Under Hawaiian skies, a narrative of the romance, adventure and history of the Hawaiian Islands, a complete historical account, by Albert Pierce Taylor.

YESTERDAYS OF HAWAII NEI

425

own lavish hospitality. And it is little wonder that naval officers
whether of the American, British, French, Russian, German,
Italian, Brazilian or Argentine navies, longed for assignment
to the Pacific so that now and then the anchors of their ships
could be dropped in Naval Row, Honolulu, across the harbor
from the town, for they knew that a cordial welcome awaited
them ashore, not only in the palace of the king and the homes
of the hospitable residents, but among the fairest of Hawaii's
mnaidens, and that a flower given tc a sweetheart of that day,
brings up treasured memories when it is found again after
many lecades pressed between the leaves of a forgotten book.
Now and then when a kamaaina Honolulan straightens up
shelves of books, or cleans out ancient desks and attics, a flood
of memories flows before him, or her, when an ornate "Carte de
Danse," adorned with the embossed crown of the Hawaiian monarchy, and appearing to be resting upon a tasseled pillow a(nd
surroundedl by ornamental borders of elaborate design and colorinl(; comes to view. That was the age when the jasminee scent
was borne on the breezes everywhere at eventide. At four in the
afternoon the maidens strung leis of starry jashiine buds that
resembled pearls, which gradually opened in their hair when
they wore the fragrant decorations at a ball that night.
The little dance card was intended, when the palace chamberlain ordered it printed, to be of permanent value. He probably
had a romantic thought stored away that in the long years to
come some of the belles and beaux attending the ball that night
in the palace, with the king and his queen viewilng the formal
throng in the brilliant throne-room, might sometime come upon
the card and dreamr over the joyous and thrilling incidents of
this night of the distant past. It was printed on heavy cardboard and folded. Upon the cover was the (late, probably October 28, 1889, and upon the back cover, within the gorgeous
golden border, was the golden crown above the familiar "KIK,"
surrounded by the motto of Kamehameha III, "Ua mau ke ea
o ka aina i ka pono." (The life of the land is perpetuated in
righteousness.)