The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-01-30
WAS THEME OF
. STEVENSON POEM
Mrs. Caroline French Poor Bush,
Historic Figure in Hawaii
Dies at Ripe Old Age.
(From "wednesday Advertiser. J

| Almost within q month Of her seven.
ty.eighth birth anniversary, Mrs. Caro-.
line French Poor.Bush died yesterday
morning at the home Of her daughter,
Mrs. Charles A. X. Hopkins of Kapio.
lpri Park, Waikiki. Heart failure is
stated to have been the immediate
eause Of heitleath of tho well known
aged woman.
Caroline French Poor Bush was born
in Honomm March 2, 1896. the daugh.
ter of William French and Lydia Panic
Hunt French. She was, consequently.
seyenty,seven years, ten months and
twenty-four days Of age at the time OF
her death yesterday.
Mother Of Noted Actor.
She was married TO Henry Francis
Poor on March 10, 1856, from which
nnion there were two sons, Henry Fran.
els Poor, who died in 1853, and Charles
Benjamin Poor, the celebrated Hawai-.
ian actor who died some years ago in
California.
Mrs. Poor remained a widow for sew
ehteen years and in February, 1873,
married A. w. Bush. OF this union
there are two children, W. NJ. Bush, Of
the Inter-Island Steam Navigation
Company, and Mrs. Charles A. X Hop
kins, Of Kapiolani Park. Many rela-
tives survive the deceased, both in Ha-
waii and on the mainland.
Mrs. Poor.Bush was a woman OF fine
education md high ideals and for years
was very prominent figure in royal
and social circles in Honolulu. When
the Duke of Edinburgh visited Homo,
lulu In 1858 he danced with her ut the
great royal ball given here in his honor.
In this we'll known wAnan the late
Robert Louis Stevenson found theme
which he embodied both in prose and
poetry. There Is in existence a birth.
day poem which he wrote while visit
ing in Honolulu in 1889 and which he
dedicated TO her. Stevenson s step.
daughter, Mrs. Isabel Strong, who by
a strange coincidence is now visiting
here and was only a few days ago visit
ed by Mrs. Poor-Bush, also found a
strong attachment for her. Mrs. Ross,
q character in Mrs. Strong's story, " A
| Girl from Home,' is none other but the
friend whom death claimed yesterday.
stevenson's Birthday Poem.
Here is the birthday poem written by
the immortal Stevenson and dedicated
to Caroline Bush on the occasion of her
ffty-third birthday anniversary, March
3, 1880: go. @
"Dear lady, tapping at your door,
Some little verses stand, a#.a.a. III
And, beg on this anspicious day
To come and kiss your hand.
Their syllables all counted right,
Their rhymes each in its place,
Like birthday children, at the door
They wait to see your face.
Rise, lady rise and let them in.
Fresh from the fairy shore,
They bring You things you wish to have,
Each in its pinafore.
For they have been to Wishing Land
This morning in the dew,
And all yonr dearest wishes bring
All granted--home TO you.
What these may be, they would not
And could not IL they would:
They take the packets sealed TO you
As trusty servants should.
But there was one that looked like love,
And one that smelt like health,
And one that had iingling sound
] fancy might be wealth.
tAh, well, they are but wishes still;
But, lady dear, for yon a'
| know that all you wish is kind IN.
pray IL all come true.''
t.3 Robert Louis Stevenson.