the King discovered a French war-ship anchored safely in the harbor of
Honolulu, and fearing that the French were there for purpose of seizing
the island, sent for his Prime Minister, who advised him to raise a
flag, and in this way advise the visitors that the islands belonged to
some one. But the island did not possess a flag of its own; the only one
the King could find at first was an old British flag. This he had run up
to the top of the highest flag-pole. The flag had hardly been raised,
when one of his chief advisers came running to him, and told him he must
take the flag down immediately, for a British man-of-war was expected,
and would be sure to claim ownership of the islands if the British flag
was seen flying over the palace. So the King started on another flag
hunt. This time he found an American flag, and, with great ingenuity,
took the two flags, cut them up, and made a combination. Therefore the
first Hawaiian flag had thirteen red and white stripes, and the English
jack in the corner. Later, it was decided that eight stripes, to
represent the eight islands of the nation, would be more appropriate;
therefore the extra stripes were cut off, and now the flag has eight
stripes, four red and four white, and still carries the St. George's,
St. Andrew's, and St. Patrick's crosses, the same as the English flag.

The superstitious natives believe that the ascendency of the white
people over the colored is due to the fact that the white stripe was
left uppermost on the flag. They have frequently tried to have the flag
changed for this reason, for they believe that, if the red is given
prominence, the natives will again have the ascendency.

* * * * *

On the morning of June 8th, the first definite confirmation of the news
of an engagement off Santiago was published. The vessels which are