Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-11-19

The advertiser" and the Hula.

Nh. EDITOR 1T must oe one of the unex planned
abnormities OF human nature, that any man Of
presumably fair Intelligence and ordinary self
respect could have come to these islands as the
apostle of such lecherous fraud as Mormonism
is and now appear as the advocate of the elaL, r
ate bestialiiies of a decrepit paganism.
Tho reverend gentleman whose side remark
about the indecencies of the hulahula seems to
have cut SO deeply in some quarters made no aiiu-
sion 10 the palace grounds ns the scenes If such
orgies rs no condemned. No official surely could
be guilty OF such negligence as 10 allow the sancti-
ties of the royal demesne and tbs sanctions Of
royal approval to appear to countenancc any bes-
tiality
The remark Of the reverend gentleman was Of a
general nature But the native Newspaper pub
lished at the Advertiser Office seems TO think that
II WAS consmptuous aliusion 20 something Of
which every true Hawaiian ought TO take special
pride. Such advocates OF Hawaiian customs
might denounco those who would promote tenn
pernnce and virtue among the Hawniians by dis
counteaancing sweet potato beer and okolehao AN
insidioua foes of Hawaiian nationality, because
those are the common Hawaiian intoricants. II
wLs not the hula Ms u dance which the reverend
gentleman stigmatizod, but the elaborate besfial
tiles which some peoples tastes seem To enjoy.
80 there are travellers who can tell us Of the
dnnce-houses of New York, The can-can Of Paris
and nauch-girs of India; but what pure minded
woman would indulge IN any such salacious reci-
tails, or make II an objec. 10 be sought amons .he
henehts Of foreign travel To look upon such vai-
b.tons of indscency. IL VAS not tho dancing
which the reverend gentleman properly repre-
hended. No prettisr sight oan be desired a. =
spectacle Of pleasant gracofuinrss than group Of
children twisting and untw is.ing tbs Tutoring
stream Of many colorcd ribbons In tho may
windings Of the may-pole dance But the indie
cent posturngs OF midnight resel 10 the sOilnd
Of thu ealabash NJ tho rattle are as far removed
from any such innocent delight is the glad song
OF the redeemed spirit from the renorssful wall
ings Of lost souls. Both sounds, just AZ truly
as may pole dance and a hsiahisla are "wtig.
glines Of the body" Tho Adpert,ssr critic Ia but
slippery advocate Of nm indefepsible cause. II
palace grounds which the reverend gentleman
took occasion Ia febuke. His words quoted
sifuply: Even the decrcpit paganism OF
the land having lifted up its leprous visase 10
greet him With the elaborate bcssislites Of this
hafahsia" Here again II "a not the Disis aoa that
~ condemned Tho Hawaiian poetry has i,s p<cn-
liar poetic gift Ut uttsranse, and ~ worthy Of adj
miration ia its special line OF genealogical lAuda.
ton and apt desert ton Of beauties VI local
scenery. But tho idesrfNsr critic starts % On =
wrong scent. We're these sssiss acooip nisd with
tho caiabaah and the rattle Are hot sach Inslo-
dious souids the proper accompaniment, not Of
ths s,eis inca, but the pagan hstskKis with its
chants 10 Latg, the patron god OF tie hsfs dance
When did the critic hear thoss s',i.. ehantsd. on
Monday or on Tuesday nightf Was he In the
palace grounds either night And will he frankly
tell tie public whether he saw and heard all aud
~hethsr all that was seen and heard was slIppiy
what hs inkinuatcs, WAS AN innoceat aud pleasing
Hhrsiian custom IL rspofts Ut s,s witnssssS
inay be credited thsrs arc indscsnelss connscts<l
with tho halo danees Will he defend shssr inds.
cenciesf VIII lac recommend tha Hawaiian ehisfs
10 lay their commands es.on tho people ~ old or
"a hsksafEs y learn Alis dances and sxhibi: thstn
~ tiasss .hosssf What HavailAn man Is there
II any se.freapec. who would " wiiipg that vile
o. daasetes should lsasn sls Asis and 10 AsLs
dapeeTy IyscssSs.