The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-26
TENDER STRAINS OF. "ALOHA-E"
: FOLLOWED KANAKk TO CRAVE

of his childhood. and saw again the
turquoise skies and the opalescent
sheen of the moonlit surf breaking
against the shores he loved so
well.
Played "Aioha.e"
Ills favorte air was ~Alnha-e."
that hauntingly beautiful and most
ineffahly sad OF all songs OF fare
we'll. lie usually played Il last.
just before putting away his instru-
ment for the day. With Il. he re-
sponded TO enoores at musical en-
tortainments in the auditorium.
often he hummed Il. In soft
falsetto. while at work
But tho muslcloving soul OF
Kanaka did not remain imprisoned
long. Perhaps he was unable to
endure the irksome restraints OF
confinement. or he could not with
stand tho wet rigors OF our Wash
ington winters; or It may have
been longing for his island home.
visions OF which his music con
jured up In Mcmory's clouded
GLASS,
ukulele Buried. Too
In any event. no sickened and
died. and his loved ukulele became
forever mute. In kindly compli'
Rnce with what no would have
wished. they laid II beside him In
his coffin. Tho members OF tho
band received permission TO &C
company the body TO the prison
cemetery and 20 play during inter
ment
Ohscurely situated at the eN.
IRENE edge OF the penitentiary res
ervation. and inciosed by n wire
fencing. as tho to impose a ma
terial barrier 10 morbid curiosity
End impertinent intrusion. lies a
single acre OF ground. dedicated To
our unnamed dead.
There are five cell wings In the
Institution, and the inmates. In grim
euphuism. refer TO tho graveyard
as six Wing"
Had one failed to motto the
Serried lines of weatherstained
headstones and tho long rows OF
grimly significant mounds soantily
covered with sparse ycrdure. one
would atili sense the proximity OF
burial ground. for the very Genius
81 DesolAtlon seems TO preside
over the place. swinburne must
have had some such spot In mind
when he wrote his Deserted Gar
den"
The Unnamed Dead
As We walked IN slow procession
down the aisle of graves. a deeper
Golemnity fell over us and each was
unpremeditatedly silent We could
not help thinking OF those whose
bodies lay below and wondering II
We. too. were destined for such
sculpture. We had provided our.
selves with number OF cut flow
crs. which We strewed upon the
graves as We passed.
Our unnamed dead, Here NAV
have lain mere boy. whom Omni'
science had mercifully removed
from a life which could have held
rothing but suffering Here, one
grown gray in life's grim battle.
fallen at last to final and merciful
defeat. And here might be the
grave Of one cut off prematurcly
by the ruthless arm OF the law. In
pagan. swift reprisal
As we dropped blossom upon a
mound. We could fancy that across
the face OF the silent tenant passed
look of bewildered wonderrnent
a, unaecustomed kindness. how
ever belated and inadequate; or a
slight. inscrutable smile at the n.
tillty of such attentlon-now.
The Tune He Loved
At length. We reached the fresh
dug grave prepared for the recep-
ton OF all that was mortal OF
kanaka. The chaplain finished
tho simple. impressive ceremonial Of
the burial service. and. as with
reverent touch. We gently lowered
the coffin into the grave. softly the
band played the air kanaka had
loved so well.
Tenderiy. sweetly. lIngeringly.
the haunting strains OF "Aloha-e"
filled the Invisible corridors OF
six Wing: and. as We stood with
bowed. uncovered heads. ve won
Gered II perhaps II might not find
an echo OF response in the freed
spirit OF Kanaka. still lowering