The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-10-12
y GRANDMA RICE AND GRANDcHILD


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Today is the ninetieth anniversary
of the birth of Mrs Mary Sophia Hyde
Rice widow of the late William Harri-
son Rice, of Lihue, Kauai Grandma"
Rice, as every one delights to call her.
surrounded with her children and
grandchildren to the fourth generation,
enjoys comparatively good health and
is still engaged, through her liberal
gifts and her encouragement, in the
labor of elevating the Hawaiian race.
This estimabe lady was born in
Seneca Village, n. Y, her father hav-
ing been the Rev. Jabez Backus Hyde,
who was missionary among the
Seneca Indians in Western New York.
She is a descendent of William Hyde,
who landed in America in 1888, and is
also descendent of Mary Winslow,
niece of Governor Edward Winslow, of
the Mayflower. We have been per-
mitted to see a genealogy of Grandma
Rice which contains complete chain
of ancestry to Alfred the Great, OF
England A. d. 81, a most interesting
| and historic document.
Mrs. Rice was married, September
2S, 1910, to DIR. William Harrison Rice,
of Hannibal, n. Y. They decided to
| devote their lives to the education of
Hawaiians, and sailed from Boston on
November IA, 1910, on the ship Glou-
cester, which carried the ninth COM
pany of missionaries. consisting OF
Rev. Elias Bond and wife, Rev. Daniel
Dole and wife, Rev. John D. Paris and
Mr.. and Mrs. Rice. The voyage was
an exceedingly long one, of one hun
| dred and lightweight days, making
two stops, one at Rio de Janeiro, where
they were entertained Hospitality by
the Rev. Mr.. Spaulding, a Methodist
minister, and again at Valparaiso. OF
the tedious voyage they merely said
that 1.-THE Captain, Estabrook, was kind
and attentive" They arrived at Homo
lulu May q, 1S41. and were made well
come by the missionaries who had pre-
coded them.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rice were first station
ed at Hama, Maui, far remote from
any white populations; in fact, in the
midst of purely Hawaiian settlement.
Here they remained for three years,
when they were called to take charge
of Punahou in the summer of 1874.
Let us quote somewhat from Grand
ma Rice's "reminiscences:
After one of those memorable
schooner voyages (Which, thank God,
are things of the pasD, we reached our
new home, weary and sad. In my arms
a crying baby, who bore the name of
Emily Dole, but she whose name she
had, gifted intellectually, a friend in
whom l rejoiced as one that helped
me, whose society would have given
grace and charm to our new duties,
had just been carried from Punahou to
the house appointed to ALL Many of
her duties l was to assume. Was ex-
pected to be mother to ten or twelve
boys with limited wardrobes, which re-
quired two days of the week for re-
pairs. ] had also the care of their
rooms. To these duties was added
teaching. Punahou, the prihcely gift
of Father Bingham, was not as now
an inviting place. II was without
flowers or trees and connected with
Honolulu without treeless plain. The
adobe rooms were of the simplest con-
struction, and an economy was neces-
sary that forbade adornment within.
Yet we had those beautiful mountains
and the grand old sea 10 enjoy. Then
we had a priceless spring, water from
which was carried to Honolulu in demi-
johns. All the cooking for the family
was done in an open fireplace with
the help of a brick oven. The cook
house was separated from the dining
room, The path to II was without any
shelter from the strong trade winds
which often rushed into the house, car
rying things hither and thither and
we ourselves at times seemed power
less to withstand the blast. Our table
was never satisfactory; the price for
board was small and no fresh vegeta-
bles could be had much of the year.
Until the Chinese succeeded In their
gardens It was thought impossible, ex-
cept during the rainy season, to raise
anything except taro. sweet potatoes
and bananas. We were associated with
the Dew. Daniel Dole. an Israelite in
deed, and Miss Marcia M. Smith. 1
remember her as the kindest of asso-
ciates. ever striving to carry the heav-
Ter part of the burden. Punahou was
at that time a sort of missionary no
tel, and we greatly enjoyed the visits
OF our missionary friends"
Speaking OF the annual meetings.
whittier the tribes go up, the tribes
of the Lord" and the reunions of the
missionaries at Honolulu. she says:
parents and children came from the
different stations with household goods
sufficient To make home In the bet
ter native houses. Then We assembled
In the adobe schoolhouse = fathers.
mothers. children, the elder boys whit
Ting on the back seats. mothers and
daughters With their needles. There