The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-09-08
R. C. Lydecker, Keeper Of Ar
chives, Target For Some Of
Authors Hottest Shots
REPLIES TO ATTACK ON HIS
ARTICLE IN COSMOPOLITAN
Wants To- Know Why Some
'Knocker' Always Hammers
Boosters For Hawaii

w ny IN me deuce uocS some lei
low in Hawaii always gets out 4 ham
MGR and knock any man who tr,es t."
give Hawaii some loving, widespread
advertising over the rest of the
vorldI' queries Jack London, the au-
thor. in letter TO The Advertiser
His question is PrOpOunded in the
second postscript Of a communication
wherein the author of 1.-THE Call Of
the Wild, - 1.-THE Sea Wolf" and, in
eidentaIly, of "My Hawaiian Aloha, -
replies with exceeding warmth to r. c.
I.yuccker, keeper Of the territorial
archives.
In The Advertiser of August II Ly-
decker severely stricturcd the first in
stalmcnt of "My Hawaiian Aloha,
appearing in the september CosmOPoli
tan. London's reply confirms the
theory. gaining crcdence shortly after
Iydeoker-'s criticism appeared, thar
the novelist obtained his historical
data from the writings of william n.
Armstrong, member of the cabinet of
the late King Kalakaua, who accom-
panied the Hawaiian monarch on his
void tour.
Story Of Betrothal
London's article rccounted an al
legged attempt by King Kalakaua to
betroth the Princess Kaiulani to son
Of the MikadO of japan while he was
the Mikado's guest in TOXIC in 1881.
I.ydccker declared this statement o
"histUrical mistake because history
shows that in 1881 Princess Kaiulani
was only five years old. lydecker
rlso accused the writer of carelessness
in gathering data, because the maya
zine story said that the princess was
near to the Hawaiian throne. Not un
til ten years after the Toxic inrident
saws I.ydeckpr. did she attain this pc
sition Of royal heritage.
l.ondOn's letter, written at Glen ii
len, his home in SOnOma county, Cali
frrnia, under date of August 27, is as
follows:
editor Adyertiser-In your ISSUE
Of Thursday, August II. 1916, | have
lust read X. c. Lydecker s criticism OF
nv article on Hawaii published in TIL
SeTtcmber number Of the Cosmopolitan
Magazine.
What's 1t All About?
"But what is Mr.. I.ydecker's con
tpntion oil abOuti Surely Mr. Lydeck
or has heard historically and as 8
keeper of the archives that often, a
tender ages, princesses were Oetrothed
Surely Mr. IVdecker has found, a:
we'd, in history where princesses were
bptrothed before they were born
Why should five years of age be bal
to an international alliance by mar
ri"r" such ~ ! described as being pro
pounded by King Kalakaua TO thu
49, 700 Of japan!
"MY authority for this matter !
Williurl n Armstrong, member o
King kaluknua s cabinet, who, will
Col. G. H. Judd, accompanied King ka
lnkrua on his trip around the world
! do not know whether Armstrong
book is in the archives presided owe
nv Mr. Lvdcck"r; but, surely, Mr.
I.yd"ckrr. speaking as an authority
must have had access to that book
Now, if Mr.. I.vdrckcr at second han'
knows more about this affair than MI
Armstrong ut first hand knows, that i
"A quarrel between him and Mr.. Arm
strong. can only quote the author
ties, and if the Authorities quarre
that is no pilikia of mine.
Finds Niger in Woodpile
, Lydrckrr's criticism on my article UI
tbiy matter, discover that he take
the same case that took for the pro
iert"d marriage between Princess Kai
ulani and Prince of the Japa nrs
reiguiug house, and that Mr.. Lydecke
does not know as much about the stu
ton ms Mr. Armstrong knew.
AT the end of Mr.. Lydecker cri
tai IN ha btI
situation. Mr.. Lydecker has had hi
feelings hurt because | did not call u
his Office to verify the data that l ha
more straight than he has. Now, MI
Lydecker is caught on the hOrns of tn
dilemma. Either he must call me
Ifar. or he must gall Armstrong a lial
"Onr final word in reply to the fnu
word Of Mr.. Lydeeker 5 criticism. NJ
Iydecker insinuates that l was prob
ably afraid that my story might b
spelled hv the facts in the case, ha
| preferred to tell il AS he would hav
Strengthened me out, rather than tel
il as | GIh tell it from my 'romancin
fwformants' Please, Mr.. Lydecker,
have had too many good stories spoile
in the past by just the sort Of person
no iusist on spelling good stories /
have any fears about any Of my pre-
sent or future good stories being sPOi
cd by that sort Of persons.
Sincerely yours.
"JACK LONDON.
"F. :. If Mr.. I.ydcrker has nc
rerd \rmstTong's book, Mr.. Lydeckc
se n< worfuIIy deficient in his know
led", IF things Hawsiians. If Mr.. I.y
dFebrr has read Mr.. Armstrong; BOOB
then he has been wOefully unfair in NJ
mrntiuniug Mr. Armstrong as my at
thnrity when he. Mr.. Lydecker, attach
ed me- in your column.
81. l..
"r =. Why in the deuce does sem
+, How in Hawaii always get out a han
r. "nd Proceed to knock any ma
rh' '~irs 20 give Hawaii some loving
widc-sprcgd advertising over the re'
of tn world!