Lunalilo only looked on at first, and then entered into the games
with a heartiness and zest which showed that he at least enjoyed the
evening. Supper was served at nine. Several nests of Japanese
tables had been borrowed, and these, dispersed about the room and
verandah, broke up the guests into little social knots. Three Hilo
ladies and I were the waitresses, and I was pleased to see that the
good things were thoroughly appreciated, and that the trifle was
universally popular. After supper there was a little dancing, and
as few of the Hilo people knew any dance correctly, it was very
amusing for the onlookers. There was a great deal of promenading in
the verandah, and a great deal of talking and merriment, which were
enjoyed by a crowd of natives who stood the whole evening outside
the garden fence. I don't think that any of the Hilo people are so
unhappy as to possess an evening dress, and the pretty morning
dresses of the ladies, and the thick boots, easy morning coats, and
black ties of the gentlemen, gave a jolly "break-down" look to the
affair, which would have been deemed inadmissible in less civilized
society.
Some of my photographs of some of our eminent literary and
scientific men were lying on the table, and the king in looking at
them showed a surprising amount of knowledge of what they had
written or done, quite entitling him to unite in Stanley's
"Communion of Educated Men.
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