The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-08-30

Craving the life of a soldier, chagrin
ed that the hope of her parents coult
not be fulfilled because she was borl
has been one long disappointment
Therefore, her craving for a change O.
scene that she might observe closely
the activities of the male sex, espe
cially where they are turned to military
and naval matters.
For many weeks Honolulans have
been accustomed to the appearance OF
the streets of a horseback rider, 6
/ young woman of dark countenanee, at
tired in riding suit of khaki, with
military buttons and insignia, a cam
paign hat with officer s cord encircled
a Mcclellan saddle on the horse, a
young woman who rode erect with the
bearing of one used to the saddle and
military life. Along the waterfront she
passed day after day, through the
streets, and on out to Font Shafter The
The naval station and the military post
were the two features of Honolulu life
that really attracted her. The absence
of the battleship feet affected her, and
even the distance of the military post
was something on which she comment
ed, and in which she was disappointed,
for she thought the post would be near
er her hotel, the Moana.
When the hotel people heard from
Miss d Aguerra it was by letter in
coming from New York, arriving here
by the Alameda. On arrival, her dis
appointment was great, for the post was
far distant from the hotel and she did
not hear the bugle on arising, nor the
bugle at retreat. In fact, no bugle calls
struck upon her ear, and she had to
travel miles to hear the martial tones.
Soon after she arrived the battleship
fleet came, and she was happy. With
feverish interest she visited one boat
after another, calling upon this and that
captain, becoming acquainted with the
wardroom officers, until she spoke of
this vessel as one she liked, or that
one that she did not care for so well;
that Captain So-and-so, was not so nice
as Captain So-and-so.
And when the battleship feet depart
ed she was foremost among those who
mounted to the little upper deck of the
United States Naval Tug Iroquois to
watch the fleet depart. AS each war
ship was passed the little woman wav
ed her handkerchief at the officers on
the quarterback, and wondered wheth
er they really could make her out
among the group. Talkative to the ex-
treme, she held the center of the little
upper deck with her comments, and
many wondered who she was When
the tug returned to the wharf and the
fleet was disappearing over the horizon,
the little woman s eyes were wet with |
tears. To her it was almost as though |
! friend had departed.
Then she took to horseback riding, |
her route always taking in the naval |
the naval station and Fort |
Shafter. On special parade days at |
Fort Shafter when the Hawaiian band |
was in attendance, she was present on |
horseback, arrayed in her khaki riding |
habit, and campaign hat, and army but
,ons and saddle. She never missed one |
# these occasions. 1t was like report
ng for duty. And why?
Well, it is a sad history, and when
me knows it all one does not wonder
It her enthusiasm over the Navy and
Army. She told it all one day when she
vas out riding and had stopped to
tighten the surcingle.
81 am not Cuban born, but my
PARENTS were from Cuba, she said.
{ They fought for the freedom of
,uba My family participated in all
he wars that were waged to free Cuba
rom Spain S rule. Why, my uncle died
q the Spanish political prison of Ceuta,
fter being taken prisoner in Cuba for
ghting for Cuba S freedom. Ny grand
Tother, imbued with the spirit of patri-
tism. carried messages into the field
or the sake of freedom. There has
Iwavs been fighting blood in our veins,
nd when I was born in New York city,
nv parents were disappointed. They
ad hoped / would be born boy. They |
ad intended getting me into military
rhool, West Point, even, that | should
earn the art of war and return to
uba to help gain its freedom. Imagine
heir disappointment. As years went
Y I. too. became imbued with the dis
ppointment felt by my parents, and
1rned to whatever pertained to war.
too, felt disappointed because / could
of 90 to West Point, and so, all my !
fe. have thought of nothing but :
he Army and Navy. Can you blame
,eP" And tears coursed down her
heeks.
fsWherever there was an army post
went to itP / learned the bugle calls, :
ne life of the soldier and the officers,
armed to love the symbolism of the
-appings of the army, and it has be- /.
ome part of my life. The same with
he navy. A warship in port makes ,,
" blood run red. I love the life, L
we the life of the sailor, the officer,