The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-01-16
SAN FRANCISCO CORRESPONDENCE
2 ..couEr.'-No. II.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. p.
"SOeial Life In the Tropics"

Probably 10 article has yet appeared in the Orer-
land Monthly, that has caused such widespread
comment as the one under the above caption, already
briefly noticed in these letters. Ii not only interests
former residents or casual visitors to the islands. but
from the keen Wit evincel. attracts general attention.
Aside from the actual merit of the e~ffusion as a lit
erary production, from the remarkable uncertainty
Of the authorship more than usual interest arises.
We are still in doubt as to the originator of the sharp
satire, and l can only continue to speculate upon the
mystery. The arrival % Gen. McCook apparently
removes one obstacle to the solution OF the problem,
for he is reported very much annoyed by the use
Of his name in this connection, and l am informed,
emphatically r~epudiates the article. The General
expresses a just appreciation Of the many courteSies
received at the hands oE the residents of Honolulu,
and announces himself anxious to retain the good
wishes of his friends. Tsus one formidable candi-
date for questionable fame is removei-f0r who Will
doubt these statements and we are compelled to
look elsewhere for our author. People here are dis
posed to consider every returning traveller as an ap-
propriate person upon whom TO fix the not-much-to-be-
desired honor. Justice, however, demands that judg-
ment should be reserved until decisive intelligence
is received from the publishers. The editor of the
Overland, MIR. Frank Il. Harte, is believed to be
ignorant of the authors name. l hope every reader
will kindly select his own victim for the indignant
islanders to immediate.
In the Evening Bulletin of December 10, an ex-
eellent article, criticising .Social Life appears,
communicated by some one well posted. This article
meets the case plainly, and it is, in my opinion, a
most pertinent reply. An editorial in the same
number, rejecting upon Gen. McCook, is corrected
by the following in the issue of December 81:
An Erroneous IMPRESSION CoRRECTED.-An arti-
Gle in the Bulletin of Saturday having confirmed an
impression in some quarters that the late American
Commissioner TO the Hawaiian Kingdom wrote the
article in the December O~reTiaad .NORihiy, entitled
Social Life in the Tropics 1t gives us pleasure TO
say upon the most unquestionable authority, that
the Commissioner did not write the article. That
gentleman has too high n regard for the prOprieteS
OF his position and the good opinions of friends, 10
coyet the authorship of any article of that kind.
OF course all these publications add fuel TO the
flames already raging.
Revival OF the DueilO.
Two members of the Board Of Supervisors, "a
body of municipal officers elected to serve the inter
ests of the people and execute the laws,) have re-
Gently given us an exhibition of the peculiar work
ings of the Z" code in every particular except as far
rs actual fighting is concerned. 1t appears that a
certain clique or 9 ring of supervisors, constituting
a majority in the Board. are accused of robbing the
city, and otherwise abusing the confidence placed in
them. Mr.. Cavalier, a respectable French gentle
man, for many years a resident of this city, enjoying
an excellent reputation, is a member of the Board,
and TO his very great discredit be it said, seems in
full harmony with the ring Mr.. Caravan,
another Supervisor, is exceedingly bitter in his de-
nunciations of the so-cale1 s~windlers, gaining there
by an enviable notoriety. Mr.. Cavalier, taking as
personal some remarks by Mr.. Caravan, challenged
him to mortal combat-an invitation right in Mr..
Caravans line, it appears, for a prompt acceptance
was the response. Mr.. VIM. Hayes, an astute law
yer, acted as the friend of Mr.. Caravan, and evinced
a skill and diplomacy worthy a better cause. Peace
able negotiations proving unsuccessful, warllke meas
ures were at once instituted. Mr.. Hayes cOOlly pro
posed TO hire n hall and fight it out at once-but
compromised upon n proposition TO meet at the Sum
ny-side House, 4 frvorite resort near the Cliff House,
on Sunday morning, December 10, at 9 O'Clock, then
to select some sequestered spot and with navy re-
volvers, at the distance of ten PAGES, fire six or as
many shots as the time of three minutes would allow {!
Verify a nice Sunday mornings job! These terms
were accepted by Nj. Cavaliers seconds, subject to
his approval. Mr.. Cavalier is quite a large man,
weighing about go pounds, forming it will be no
ticed, quite a prominent target to even an ordinary
marksman under the above mentioned bloOd-thirsty
terms. If Mr.. Caravan could not make short work
of the bold challenger, he certainly would miss a
barn-door. Mr. Cavalier, after mature elaboration,
accepted the terms, but asked for five days to arrange
his business affairs-a very necessary precautiou-
which request was peremptorily refused by Mr..
Hayes. Consequently the challenge was uncondi-
tionally Withdrawn, with an intimation that it would
be renewed. While it is possible for a brave man
Tin the meaning of the word when used by admirers
of the codc) TO be in Mr.. Cavaliers position, his
neglect to properly arrange his private affairs before
sending a peremptory challenge, causes him to ap-
pear in q most awkward and disagreeable situation.
In a long card he attempts an explanation of his con-
J,ot Tho pnottar hos probabIy enle1 Mr. CanayaD- }
under the rules of the code, not being required to
consider any further propositions from Mr.. Cavalier.
Under the Constitution, both principals and assistants
are liable to fine and disqualification from holding
public offices, but the Grand Jury, it is thought, will
not indict them. J
The Presidents Message.
For the first time, probably, in the history of the
country, during the reading of the Presidents mes
sage to Congress, December Q, 1865, a senator inter-
rupted, and very coOlly moved that further reading
be dispensed with, in the ground that the communi-
cation was untrue and insulting. The motion was
carried, but the message was concluded next day,
that the document might formally be presented to
the people. Mr.. Johnson renews his oft-repeated OBJ
jections to the reconstruction measures of Congress,
now endorsed by the people in the election of Grant,
and proposes n new theory for the disposal of the
national debt, which amounts literally to Reputation.
The document caused but little comment
New Insurance Rates.
The Board of Underwriters have adopted a new
and increased tariff of rates, accepted by all first
class companies, which goes into effect at once.
F~irst-class buildings in this city will insure at about
30 cents, dwellings 10 cents, and warehouses 500.
For country towns, the rates on frst-class buildings
will be about one per cent, n figure which will apply
to Honolulu it is presumed, the risk in your city
surely not being greater than in our country towns.
1t is reported that the Pacific issued about one hun
dred policies, an unusually large number, 4 few days
since, the people appearing anxious to take adyna-