The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-02-05
Many Changes Take Place During
Long Absence Of John
Bell Wilson

HoNoLuLu was nothing more
than a village and John Bell vii.
son was scarcely more than a boy
when he sailed away from this island
thirty eight years ago to battle with
the world and take a man Is part in tho
affairs of the country of which his
native land was eventually destined tc
be part. n" ." VI
John Bell Wilson left here on small
sailing vessel. Steamers were few and
far between in those days. Yesterday
he returned to Honolulu in the palatial
| steamer Matsonia, to find a village
transferred into modern city, peopled,
apparently by a new race, and with
nearly all the old friends of his boy
hood days, passed TO another world.
Learns of Mothers Death ...l
The saddest part Of his return was
to learn of the death of his aged
mother, whom he had not seen for
thirty-eight years, and whom he had
looked forward TO meet as the one
great happiness Of his home coming.
She had married again soon after the
death of Wilson's father and the bow
had not written to her from the tin
Of his departure for the mainland. YC
tertiay he was told that his mother dieU
about three years ago. He set about
at once to find her grave and arrange
TO have it properly marked by to'nh.
stone, tribute TO her memory from
son who went away and forgot. VI 30,
tThere have been many changes
said Mr.. Wilson yesterday. 81 could
scarcely recognize Honolulu except for
| A -fnt Of hn "A.
| nearly all the old familiar faces are
gone" he added, as the tears began to
dim his eyes. 81 have yet few, how,
ever, ~ he continued, "and though their
hair has turned many shades lighter
and their step less firm, recognized
them nevertheless, as playmates of my
boyhood days"
Included among those whom Mr., Will
son met yesterday were A. o. X. EAST
Kahulualii, who is now in the mechan.
ical department of The Advertiser
John X. Kamanoulu of the Star Bulle
tin was another.
Recalls Old Classmate
AS a boy Mr.. Wilson attended thC
Kaumakapili church in Homo 'uluF and
later was student at the Lahainaluna
school at Lahaina. lie says that Curtis
p. Iaukea was one of his classmate,
there.
| Mr.. Wilson left Honolulu when h,
was twenty three years old. He is nov
dxty-one, but straight, robust and ap
parently in the best of health. II,
landed in Suffer county, California, up
on his arrival at the Coast and tina
place has since been his home. He ha
a fine homestead at the mouth Of tn,
Feather River in Suffer county and hi
wife and five grown children resid
there. He has prospered by hunting
and fishing for the Sacramento market
and incidentally made considerable
money in farming.
"When l left here Kalakaua wa
king. LOrrin A. ThurstOn, whom re
member well, was then quite a younl
man. -''H b.
az have met many people from Ha
wall since left here. was at Sal
Francisco in January, 1891, when Kim
Kalakaua was visiting there. He die,
few days after we talked and dram
together there F.''
Through all the years that hav
elapsed Mr.. Wilson has not forgotte
his native Language and can speak Ha
waiian fluently. He stated yestefda
that he plans to spend about tire
months in Honolulu and vicinity, re
aewing acquaintanceship with those o
his boyhOod friends who still remain.