Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-18

of the Gilbert group of South Sea Is |
lands Until 1909 he was a New York
curb broker The insistenee of his
MANY wives for English gowns and
his loneliness have led TO the deter
mination to give up his kingly hon.
ors and come back to Broadway. He
tells of his intentions in a letter just
RECEIVED by a friend in this city,
The career of Everett has been I'M
usual. In 1909, when he was in BUSH
ness in this city, he was thought to
be well to do. He met reverses, how
ever, in Wall Street. and in the latter
part of 1909 suddenly disappeared,
without leaving word of farewell.
Nothing was heard from him until
1911, in a remarkable letter, he told of
being made King of Arorae, in the
South Sea Islands. He had landed
he said, on one of the small islands,
and had gone from there to other is
lands of the Gilbert group. Finally
he reached Arorae. 1t was phono-
graph which he had in his possession
that eventually won for him his
throne. The King at that time of the
island took a great fancy to the pho
nograph.
The voice coming from the horn was
mystery to him. BY the hour, Ev-
erett, according to his own account,
entertained the monarch, constantly
growing in his graces. Finally the old
King adopted Everett, and when he
died Everett succeeded him to the
throne According to the custom of
the island Everett took a good many
wives.
Everett took very lively interest
in the affairs of the island. He in
creased it's business with traders.
The principal product of the island is
copra, or dried cocoanut meat. Ev-
erett in letter received two years
ago said that BY his commercial deal
ing he expected To recoup his fortunes
and return home when he had done
so. Although the people of the island
are to all intents savages, the old
Kings action in making the white
man his heir has been respected, but
Everett in his letter Says he thinks
the island is becoming too civilized
for the good of the kingdom. He
thinks it is time for him TO return
home, The letter, which was sent by
way of Sydney, is as follows:
II have neglected to write to any of
my old friends, not because | have
forgotten them, but because, although
YOU may not think it, the duties of a
King. even in such a small island as
Arorae, are not what they are cracked
up to be. At the present time the
Kings job is about the last thing to
be desired. and do not be surprised
II l walk in on you some day in the
near future. / am about tired of the
job, and am longing for look at
Broadway again. l wonder how many
of my old friends are still in the land
of the living and will remember me-
For some time past conditions here
have steadily become worse. 1t start
ed in the first place, when my wives,
of whom there are about 80, insisted
on wearing English dresses. A trader
who stopped here presented one of
the natives with three English gowns,
made in sydney, in exchange for some
copra. The native, as is the custom.
presented them to the King, and | in
turn gave them to three of my wives
more in jest than anything else. The
natives have never worn any clothes
to speak of. although they have seen
them frequently on stray visitors and
traders, but never evinced any desire
to wear them. Imagine my surprise,
then, when the three dresses became
the center of a regular war among my
wives.
1.-The three victorious wives manag-
ed to get them on somehow, and that
settled it. Every one of them set up
a kick for dress, and they worried
the life out of me. Conditions finally
became so bad that / was forced to
get the gowns. The first trader that
stopped ut the island. from Australia
was commissioned to bring them back
on the next trip. and in due course
of time they arrived"
I have seen many comic operas back
in New York, and many strange sights,
but this was the strangest one of all
The dresses were of all eolors and sizes.
Most of the people here are about the
same stature, few being over four feet
six or seven. Some of the dresses were
too small, others too large, but they
created a sensation. Dressed in those
creations, with bare brown feet step
ping proudly, my wives paraded up
and down the island, causing every
woman in the kingdom, young and old.
to grow jealous. You can readily see
what happened
So far half of the female population
have been given the gowns and the
other half are waiting eagerly The
worst part of it all is that the men
are as enthusiastic over this new style
of dress as the women, and my objec-
tions have not added to my popularity
whatever l am daily expecting The
men 10 demand suits of flannel and
silk shirts.
So, you see my life has not been the
merriest one in the world. Added to-
this, different traders have caused
much trouble recently among my sub
jects by exchanging, without my
knowledge. quantities of gin for eopra
and cocoanuts. While the people adhere
strictly to the old traditions and bow
absolutely to my rule, there have been
too many disturbances lately. and | do
not feel as safe as l might. And for
some time have been little discon-
tented This kind of life Is very
6ne Tor awhile, but it soon tires, and
Rave longing to get back to civiiiEa
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