The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-12-30


ing thought. But we must now be sup
posed 10 take notice that the editors of
this particular periodical regard us as a
part Of their stock-in-trade, and think it
profitable TO serve up, for the amusement
Of their readers, people whose chief fault
seems to be an unreserved hospitality to
unknown persons coming here to give US
the advantage of " moulding our manners
after persons of good family and refine
meut, who have drifted hither on flying
visits, in search of novelty or health" and
who show us how people of their distinc-
ton can avail themselves Of the efforts Of
Us poor humble Islanders to further their
pursuit of either novelty or health" and
likewise turn an honest penny by their
literary Contributions" to some valuable
journal, or, as the Bulletin editorial re-
marks: enjoy the hospitality of the
Islanders" and abuse that hospitality by
lampooning his hosts" The Editor of the
Bulletin justly says this is not to his
eredit-but yet review of the past ten
years will show, that such repayment is all
that has been afforded by large portion
Of those, who, in their own opinion. have
honored this community with their visits,
and have condescended to use our roofs to
shelter them to eat our food, to keep
their refined souls and elegant bodies to-
gether; and ride our horses, and attend
our parties for their entertainments hos
pitality which has been extended to them
merely because they were strangers-even
though having no letters of introduction,
and no other recommendation except their
" good" families, which no one ever heard
of except themselves, and their refine
ment," which no one but themselves ever
Obser7ed-which hospitality they never,
by any accident, return in San francisco,
or make any other acknowledgment of
than to make it a means to obtain a few
dollars from some editor equally as ready
as themselves to sacrifice the decencies of
ordinary life. and minister to the love of
gossip and scandal.
Mr.. Whitney, in his letter from San
Francisco, to his own paper, says that the
article under consideration is well written,
and its style such us TO make it all the
more credible with those unacquainted
with the subject discussed"
Regarding the writing-well, that is
very much a matter of taste-but nothing
is easier than the fippant style of fault
finding, more especially when it may,
without danger of being observed by the
majority of ones readers, run into carica-
ture when it is spoken or written of our
neighbOr, it is considered piquant !"
when of ourselves, or friends, " imperti-
nent." But may we not take something
to ourselves, and make the animadversions
of this " refined person" of "good family
useful to us? Have none been accustomed
to welcome "piquant' articles-more es-
pecially when the articles may convey
of the personal peculiarities
of some Of our prominent residents, and
more especially Government officials, or
invent tales, or make exaggerations about
them? Many then are apt to see the
" w.t. or applicability IN such instances,
who do not see it when their own female |
friends are characterised as scrawny
young ladies' of uncertain age" with
- raspy voices, suggestive of comb and
curl paper; !" or when hospltable gentle
man and his wife have put themselves to
the expense and trouble of making party,
and done themselves the inexpressible |
honor Of inviting the distinguished stranger |
from abroad, have the fellow-guests of this
- glass of fashion and this mould of
form" described as scraggy old maids, and
the merry attempts to array themselves
becomingly, with limited means and re-
sources, and to make enjoyment for them
selves and ethers.-as it appears by the |
evidence of our writer. successfully-is |
held up to ridicule to amuse our more OPP
ulent neighbors of San Francisco-then
the piquancy and propriety are not APP
parent. Have we never seen the occupa-
ton of an excellent gentleman-who stands
among us as the very Characteristic of an
bond, and who conducts his business in
the most honorable manner-made the |
subject Of the grossest personal comments
by " literary contributor to newspa-
per, ard upon the arrival of the newspaper
here, seen the letter clipped out, and pos
ted in public place on mail-day, apparent
ly to crafty private spite-and the whole go
by the public, with the remark
on many lips r: He should not care; every
body knows him, and everybody knows =.
The difficulty is that everybody does not
know but the statements ARE credible
with those who are unacquainted with the
subject discussed" and calculated unjusily
and unnecessarily to give pain in the fam
iIy circle. and to relatives and friends |