The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1879-04-16
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Especial Correspondence Of the Gasette.l

Especial Correspondence Of the Gazette.
NEw YORK, Feb. q, 1879.
The loss Of the German steamer Pouersnia in the
English Channel lately hAs been fruitful topic
for the writers Of letters the daily papers. Much
adverse comment upon the discipline and conduct of
the has been ELECTED by the fac. that while y
passengers Of lo9 were drowned. % sailors were
saved of crew of Ill The sailors have been called
Z" skulking cOwards," and various other oPprobriOus
epithets have been applied TO them by writers who
perhaps would not themselves have made better
showing under the circumstances. On the whole it
seems to me that while self devotion s always ad-
mirable it is absurd to expect the average sailor to
prove himself hero every occasion. Human
nature is apt to be much the in the passenger
n. in the sailor life is dear to the in his tarry
shirt as to the other in brosdcoth and fine linen I;
and self preservation is the first Law of nature with
almost all of us. Glorify the hero by all means the
more so because he is an exception TO the general
rule but do blame the pour sailor who prefers to
save himself TO his family rather than sacrfee him
self for stranger To argue that sailors are bound
to give up their lives for the passengers is nom
sensiral as was the remarks of the old lady Who
hearing of dreadful shipWreck. exclaimed d" Oh.
the poor passengers! to think that they should be
drowned as for the sailors, of course they're used
TO It,"
There are IN New 1Ork TWO societies which reSem-
bic esch other in two other particulars besides their
names. They are the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals. and the Society for the Preven
ton of Cruelty TO Children. They both do great
deal of good and they both sometimes go extremes
Occasionally one. and then the other is for period
the lAaghing stock Of the community The Society
for the Prevention Of Cruelty Children is the latest
candidate for public derison agent Of thst organ
iIation having arrested Mr.. Mapeson of the Italian
Opera for causing little girls to appear on the stage
in pretty ballet called Lea Papioas. Investigation
shows that the children appear for about twenty
minutes three evenings in the week, and paid
for their services fifty cents for each appearance
The "a Butterflies f" themselves say that they de-
lighted with the business and think the whole thing
great fun" Their mothers are in attendance to
take them home at the conclusion Of the ballet and
as most of these mothers very poor, addition
of dollar and half TO their weekly incomes is not
BY any means dsspsed. This is the cruelty - with
which the S. P c. c. gentlemen and ladies thought
it their mission to interfere. and they interfered
accordingly. Oh. New York morality thy name is
not seldom, Hunbag.
The question Of the eligibility Of the Chinese to
citizenship in the United States has been again
raised BY the action of Judge Larremore, who
recently granted liberalization papers to Wong All
Yee. Many people Of opinion that the naturali
cation of Cbinaman is unconstitutional. as Mon
golian is not " white person within the meaning
of the law and the negroes citizens by virtue Of
special constitutional amendment the case of Wong
]
think that the msjority of the Chinese in the United
States will how the matter is decided. for COM
parativey few Of them their nation
ality the contrary believe that they nearly all
cherish the hope If returning at future time to
their native country. Whether the best informed
among them look favorably upon the action Of those
of their counrymen who wish to change is doubtful,
! while the lower orders have not very fattering
idea Of what constitutes American, if the follow
! ing remark Of drunken washerman affords any
Z insiu their notious the suhieet-r Me all
same Mclean man hair cut short and dunk like hi. "
The way Of the transgressor is proyerbialy hard,
but the path of the modern inventor does not seem
to be strewn with roses in any quantity worth
/ tionng. No does the aforesaid NJ. l. invent
! something wonderful and publish account of it
than Immediately from North, South, East, West,
and all the intermediate stations, come communca-
! tions from other NJ. rs, each one of whom claims
that he individually has invented that very identical
| thing Miss Hosner, the American sculptor, having
| invented 3 magnetic motor Of kind hitherto un-
known, conhdsd the fact to . newspaper reporter,
who cOnfdentially told the public all about it. Now
there several people who say that they and moi
Miss Hosmer have invented that particular kind OF
motor. If were to write to the papers tomorrow
and assert that am periecting process by which
I moonshine may be converted into green cheese, L
have little doubt but that some genius would answer
thst be had already accomplished the feat
| The new Governor-General of Canada gave grand
| ball the other day and he completely fascinated the
1 ladies both by his unassuning manners and by his
extraordinary nimbleness of foot The Marquis sod
his royal wife fairly" astonished the natives by
their wonderful performance of Scotch reel, and
the spectators became filed with enthusiasm thai
they obliged to give vent to their feelings in
shouts Of admiration.
We are told that the great King David upon one
occasion danced with considerable display of vigo
and agility, and of course who is Marquis
and GUvernor-G General has as good right as
king to caper about and kick up his heels 70 bis
hearts content, bat will anybody claim that b.
doing so be adds anything to his dignity?
Step-dspcing is all very well in its way, but If th'
line is not drawn some where-say at Governor Gene
rss-the fashion may spread, and We may soon hea
of President Hayes and the members of his cabne
indulging in 40 old fashioned plantation =" break
| down"
1t is said that Sir Charles Napier after the cOnques
of Sind sent home the punning message Peccsvi
II have siuned) the message of Queen Victoria q
her sonn-law after his reception in Canada, though
longer, Is still model ofeoneseuess, aud is certainly
more matter-of-fsct than witty; she tsegrsphs-
+" Pleased at reception. Say so."
Business appears to be very much better than
has been for some time, and from all parts of th
country the welcome intelligence that the out
look is improving Instesd Of closing at o'clock th
fancy goods and ewelry stores keep open till late il
the evening. Visitors to the various establishment
are numerous. and msny who enter only to lool
round " find themselves unable to resist the tempta
tion to purchase some Of the many articles which
look so beautiful in the brilliant gas light.
JJ.F.