AMAZING TALKING GOURD, THE PHONOGRAPH.
On Monday of this week, the Alii, the Queen went to where the amazing talking gourd, the ponogarapa was being shown to listen to the speaking of the Hawaiian Consul in New York with his own voice to the Queen from this talking gourd in English, thus:
I ka Moiwahine Liliuokalani o Ko Hawaii Pae Aina:–E oluolu e lawe aku i ko’u mau hoomaikai ma o ka hookomoia ana aku o ka ponogarapa a Edisona iloko o ke aupuni o Hawaii. E oluolu e hoomau ia ko ka Moiwahine ola maikai, a o kou lahui hoi me na manao maikai i ko makou lahui.
Owau iho no o kau kauwa hoolohe,
Elliah H. Allen,
Kanikela Nui o Hawaii.
To Her Majesty Liliuokalani of the Hawaiian Islands:–Please to accept my congratulations on the introduction of Edison’s phonograph into the Kingdom of Hawaii. Please Your Majesty to continue to enjoy excellent health, and your people the good will of our nation.
I have the honor to be your most obedient servant,
Elliah H. Allen,
Consul-General of Hawaii.
On that very same day, the Queen spoke into that talking gourd, thus:
Owau keia o Liliuokalani:–
O keia la 16 o Novemaba, M. H. 1891 ka la hanau o ka Moi Kalakaua. Ua haawi mai o Mr. Stoeckle i kona lokomaikai piha e ae ia’u a me ka’u mau hoahele e ae, a me na Keikialii Kawananakoa a me Kalanianaole, a me na lede a me na keonimana e ae e hoolohe i na mea maikai e puka mai ana mai keia ponogarapa (phonograph) mai. He la keia e hoopoina ole ia ai iloko o na puuwai o na Hawaii ponoia a pau. He la keia e hoopiha ana i na puuwai o na mea a pau i ke aloha no ko lakou Moi Kalakaua i hala. Aole e pau ana ko makou hoomanao ana i na mea i lohe ia mai keia ponogarapa mai. Ua oi aku ka nani o keia mea maikai mamua o ka makou i lohe ai mamua,–ka moakaka o na olelo oloko a me na manao maikai i hoopuka ia e Hon. Mr. Allen o Nu Ioka. Pela i hoike ia ai ka maikai o keia mekini. Aloha oukou.
I am Liliuokalani:–
Today, the 16th day of November, A. D. 1891, is the birthday anniversary of King Kalakaua. Mr. Stoekle has kindly extended a most courteous invitation to myself and my companions; also the Princes Kawananakoa and Kalanianaole, and several ladies and gentlemen, to listen to the delightful things coming from this phonograph. Every true Hawaiian can never forget the memory of this day. This is a day that will produce in the hearts of all a deep aloha for Kalakaua, their late beloved sovereign. We shall long remember what we have heard from this phonograph today. This wonderful instrument excels in clearness to what we have heard before. The words and the kindly expressions of Hon. Mr. Allen of New York are produced with perfect distinctness. Such are the delightful qualities possessed by this machine. Aloha oukou.
(Kuokoa, 11/21/1891, p. 2)