The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-06-10
4 Palace Ball in
KaIakaua's Time

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The following account of Roya
bail in Kalakaua's time is taken from
IsobeI strong's Hawaiian novel, The
| Girl From Home:
/ All the carriages in Honolulu seem
ed to be going in the direction of the
| palace Every form of equipage
| from the British Commissioners fine
barouche with coachmen and footmen
| in livery, to the omnibus chartered by
| the bachelors from up the valley.
| Crowds on foot wendell their way in the
same direction; girls in fluffy gowns
with bits of lace thrown over their
heads, young men in evening dress,
without overcoats, mingled with the
streams of natives who crowded about
the gates to watch the arriving guests.
The great building, with it's wide,
stone coIonnades, sparkled like a jewel
against the dark background of the
night The parade was decorated with
bunting and evergreen; windows gilt
tered with light, and through the noble
entrance, draped with velvet hangings,
a dazzling illumination poured down
upon the stairway.
Florence looked out upon the scene
with great interest. She had been but
once before to the palace, and then
only on a quiet morning, and had no
idea of it's magnificence. The King,
whom she had come to know informal
~, and was beginning to regard as a
friend, seemed to grow suddenly re-
mote surrounded by his splendor; the
footmen, in scarlet plush, silk stock
ings and powdered hair, who stood IN
rows on the steps; the arriving guests
in their trailing ball dresses; the
groups of equerries in uniform, all
added to her feeling of awe.
Mrs. Ross's white velvet made
grand showing as she swept up the
stairs between the rows of footmen on
the arm of an aide-de-camp who had
run down to meet her.
A crowd of people We're waiting at
the throne-room door, a couple of
aides-de-camp arranging the order OF
their entrance. Emma stopped. gave
final touch to her aunt's train and then,
waiting a few minutes to give the pre-
ceding party time, they received the
signal. and Mrs. Ross entered the room,
by the two girls. At the fur
ther end of noble and stately hall,
were two gilt chairs on a platform,
overhung with a canopy of red vel
vet. edged with ernine and surmount-
ed by a golden crown. At the steps or
the throne the royal family stood in a
row to receive the guests; the King and
Queen, Princess Liliuokalani and Prln- |
cess Likelilxe their brilliant costumes
in the waxed surface of the !
floor The first-comers, who had al
ready made their bow, stood along the
SIDES of the room or gathered in groups |
at the open French windows, watching
the scene with the greatest interest.
The length of the hall was a long |
walk to take before the eyes of so many !
spectators. but Florence kept a little |
behind Mrs. Ross and was sustained |
by that lady's self-possession.
The Chamberlain announced their |
names in a low voice; Mrs. Ross slow |
~ and impressively sank almost to her /
knees before the King; Emma followed
and when it came to Florence's turn |
she could hardly believe that the mag
nificent monarch in scarlet and gold, |
sword and sash, his broad breast
sparkling with diamond orders, was the |
same kindly gentleman she had met
before AS she rose, trembling, from
ner ueep curlSey- she Caught pilSI
friendly smile from His Majesty and
then, following the example of Mrs.
Ross and Emma, she bowed to the
Queen, to Princess Liliuokalani and
Likelike.
1t was with almost a gasp Of relief
hat she turned to join the others and
watch the new arrivals. She found
herself near Lieutenant Todd, who was
waiting for her. He was a
new surprise. In his uniform on board
he Mohawk ne looked rather well. but