The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-07-21
TWenty-FOur Hundred Men
in Review Before
the Admiral.
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tFrom saturdays AdVeInser
The main streets of Honolulu echoed
yesterday to the measured marching of
armed men, twenty-four hundred of the
fight or frolic boys of the battleships
parading to the music of their own
bands and the cheers of the crowds
lining the route of march. The parade
was an impressive spectacle. driving
home to the minds of the thousands who
watched the files of ri1emen tramp past
the impression OF readiness which the
sight OF the advancing battleships had
created the morning before.
AS fitting finish for the parade,
marking the fact that it was as ''our
own bOys' that the marines and sailors
shouldered their rifles, the officers and
men were rewarded by bright-eyed
beauty before rejoining their ships,
each of the sailors and marines BLUSH
ingly bearing off a lei, hung about his
neck by one of score of the young
society ladies of the city. This lei
ceremony, which was something unique
in the sailors experiences, and de-
cidedly pretty event, took place at the
foot of Richards street, each battalion
being halted at the word of command
to enable the young ladies to step be-
tween the lines and distribute their
pretty favors.
The men appreciated it. There can
be no doubt about that. They showed
it, each tanned face lighting up after
the head had been bowed and the
wreath slipped over the ears by pretty
hands, while the resumed march was
with blither step. When the COM
mand "Shoulder armsi" came, military
precision was neglected by the great
majority, the boys taking time to shift
their aloha wreath out of harms way
before the heavy rife was cuddled
against the cheek.
There was some little disappointment.
There were not quite enough flowers to
go around, and one company had to
march past undecorated, and the fact
that only the boys in the parade secur'
ed the coveted trophies was source of
regret to those who had to remain
aboard ship. The lei committee met
near the fishmarket a half hour before
the marching sailors and marines re-
turned from their parade and review,
and the great masses of blossoms at
tracted the attention of the boys left
behind aboard the Vermont and the
Kansas. Immediately there were in
quiries.
"Aren we in on this2' inquired
one sent from the Kansas to represent
the seamen. He was told that the leis
were for the men in line, then stepping
jauntily past the Admiral and the Gov
nor. A chorus oil protest came from
the men behind him, the delegate being
backed up by that time by string OF
the blueJackets.
"Say, that amt on the square, real
ly, you know. Why, if we didn't stay
and take care of the ships them fellows
wouldn't be able to go out on the pa
rade. We oughtn't to be overlooked ,
''Well, let us pick flower off thu
bunch, anyway said another of th
boys, with his cap on the back of hi
curly head, and seeing a relenting lool
in the eyes of the young lady nearest t
him he nipped off carnation. Other
followed his example.
In the final distribution there was on
company of sailors not reached by tn
flower girls. The lei committee regre
this, and has announced that that con
pany can have leis sent aboard thei
ship on request.
THE PARADE.
The parade formed at the Allen stree
landing, at which point the launeht
from the battleships at anchor lande
their armed detachments of mel
Promptly at nine O'Clock the first con
pany swung into line, and the parad
had begun. Brigade Commander Cal
tain Potter headed the marching me
the line being kept clear for them alor
the route by policemen stationed at Il
corners and by Captain Parker al