The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-09-24
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
! BECKLEY AND :
/ THE EDITORS :
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

The "Bystaudor" tells the following
Beckley story i'm the Sunday Advcr-
tiser:
Those who had the wishing editors in /
charge for the volcano trip are sadden-
ed to think that they forgot one thing
which the strangers needed to know
for their own comfort. What they
overlooked was Beckley's life history.
Actually they let those poor editors go
on board the Kinau supposing Beokley
to be a humble native purser with
nothing more obvious about him than
a desire to please. Such a dreadful
mistake could have had none but har-
rowing consequences.
Admiral Beckley was a patient man
when he found himself addressed as
Purser and overlooked at meals, but
he bided his time. It came at the Hilo
luau, where, more in pity than i'm an
ger, he took pains to tell the visiting
scribes the story of his life. He made
the glittering tale half an hour long.
He was a prince, an admiral, capital
list, a member Of the Hilo Board of
Trade and was -presumptive to
the governorship of Hawaii And i'm
coupon contest he had won an autOmo-
bile. 1t was enough to have brought
the California editors to their feet or
their knees, but actually, they either
grinned or looked fatigued. Poor vic
Tins in the hands of fate they took the
speech for a josh. But Admiral Beck
ley was indulgent and told it over
again. And then these misguided
strangers laughed. st was TOO much
but the patience of the Admiral was
not yet ended. He would give the OBJ
fuse Californians another chance.
SO he went with them to the Volcano
House, prepared to reply to any old
toast, with his whole autobiography
and the annals of his forefathers from
Mooheau, the bovine prince of Hilo,
way back to Hoky Poky Winky Wum,
renowned in story and song. But fate
still played at cross-purposes. The edi-
tors had a feast and, at the instance of
Toastmaster Johnson, everybody but
the Admiral was called upon to talk.
This was the last straw. When the
thing was over the Admiral made a
few cutting remarks to the toastmas-
ter and retired with a proud dignity,
worthy of the last Of a noble line.
The next day something happened.
Indeed it did. When Johnson went on
board the Kinau for the stateroOm his
return ticket called for, he was inform
ed by the Admiral in person that 1t
had been sold. Where could he sleep?
Oh, he could try a bench or sleep down
below. on the floor. Several other edi-
tors might do the same. And the la
dies Oh, the ladies could have floor
mattresses in the diningroOm. And in
that way the editorial party came
home all except a few who bethought
themselves of Admiral Beckley's rank
and who were farsighted enough to
congratulate him on ais Subernatorlal
prospects. For these, some cabins,
hitherto locked, were promptly opened.
And how easily the trouble might
have been avoided by a word in time
from the Promotion Committee. In
future let those who want the best
the Kinau has to offer, be saved from
the blunder of treating Admiral Beck
lev as a mere purser. That he stoops
to ccupy such a post is an expression
merely, of his innate graciousness. he
is Royalty in disguise. He consents u
be purser just as Lincoln. consented u
be a railsplitter, so he could tell about
it later in his political campaigns
Some day, when he sits in the Capito
as Governor Of Hawaii or rises porten.
tously in the Senate of the United
states, people who hear the story OF
his life as then told, will be glad
they can feel that they We're among
the few in the far Kinau days, who IN
stinctively knew the presence of great
ness and were glad and proud to lister
when the great man talked. And II
that day how humbled, among then
ink-pots and sour paste, will be thos'
unfortunate editors who chortled Whll'
others sat in awe.