The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-01-01

To every well-wisher Of this country, the education
Of the young is as much Cor at least ought to be az
much) a matter Of interest as the treaty Of recipro-
city, immigration, or the labor question. In the
schools are planted the seeds Of intelligence. upon
whose growth the future Of these islands depends as
much, if not more, than upon reciprocity.
You, Of Honolulu, are as well provided with edu-
cational institutions as almost any city in older
countries, but We, who live upon the other islands,
have to contend with great difficulties to provide
our children with suitable schools. These wretched
native schools, teaching their wretched native jargon.
are even insufficient to come up to the requirements
Of The more intelligent amongst the natives them
selves. and wherever opportunity and means permit
them to send their children to an English school,
they take pride in doing 50. It is q great pity that
those opportunities are so few.
The closing of the schoolroom on Monday, the
10Th Of December, was one Of the interesting occur
renees, the remembrance of which will, through life,
remain as a bright day in the memory Of the children
participating in the festivities of the last day of the
school-term, after which each one took his leave from
the school for O two weeks vacation, some to return
no more, others to spend the C~hristmas-time in their
homes.
This school is under the superintendent of the
Rev. Mr.. Bridger, assisted by Mr.. Swan, as teacher
Of the boys. and Miss Spurgeon, as teacher Of the
girls. 1t is. at present, one of the most Furnishing
schools in the country. numbering in all between
seventy and eighty children, and, 1 may add, one of
the most useful. Mr.. Swan is one of those con-
scientious teachers, in fact, one of the few that are
teachers born, who insists upon a thoroughness that
precludes all superficial requirements, and lays a
solid foundation upon which to build an enlarged
course of education; while Miss Sturgeon brings a
lawn FIND aF aUpor1anoa % har ko.ly oaI 10 br;-Ik
cheerfulness and the open and intelligent faces of the
children are proof of that kindly bond of mutual
affection which exists between principal, teachers
and pupils. while prompt and cheerful obedience has
become q habit to the latter.
The Goth Of December was a day of action in the
precincts Of the English Church at Waikiki, and
the Rev. Mr.. Bridger and his assistants were as
busy as bees in preparing the arrangements for the
juvenile sports Of the day. At about two O'Clock,
p. M, q number Of ladies and gentlemen assembled
at the pleasant grounds of the church and school, to
watch the sports OF the children, which commenced
with jumping over a pole, jumping in length of
space, foot races, sack races. throwing the hammer.
lie. stone, SC. A liberal distribution Of prizes to
first and second winners gave q zest to the perform
ances, and the eagerness and vim displayed by the
smaller sized boys gave occasion to many a hearty
laugh or cheering exclamation among the spectators,
but the h~eartiness with which the Rev. Mr.. Bridger
and Mr.. Swan entered into the enjoyment of their
pupils, was, to the spectators, one of the most pleas
ing features of the day. AT four O'Clock, the
children and many ladies and gentlemen partoOk of
a collation. on the smooth lawn, under the pleasant
shade of the trees.
The hour of seven had been appointed as the COM
mencement Of the opus mdgRum of the day. The
schoolhouse, when the two schoolroOms had been
thrown into one, by q temporary removal of the
partition wall, afforded quite q large and airy hall.
On one end q stage had been erected, with curtains.
and upon which the young performers were expected
to ~ventilate their powers Of elocution. The audi
forum, in spite of showers of rain, was well filled
with the elite of Wsiluku and Waikapu, and the
many who were interested in the young aspirants of
Thespian fame. long before the appointed hour.
The principal piece of the evening was "Whitliug-
ton and his cst,'' with q personnel of six boys and
three girls. All were remarkably well up in their
parts, and the services of the prompter were very
little in demand and all we're remarkably free from
that hesitsncy and bashfulness, which might have
been expected from the boys on their first appear
snce before SO large an audience. The pronuncia-
ton of the English was much better by the younger
and smaller boys than the large ones, proving how
difficult it is for the tongue, used to the native jar
gon, to overcome the habits of early training, and to
unite the twists for q plain pronunciation of English.
Master Lincoln Holstein appeared in the principal
role, as Dick Wilmington, to gain the appreciation of
the audience, and young Morton and a Miss Daniels
were well up in their parts and English delivery.
The acts were interpreted with some very well
executed quartettes, by Elizabeth Cockett, Nancy
Daniels, Mile Daniels and Lincoln Holstein. 4
number of recitations followed, by boys and girls,
and the length Of some Of the pieces gave evidence of
q good memory and careful study. The perform
ance of the evening closed with the dialogue, ".Iu
give or take" eliciting quite hearty applause of the
audience.
Thus closed q very pleasant day in Waikiki, the
| remembrance of which will live long in the minds Of
the youthful performers, even when they are acting
their allotted parts upon the serious stage Of life,
and have no doubt that those present left the
| schoolhouse with the best wishes for the continued
success Of the English school in Waikiki. and its
faithful principal and teachers. -