The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1908-07-24
READY FOR THE FLEET.
Honolulu Will Give the Sailors {
Royal Welcome.

Honolulu, July 16.-Looking out
this morning over the streets and
buildings Of Honolulu, the spectator
is prone to wonder whether there
are any flags or bunting left in the
United States. Certainly the supply
of such emblems of patriotism must
have visibly decreased on the con-
tinent, for this city is today veri-
tably wrapped and swathed and al
most hidden beneath waving sea
of Stars and Stripes. Assuredly. this
is to be great day in Honolulu
the day that is to mark thearrival
and glorious reception of the At
lantic fleet.
Not since the dusky and adipose
queen of the Paradise of the Pa
cific stepped down from her throne
and resigned her crown and scepter,
and Uncle Sam, Rex, ruled in her
stead, has there been such an out
burst of truly American patriotism.
1t is not alone the Americans who
are on the tiptoe of excitement.
straining their eyes seward to
where the monster battleships will
soon appear above the horizon. The
native Hawaiians are quite as mucn
excited, and even the swarming
thousands of Japanese-that horde
OF little brown men which, say the
alarmists, will some day arise in its
might and replace the star spangled
banner with the blazing ensign of
the mikado-even these have caught
the Infection and have become for
the moment, at least, patriotic
Americans.
When the battleship fleet arrives
in the crescent-shaped harbor today,
it will have traversed a distance of
zoos miles since leaving San Fran
cisco nine days ago. The floating
fortresses will remain here until
next Thursday before resuming the
voyage, with Apuckland. New Zea-
land, as the next stopping place.
During the week in Honolulu there
will be scores of entertainments for
both officers and sailors and IL Com
mander in Chief Sperry and the 9th
er rear admirals of the fleet do not
die of indigestion, 1t will not be the
fault of the entertainment commit
tee.
AS the vessels steam through the
narrow but deep channel which
gives entrance through the coral reef
to the harbor which is known as
1.-THE cross roads of the Pacific" the
enthusiasm of the people, already
boiling over, will pass all bounds.
Practically all Of Honolulu's 10000
population will be on hand to give
welcome and will be augmented
by thousands of others from every
part of the island of Oahu. 1t will
be cosmopolitan crowd on thepi er
to greet the tackles" shouting
aloha" Glove to You") in the
musical tongue of the Kanakas.
There will be wreaths of flowers for
throwing over the heads OF the
Americans as they step on the pier.
It will be an offering of music and
flower loving people. In thecro wd
will be the full-bodied and plump
faced natives, Americans, Chinese.
Japanese and Portuguese and mix
lures Of nearly all of these races.
Honolulu itself will not present so
many characteristics novel to Ameri-
can eyes as some of the sailors may
expect to find. 1t Is sometimes
said that Honolulu in its physical
aspects is an illustration of what a
New England conscience unillu-
mined by imagination can do for a
town. The descendants of the mis-
sionaries who have done so much
that is worth while for the islands
insisted in erecting brick blocks OF
the uninteresting type of the average
small American city among the
palms of this semi-tropical country.
Under American domination the city
has taken many progressive steps.
1.-THE street cars drawn by horses OF
which the inhabitants used to COM
Iplain have been replaced by trolley
cars, and one may reach almost any
place in the neighborhood BY theil
use. The signs are in English and
1.-THE English language is the one
chiefly used.
One Of the places to which man,
Of the sailors will undoubtedly e
will be Waikiki Beach, which Dc
Preached by trolley. It is in front O
this beach that the Hawaiians In
dulge In the exciting sport OF sur
riding. There are. perhaps. no PEG
Iple on earth more nearly amphibiou
than the Hawaiians. Surf ridini
{ may be called the national sport o
the natives Of the Sandwich Islands
/ Another OF the pleasures 1 Of tn
:. native Hawaiians which has survive,
lis the hula-hula dance. This postuI
i ng dance Is not on the official pro
5 sran. as its modern form ID not on
b ilrely like its primitive practice
That there will be opportunities I
elseeG It is evident, however. as the gtw
principal purYeyors Of this form 4
> Entertainment have been maxim
o.