, and here. by the
way, while guest of the Mikado His
Majesty gave his suite considera bile
anxiety by surreptitiousIy endeavour-
ing to bring about a matrimonial alIi-