The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-10-09


for cooking and one for sleeping in. 1t is roughly
foored; and its board roof is covered with strips
OF tarred canvas or with pieces of rejected tin
roofing. which keep out all but the most long-con-
tinued rains. The structure clings like a lichen
to the rocks, which il closely resembles in color
Hundreds Of shanties sometimes cover n single
hill, "a in the case Of the eminenccs situated to
the east Of the Third, Second, and First Avenues
respectively, and between Fortieth and Forty
Seventh streets. They go by various names of
their own, as :" Cork, ~ '' Dutch HILL 90 Dublin
Corners" They are cities within a city they
are laid out with picturesque irregularity after
certain plan Of their own, and have their alleys,
broad enough for n single man to pass, and their
tortuous streets, ten feet RarTolr. The rock at
their feet is gnawed away daily by great blasts
Of gunpowder, but they maintain their hold for
years upon the more tough and invincible rocks.
Only when the falling fragrants Of stone, follow
ing the blasting, begin to crush through their
roofs, do the inmates vacate them.
The major part of the shanties built,
owned, and inhabited, by nntaxed squafters upon
the land. In many instances, however, they pay
a rent to the owners of the lot upon which they
stand. A good shanty will bring from Sc to
so per month.
The human population of the shanty-scttle-
ments is very considerable. Probably more than
1900 people, within the corporate limits of the
city, live in them, and exactly in proportion as
these people are poor, in proportion as they are
ignorant, squalid, brutal, and as human beings
altogether unsatisfactory, do they act upon the
scriptural precept to multiply and replenish the
earth. The shanties become, consequently, over
crowded nests Of degradation, disease. and suffer-
ing. The larger part of the outdoor practice Of
the uptown dispensaries is among these shanties
and here many young doctor has laid the foun-
dations OF his future fame. Close upon the ex-
tensive mansions Of the Fifth Avenue, opposite
to the Central Park, exist collections OF the
poorest class Of shanties. More than one flourish
ing practice has commenced among the squatters
upon this fashionable street. l have known
several incipiens Galens who were always in
hurry to .. sec n case on the Fifth Avenue" IL
turned out, however, that these chronic invalids
were Irish aborers, and lived, to the last man of
them, in stanties.
Sometimes n patient is captured, "a ct armis,
in these ncighborhoods. A well-known surgeon
OF this city some time since, was driving home,
with medical friend, from one of the large up
town hospitals. He had been performing a surgical
operation there upon the eye, and was in the full
flush OF exultatiOn ut his succezs,-in the very
vein Of Hippocrates or Sangrado. Passing one
of the shanty-yillages on his way, he noticed q
company Of ragged children playing upon the
rocks,-unkempt little rascals, who gamboled
like so many wild ANIMALS in the desert. One of
them was excessively cross-eyed. The surgeon
cast a professional glance upon him; and it
occurred to him to play q scientific joke upon the
youngster. Refining up his horse he said:
I" See here, my boy. Don't you want to have
yours eyes Strengthened, that you will look
like the other boys?"
"Yes, Sir" answered Mickey, boldly.
Then jump righs up here and III straighten
them for you in half minute" And the doctor
opened his case Of Instruments, taking care that
the little fellow should not the glitter of the
steel
Mike approached the carriage, quite ignorant
that he was about to undergo an operation; but
he was magnetized by the confident air and COM
manding tones the surgeon. The children
dropped their play and formed themselves into
the most attentive Of spectators. As the devoted
youth mounted upon the step of the brougham
he caught a glimpse of the instruments and
turned to retreat; but he was too late. The en-
thusiastic surgeon hauled him in and pinioned
him between himself and his companion. In a
twinkling the scalpel flashed before the young
ster's eyes; his screams were OF no avail the
dashing doctor performed the operation for " con-
vergent strabismus =" then and there, in sight Of
the Mortified children, who imagined that their
playmate had fallen into the hands Of the devil
himself and in less than sixty seconds the two
surgeons released their frightened subject, the
operation completed, and dashed of in advance
of any pursuit by parents or friends; leaving
Mike in the road, the blood streaming from his
face, and more than half frightened out Of his
wits The sequel Of the cure has not transpired;
but it is presumabIe that the squint was cured,
in spite of the piratical hurry of the treatment;
for science, in this case, as in prize-fght, was
combined with assault and battery.
The surgeons enjoyed the success of their
stratagem immensely. 80 Well, }" said the operator,
"Liston confessed that he had spoiled half a
bushel of eyes in learning how to operate for
catarsct. 1 should like to try my hand on few
gross Of pairs like those Of Master Mickey"
The population of these rock-built villages s
supported in various ways. The majority of the
men are laborers busted in street grading, break
ing stone, or other form Of poorly paid manual
labor. Some Of them, however. are thrifty
licensed vendors" and carry on an active
traffic; accumulating their savings until they
have enough 10 set up house Of their own in
good neighborhood. Some Of them, having
squatted several years ago upon unclaimed and
then almost valueles land, have now claimed the
ownership of It, and find themselves in the pos
session Of a very handsome piece OF property
This has happened in the case of several lots in
the vicinity OF the Central Park, which since the
development Of that part Of the city have become
immensely valuable.
If the human inhabitants OF these rock-built
villages are numerous. the animal population is
still greater. Goats to be seen skipping
about among the miniature crags; great COM