The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-01-05
THE PACIFIC
r Y. JANUARY )
HER MAJEsTY'S BIRTHDAY.

/ liz IN
noted with the honor proper to the occasion.
At noon a royal salute was fred from the Bat
tery on Punchbowl, which was answered gun for
gun by the [. 5. Frigate PensdcOh.-On New
Years day a Luau was given at the Palace
grounds. which was largely attended by the pub
lie generally. Probably a thousand persons
were present and for the perfection of their en-
ioyment the arrangements were complete. The
incloeed space in which the King and Queen re-
ceiyed their guests with kind greeting and cheer
full alohas, included the fountain, whose feathery
and misty showers gave a delicious GOODNESS to
the atmosphere. The arrangements OF the din
ing saloon for seating the large number present
were all that could be desired-and all feasted to
their hearts content. The PenSdcOh's band and
the Hawaiian government band added to the
pleasure of the occasion by rendering various
popular and operate airs. 1t was an occasion
that will long be remembered by those present.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS are in vogue in most countries
of the civilized world, and, indeed, we may add,
in non-christian nations as well. In many places
thew have a religious aspect. Thus in India, the
Doorga poorG or festival of the goddess Doorga,
otherwise called Cali, the wife of SILVA the De-
stroyer, is a period with the Hindus of licentious-
ness for several days, which the Anglo-Indian
government, with very questionable policy, recog-
nizes as State holidays. The Roman Carnival also
enters into the category of holidays, whose main
feature is a licentious indulgence in questionable
or Objectionable enjoyments. In protestant coun-
tries certain days of the year are likewise set
apart as national and public holidays. A dis
%tinction may be made between the celebration of
geat national events, which for the most part in
clude certain public ceremonies, such as ~orations,
professions, or banquets; and other holidays,
where no special object seems to attach itself to
the day, further than that it is devoted to idle
ness, or, what is the same thing. that the usual
daily aVOcations of the six working days are sus-
pended. Of course, there can be no mistake with
reference to the : Lords Day. which is a day of
rest, sanctifed by religion and devoted especially
to the worship of the Almighty, and thus pecu-
liarIy a HOLIDAY. The ordinary public holiday
can never, except through sheer ignorance, be
confounded with the Day Of the Lord. Indeed,
the very term 81 holiday" appears now to have
become a misnomer, and a tradition of the Church
of Rome, tracing its origin to those times when
holidays were identical with Saints Days. 1t
COsG IedElul etIuBSl0o,-0fe D1oOOohCO onu OdL-
tles,-to get rid of Saints Days, in the c~ountries
of the modern Christian world. The State has,
however, perpetuated the custom of setting apart
certain days in the year as public holidays. 1t
might lead to a-curious discussion to question
what is the good of such a practice. The public
holiday is not devoted in protestant countries, at
least, to religious services. Ordinary business
is suspended upon it, and the conclusion TO which
we arrive is, that the State devotes the day to
idleness, each individual being left to his own op-
ton how be may best get through the twenty
four hours during which the State tells him that
he is to be idle, and give up his usual work. No
provision is made for any mode of occupying the
people on the public holiday. Very naturally, a
large majority devote the day, or the best part of
it, to the grog shops, and the worship of Bacchus
appears to be the only alternative left for many
Idle Christians on the public holiday. Public
dances may be added at n~ightfall, sometimes of a
very questionable character; gambling of all sorts
may serve to engross the tedious hours; banquet.
of an epicurean character are appropriate modes
of killing time; in short, eating and drinkings
gambling and dancing, to say nothing of other
still more questionable amusements, appear to be
to many the almost sole escape from downright
idleness on the public holiday. Fortunately, such
days are few and far between. In conclusion, we
do not hesitate to declare our opinion that public
holidays are more calculated to demoralize than
to benefit society.