The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-16

peared. He was in California in early
days; in Hawaii, Australia, and Tahi-
tt; the love of adventure grew upon
him; he learned to adapt himself to
circumstances Though not handsome
he was well proportioned and DOS
sessed of much physical grace. He
travelled for a time with a circus:
learned to balance himself on a globe,
to throw double-sommersault and to
do daring trapeze flights in the peak
of the tent. Growing weary of this,
and having already know and be-
come enamored of Hawaii, he return
ed to the islands, secured the Royal
Hawaiian Theater and began life
anew. His collection Of botanical
plants surrounding the theater was
exceptionally rich and a source of
profit to him; but the theater was his
hobby, and he rode it to the last
Nothing seemed quite impossible to
him upos the stage; anything from
light comedy to eccentric character
parts was in his line; the prima dom
ma in burlesque opera was a favorite
assumption; nor did he, out of the
love of his art disdain to dance the
wench-dance in a minstrel show; he
had even a circus of his own; but his
off hours were employed in his gar
den or with pupils whom he instruct
ed in music, dancing, fencing, boxing,
gymnastics and | know not what else.
On one occasion he took with him
to California a troupe Of Hawaii's
hulahula dancers the only ones who
have gone abroad professionally, and
his experiences with these people,
whose language he had made his own,
and with whom he was in full sym
pathy, would fill a volume. Their
singular superstitions; the sacrifices
of pig and fowl which he had at times
to permit them to make in order to
appease wrathful GODS the gypsy life
they led in the interior of the State,
where, apart from the settlements,
they would camp by stream in some
canon and live for a little while the
life of their beloved islands; the in
suits they received in the up-country
towns from the civilized whites, who
like wild beasts fell upon them, and
finally succeeded in demoralizing and
the troupe-these episodes
he was fond of enlarging upon, and
his fascinating narrative was enliven-
ed with much highly original and
humorous detail
Through all his vicissitudes he pre-
served a refinement which was re-
marked by every one who knew him.
He was an intimate of the Kings
Lunalilo l., and Kalakaua l., and of
many Hawaiians of rank; he had
danced in the royal set at court-balls;
was a member and correspondent of
several scientific societies; a man OF
the most eccentric description; great
ly loved by a few, intensely disliked
by many, and perhaps fully under
stood by no one. He had learned to
hate the world, and at times to irri-
tate himself very much over it; doubt
less he had cause.
My last night in the little theater
was the pleasantest OF all. The play
was over; during its action great
ruby-eyed moths with scarlet spots
like blood-drops on their wings flew
through the windows and dove head
long into the foot-lights, where they
suffered martyrdom, and eventually
died to slow music; and then the rain
came and beat upon that house, and it
leaked; but umbrellas were not pro-
hibited; the shower was soon over;
we shook our locks like spaniels, and
laughed again; and it was all very
tropical.
Late in the night Proteus and
were supping in the green-room, when
he told me in a stage whisper how
night after night, when the place was
as black as a tomb, he had heard a
light football, softly creaking floor,
and a mysterious movement of the
furniture; how twice the dark figure
stood by his bedside with fixed eyes,
like the ghost of Banquo; there was
enough moonlight in the room to re-
veal the outline Of this figure, and to
shine dimly through It as through
folds of Grape. And often there were
voices whispering audiblyi and it was
as if the disembodied had returned
to play their parts again before a
spectral audience come from the
graves of the past; and he was sure
to hear at intervals, above the ghost
ly ranting, the soft patter of applause
Like that" said Proteus, starting
from his chair, as a pun of wind ex-
tinguished the lamp and left us in
awful darkness. We listened heard
Continued on page twenty)