Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-20
ONLY AMERICAN
KING YEARNS To
QUIT HIS THRONE
All of Former Brokers' Thirty
Wives Want English Gowns.
Jealousy Spreads.

NEW YORK. July 19.-Archibald c.
Everett, the only American King,
practically has made up his mind to
renounce his throne. He is King of
the Island of Arorae. one of the Gill
bert group of South Sea Islands. I'm
til 1909 he was New York curb
broker. The insistence Of his many
wives for English gowns and his lone
illness have led to the determination
to give up his kingly honors. He tells
OF his intentions in a letter Just re-
ceived by a friend in this city
The career Of Everett has been I'M
usual. In 1909, when he was in bust
ness in this city. he was thought to be
well to do. He met reverses, however.
in Wall Street, and in the latter part
of 1909 disappeared, without leaving
word of farewell Nothing was
heard from him until in 1911, in a
remarkable letter, he told of being
made the 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 islands of
the Gilbert group. Finally ne reached
Arorae. 1t was a monograph which
he had in his possession. that eventu-
ally won for him his throne. The King
at that time OF the island took a great
fancy to the photograph.
Photograph Wins Kingdom.
By the hour Everett, 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 to the throne According
to the custom of the island. Everett
took good many wives.
Everett took a very lively interest
in the affairs of the island. He In
creased its business with traders. The
principal product of the island is CO.
pra. or dried cocoanut meat. The let
ter in part. reads:
AT the present time the Kings Job
is about the last thing to be desired,
and do not be surprised if l walk in
on you some day in the near future.
am about tired of the job.
For some time past conditions here
have steadily become worse. It start
ed 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 in exchange for
some copra. The native presented
| them to the King, and in turn gave
them to three of my wives. The ma
ttves have never worn any clothes to
speak of. Imagine my surprise, then,
when the three dresses became the
center of regular war among my
wives.
THE three victorious wives man
aged to get them on somehow. and
that settled it. Every one of them
set up a kick for a dress. and they
worried the life out of me was
forced to get the gowns. The first
trader that stopped at the island from
Australia was commissioned to bring
them back on the next trip, and in
due course of time they arrived
Jealousy Over English Gowns.
THE dresses were Of all colorS 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 stepping proudly, my
wives paraded up and down the
island, causing every woman in the
kingdom, young and old, to grow
jealous.
so far half of the female popula-
ton 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
objections have not added to my pop
ularity whatever. / am daily ex-
pecting the men to demand suits Ot
flannel and silk shirts.
Affairs on a Business Basis.
Il have not done so badly here
financially. l put the business of the
island on a business basis soon after
becoming King, and things have
flourished.
81 don't know how the people here
will take my departure. They may
even try to prevent it, and l have
been considering the best method to
leave I could probably get aboard
one of the trading ships and get to
Australia, after which it would be
easy, of course, to get back to the
United States"