The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-01-15
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

an s"S 49, N'Ds
residents of this place are more often affected with
heart disease than elsewhere. How this may be, can
best be explained by the doctors. One thing is GER
tain, that three sudden, unwarned departures from
life within forty-eight hours, as was the case last
week, is rather remarkable in a small community
like this. We are also reminded of the often repeat
ed assertion that some of the liquor shops deal in lit
tie else than rank poison-logwood wines, "rot-gut''
brandy, whiskey that will kill at a mile, and ale
kept from souring by cocuius indicus; and when
ever a person dies suddenly who is known to have
drank at the city bars, there are not a few who at
once come to the conclusion that their decease was,
at least. accelerated by some one of these poisons. An
inquest ought to have been held on the body Of each
of the persons referred to. And this brings us to a
suggestion which we would throw out for the benefit
of the Legislature and of humanity in general. Let
it be made the duty of the sheriff periodically, or
whenever he may deem proper, to visit the liquor
shops, and take thence samples of any and all liquors
for sale, whether exposed or not; let the same be an
alyzed by a competent chemist authorized BY law to
do it and whenever the presence of poisonous or
deleterious substances is ascertained, the liquor ven-
dor to forfeit his license, and be otherwise punished,
in proportion to the magnitude of the otfense. An
honest dealer would court the inquiry, a dishonest
one would fear the risk. and the drinkers would per-
haps live longer. If liquor be an evil, it is neverthe-
less a licensed ore, and the closer it is brought under
the cognizance of law, the better for all concerned. A
plan like the foregoing has long been in operation in
the commercial ports of England, and has been found
to work wen. We are informed that there exist places
In Honolulu where debased liquors are manufactured
as Systematically as they are imported. This may
not be so, but, if true, the interests of the Immunity
demand that it be looked into.
ROYAL HAWAIIAN HsATER.-Talfour great play
of Ion was given at the Theater on Saturday night
last, on the occasion of Mr.. G. Fl. Ince's Benefit, be-
fore a large and appreciative audience. The piece
was well put upon the stage, and went off to the en-
tire satisfaction of the house. Miss Annette Ince, as
Ion, was most perfect in the jelineation of the char
acter, and from time to time was greeted with rap
turous applause well merted tribute to her IN
wearied endeavors to please. Miss Caroline Inceand
Mrs. Lambert sustained their parts remarkably well,
and added much to the well rendering of the play.
Mr.. Tokely, as .4drostus, and Mr.. Beatty, as Ctesi-
phon, played with unfagging vigor, and were re-
warded for their paius by frequent plaudits from all
parts of the house. Miss Ince, we learn, will appear
but once more before a Honolulu audience, as she
will leave per the Yankee in a few days for San
Francisco. 1t will probably be a long time before an
hi nSiit VII again tsi SiduuS
and no doubt upon the occasion of her farewell beue-
fit she will receive n demonstration from the theater-
going public that will render forever pleasing the
recollection of her short scjourn in Honolulu.
- On Monday evening, Miss Granice gave one of
her versatile entertainments The performance went
off to the entire satisfaction of the audience. Miss
Granice, in particular, gave indisputable evidence of
her ability as an actress Of rare merits, and her eff
forts to please appear to have been appreciated, as
the theater last night, on the occasion of her benefit
was nearly full. The bill was n capital one, and
Miss G. had a fine opportunity for displaying her
powers in q" Comedy, Tragedy and Farce for which
she is so justly celebrated. She was aided by the
California Minstrels, and several Of the Honolulu
Theatrical corps, all of whom acquitted themselves to
the satisfaction Of the audience. On Saturday night
next, Lew Rather. of the California Ministries takes
a benefit. Mr.. Rather has done his best to cater to
the wants of the public in his profession, and there
are none more worthy than Lew Rather to receive a
bumper. One thing is certain, the niggers will do
their best on that night to please, and Miss Granice
has volunteered to aid them in some Of her most en-
tertaining characters.
A SHARK ~SToRY.-Kanak seamen are noted for
their yarns, which are sometimes rather fsky, and
not one iota behind the best of their more enlightened
brethren. The following was current here a few days
ago. Two native sailors jumped overheard from the
whaling brig Waiiua. (Which sailed from this port on
the SEA Dec } when that vessel was about thirty
miles from land, preferring to run their chances of
ashore TO a cruise in the Arctic Ocean.
After having been twenty hours or more in the water,
they fell in with one of tn large sharks which abound
off Barber's Point. Taking it for granted that the
monster was actuated by no deadly motives. and that
his errand was only a benevolent one, both the ma
tives sprang on the back of the shark, and guiding
his head with a slap on this side or On that, headed
him direct for land, some ten miles distant. Being
almost famished, they picked off and devoured the
small fish which adhere to the skin of the shark,
and enjoyed, during their aquatic ride, such a deli
cious feast of raw fiji as only kanakas know the lux
ury OF. Having arrived within soundings, and find
the fish reluctant to go farther, they leaped from
back, and swan safely ashore, landing at Puu-
loa. We give the story rs We heard it, only add
that the sailors, who deserted from the Wailua,
were arrested, and are now in custody, and declare
that they are willing to testify to its truth. The dis
lance swan is probably correct, but the shark part of
he story is rather too tough for this latitude.
HAWAIIAN ORAroRY.-The House of Representa-
is the scene occasionally of some quaint and orig
nal illustrations of Hawaiian oratory. A native
member got up u few days ago, and with all the i'm
portance of a Webster, said: Mr.. Speaker, / have
in my opu, (belly,) which wish to let
To understand his figure of speech, it should
,e stated that according to Hawaiian notions, the
is the seat Of the mind. Another native mem
,er, however. who followed him on the other side of
he debate opened his remarks by saying that :" in his
pinion it was nothing but Molokai poi that troubled
he honorable gentleman"
CALIFORNIA FARNER--This publication, issued in
IAN Francisco, is one of the most valuable weeklies
70 receive. We seldom open a number of it without
hiding some articles of real practical value 1t is
evoted especially to the farming interest, and ought
0 be taken by every one engaged in agriculture at
hesc islanda