The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-06-21
WATCH AND VAIL
ALL NIGHT LONG
FOR THE PRINCE
Thousands Throng to Gaze on Casket Contain
ing Remains of David Kawananakoa-- Weird
Mourning Stirs Strangers---FuneraI Procession
Will Be Magnificent.

With every moment of the day there
came a floral trophy to deck the bier
or add to the banks of blossoms which
surrounded the earthly remains of the
late Prince David Kawananakoa ly-
ing in state in the old palace. now the
Executive building, yesterday.
While members of the National
Guard of Hawaii stood guard, relieved
by their comrades at regular intervals
from soon after mid might, Saturday
morning, there came from all over the
island those who wished to contribute
even if it were but handful of flowers
spect to the memory of the departed
alii
Not since the death of King Kala-
kaua has so impressive a lying in
state drawn the people of this island
to look upon the mortal sheath of the
departed spirit of one beloved of his
people.
Within the great chamber where
once a throne was set and where
monarchial mandates have given place
to the arguments of the peoples rep
resentatives, there lies the mortal en-
velope of one of the last few remain
ing royal Hawaiians while his people
pay their last respects with cere-
mony and pomp unique under the Stars
and Stripes. Above the capitol build
ing, which once housed q royal seat,
Old Glory flies at mid-mast, while
from the great pole in the grounds the
Hawaiian colors are half-masted.
Upon the balconies, keeping watch
throughout the long night, are men
and women, arrayed in mourning, tell
ing of the ancient deeds of princes
long ago gone from earthly ken, chant
ing the praises of the ancestors of the
line to which the dead alii belonged.
Frequently the night is pierced with
the narrowing wall and the palpitat-
ing mele stirs every sad emotion and
yet one thought that is not sad, that
through the very expression of grief
in its dramatic intensity there comes
the calm of consolation. Periods of
lamentation, such lamentation as is
heard nowhere else, alternate with
silent periods of what is perhaps sub
conscious meditation on the one most
mysterious act of life it's seeming end.
Around about the palace there gath
cred during the hours of darkness
many and many a stranger besides the
hundreds Of Hawaiians who came to
pathy. and the fascination, the weird
spell of the mourning wall. the fearful
message of grief in the breaking
rythm of the mele were to them sounds
they will never be able to forget and
in their remembrance will they ever be
reminded of the pang of parting in
this life and the seeming desolation
of a people because there has gone
from their midst one whom they re-
spected for himself and one of whom
they thought much for that he was a
representative of a great line of royal
blood.
The sweep of the scents of many
flowers from out the tall. wide win
dows of the palace across the lawns
to the nostrils of the people watching
in the dark; the dirges in song and in
strument; the waving of the huge ,
feather wands, the beautiful kahilis;
the tread of sentries set to guard the {
portals; the soft shutting of mourners
in the dim-lit Railways; the subdued '
of saddened conversation be- +
tween fellow watchers on the lanais;
the stiffness following those woeful
notes of the meIes that end in sobs: G
all these things sink into the soul and 5
make of the Hawaiian royal funereaI :
an unforgettable sacra- I
ment. G
Soon after midnight Friday, or early s
yesterday morning the casket was 5
borne from the late residence of the i
Prince. on Pensacola street, and car G
ried to the throne room of what was {
once the palace. and all day yesterday, Q