The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-10-18
CRUISER MEN ON HONOLULU

enthusiasm than the youth of Homo
lulu. Every day contigents of boys
and girls, with their books neatly
strapped, piled over the gangway to
become further familiar with the mod
ern fighting machine, and were always
welcome. A day was assigned for the
children of all the schools and the
students of the colleges to visit the
ships Shortly after noon they began
to arrive with their teachers and pro-
fessors, all carrying national favors or
flags 1t was a sight that everybody
enjoyed and for a few hours they had
the right-of-way. Every facility was
given them to see the internal arrange
ments and they more than availed
themselves of the opportunity, for very
soon they were scattered from engine
room to fighting tops, clambering
everywhere with Juvenile curiosity, and
a satisfactory muster could scarcely
be made when it was time to go home.
Again on the day of the parade they
evidently had a half holiday for they
were distributed along the entire line
of march with their little flags and
cheering themselves hoarse.
Water readily lends itself to adorn-
ment and when it mingles with the
flora Of the tropics and a tasteful diff
fusion of bunting, artillery incandes-
cent lights with the softening touches
of moonlight, in all of which a happy
throng of smiling faces in naval and
military uniforms mingle with the
graceful figures of charmingly gowned
ladies, the scene when viewed from a
point of vantage resembles another
fairyland On September II, the off,
GERS of the squadron gave a reception
to the elite of Honolulu which for daz-
| cling ship decoration has never been
! surpassed in the Paradise of the Pa
cific." The two vessels, the West Vir-
! ginia and the Pennsylvania lying on
either side of the naval dock, were
! Illuminated from masthead to water
/ line with lights beautifully distributed
and woven into the names of the four
vessels, while numerous Chinese Ian
terms and the lotus fish ponds added
the finishing touches. The space be-
! tween the two ships, occupying the
entire dock, was utilized as a pro-
menade and canopied with the flags of
every nation on earth, in the centre OF
which was huge punchbowl guarded
by peaceful battery of field pieces en-
buwt1ed in gorgeous collection of
plants and flowers. The sides of the
ships were interlaced and slashed with
palms and fronds. Potted shrubs of
the choicest growth were tastefully
distributed. The searchlights, some
in variegated colors, poured a stream
of light on the national colors and
swept over the entire dock to the
grounds of the naval station which is
rich in tropical vegetation, bringing
nature herself to add a further lusure
to arc. Along the sides of the pro.
mertde were aligned seats. Cooling
beverages were served by China boys
from buffets that looked like sylvan
fountains. The quarterdecks of the
two vessels were transformed into
brilliant bathrooms and the cabins
wardrooms and state rooms were giver
over to the visitors. Hawaiian ouin.
tets furnished the music on the quar-.
ter decks and the combined bands OF
the four vessels filled up the intervals
between dances with strains which
seemed to be as engrossing to the
Hawaiians as their music was to us.
On the evening of the 18th the de-
corations of the previous night were
still standing and even further EN-
bellished by the good taste which is by
no means lacking in Uncle Sans Navy
The crews of the big four ships fol
lowing the time honored customs O
the Hawaiians in their hospitablt
Luhous," or public feasts, gave al
the inhabitants of Honolulu a genera
invitation to a farewell reception anC
dance on the spacious Naval dock. Tht
combined orchestral talent OF the ship:
occupied the stand in the center 0,
the big arena with which a native uui1,
tette played alternately to fan the MIN
BILE feet of the graceful couples who
|. trip9ed the light fantastic till the small
] hours of the morning Thousands
who did not desire to dance lined the
sides and approaches to the big paw
lion, evidently enjoying themselves
while a continual stream of people
were coming and going. Dancing was
! kept up with hardly an intermission
and a sight to gladden. the heart wa,
those sturdy sons of Neptune whirlins
in one gigantic maze with the graceful
forms of the daughters of the Pacif,
Isles. The waltz and two-step of tn,
Hawaiians has a contagious charm
about it that is not easily avoided. hav
ing grated on our calesthenics all tn,
fascination of the hula and reminds one
of the discarded mazurka. In fact tbs