The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-03-06
Letter from Maui.

Mr., EDIToR-Not long since, the remark was
made in q letter by a former lady resident of these
Islands, at present living in the United States. that
the Islands were, considering the climate pleasant
enough to live in, but they we're so g lonesome" At
the time Of hearing the remark made, it struck me
that in the above expression, a1.Erong word might
have been used, perhaps inadvertently by such an
old resident as the above mentioned lady. The word
+" lonesome, - besides s~ignifying an exclusion from
society, and the absence of what might be termed
the fast phases of civilization, bears with it something
expressive of regret, enaui, and an implied i@pa-
thence with the existing circumstances and surround
ings. 1 would rather have seen the word peaceful"
! substituted for the word q lonesome :" as more appro-
priatsg or all countries in the world. think that
these Islands bear off the palm in its peaceful exist
encey/Does ever any one of the hundreds Of travel
ers that visit these Islands complain of their being
&c SO lonesome 10 With the many wonders ana nov
elites that nature provides for their entertainment
and the free and generous hospitality that receives
them at every stage of aheir journeyings, the waste
and silent roadsides are forgotten, and of "lone-
someness'' no complaintha has ever been made in a jour
nal or letter. Peace is this refrain that the ripping
surf sings to the listening ear in the early morning
breeze; peace is the silyery banner that the bright
moonlight filings over the sky that spreads its blue
Oome over our neauS peace u NulSpefeu o tue Shent
plains and mountain Slopes, as well as in the luxurious
cane-felds, where cheerful sounds Of busy labor fill
the air; and I am certain that no other people know
how to cherish the pleasures of peace, and know how
to grasp every occasion that offers peaceful enjoy
ments and happy hours. than the people of these
Islands. Be it a bright moonlight night, a smooth
unrufied sea, a reception of its returning King. a
silver, or even a wooden wedding. it is sure to call
forth the kindly feelings of a people nurtured in
the lap of o peaceful existence. Certainly the scar
city of population provides fewer places of reunions
than the dense population of Older countries, but
wherever village or plantation shows its white habi-
tations in the bright sunlight, complaints of Lone
someness are seldom if ever heard, and plantation
life comprises in its narrow limits, very often, more
Of the elements of society than the general hoInelife
of town or city. % 80 - 80
The ten or twelve persons constituting the foreign
element of a plantation. are as likely as not the rep
resentation of ten or twelve different States or coun-
tries, and the almost constant visits of travellers give
an amount of novelty and variety TO plantation life,
that is unknown TO city-living people. Most every
island, from Hawaii to Niihsu, amongst its homes
boasts of seaael home or other more. prominently
known for its hospitality, and no planters home,
south or west, has, during its existence, acquired
such a world-known fame for the most kind and
generous hospitality, as the beautiful home CT Capt.
James Makee, and none better known with generous
zest to grasp the fleeing hours that offer the. enter
tainments apd pleasures of the peaceful life of their
island home for themselves and others. TO-
The steamer Of a week ago brought a large number
Of visitors, some from Honolulu, some from other
lands. and all entered with a kindly spirit in the
pleasure which a contemplated marriage promised.
The parties whose tender hearts the mischieyous
winged boy of Mars and Venus had wounded 50
deeply with the darts so thoughtlessly s~harpened by
his lenient father, were respectively the engineer Of
the plantation, Mr.. 7. J. Wilkinson, Of Canada. and
hebecca, eldest daughter of Mr.. James Smyth, of
Ireland, and well known as one of the oldest resi-
dents and most accomplished book-keepers on these
Islands. The Rev. Mr.. Bridger from Waikiki, who.
on alternate Sundays, holds Episcopal service in the
Chapel at Ulupalakua. was around in time to perform
the marriage ceremony on Saturday, the 18th inst.
Long before the appointed hour of the service,
$50 p. N the general excitement, and the appear
ance of the native population in their best and
brightest holiday attire, Swallowed forth an event Of
general interest. One of the bridal pair has gained
for himself, by kind and gentlemaDly manners, the
regards of many friends and bis employer; the other
had lived happy days of girlbood on the plantation,
and endeared herself to the native and foreign girls
Of her age. ~ TX
The chapel at Ulupalakua, built by Capt. Makee
for the Episcopal service, all who have entered it,
admire as one of the neatest and most beautiful little
chapels that can be met with anywhere. a large
stained window admits the aof ened light total over
the altar and oratory and spread its solemn influence
over the sacred rites performed at this mystic place,
where the joys Of the future and the tears Of the
present find alike g sacred home. A large number
of neat chairs takes on both sides of the aisle the
place of unseemly benches. and a fine chapel organ
with its gilded pipes covers a large part Of the wall
opposite the altar. The vsplted roof Feverberates
the hymns sung BY the choir Of the music and song
gifted daughters and sons Of the Makee family, and
the oratory Of the gifted minister. At six
O'Clock, many lamps were lit that sent their bright
rays upon a magnificent boquet Of flowers. such as
only the Ulapalakua gardens can furnish, that orna-
mented the altar. Over the altar steps suspended
huge crown of eyergreens and beautiful wresths
were flung from ceiling to wall, which in the bright
light against the snowy walls gave to the whole q
very beautiful and festive appearance. Soon after
! the visitors and strangers. members Of the family and
foreigners in general, began to enter the building
and I'LL the chairs, while numbers Of well dressed
natives had assembled outside awaiting the bride
train. Expectancy was high and seconds Of delay
were estimated at minutes. The Rev. Mr. Bridger
passes along the aisle and enters the vestry. After a
while a young lady takes her seat at the organ and
heads we're turned and all eyes were directed towards
the entrance and whispers give way to expectant
silence. At last. and a sound of relief is felt through
the assemblage. the whispering and movements of
the crowd outside herald the advent of the bridal
party, and at their entrance to the chapel the organ
peSls forth in iubilant accords 9 welcome TO those