Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-12-29
sty rRsycIsco LETTER.



honor becomes Of kind worth mentioning. |
received, some days ago nicely worded inyi-
taton enclosing reserved seats TO witness the
panorama, King Kalakaua's Kingdom, and
to give my opinion Of the work Of Mr. William
Coulter, at Baldwins Theatre.
The advertisement reads that call points Of
interest in your kingdom are presented, which
is auisticlcense; for among the prominent places
not shown are many having local interest for
old residents, while those described are so
dc,ultory that a chance visitor would gain but
vague impressions Of the beauties, pcculiarities
and grandeur Of the country at large.
Commencing at San Francisco harbor with
the steamer Mariposa sailing out, the first
thing to find fault with is the abnormal length
Of the vessel which, by comparison with ada
cent objects, appears about a thousand feet
long, but as she is about starting for a long
voyage which shorens perceptibly from fire.
qucnt travel, the vessel may be similarly at
fccied. But this is mere hypercdtcism for the
picture has fine color and is otherwise most
truthful. The approach to Oahu is lifelike,
but the first appearance Of Honolulu is very
family shown, which is probably accounted for
by the impression the ground swell had upon
the artists powers OF concentrated observation.
After he reached the shore he trod on firmer
ground, so 10 speak
King Kalakauas palace is good. The
corner Of Fort and Queen streets, showing
Oceanic Steamship Office and Wilder's store,
the latter name spelled wrong and the building
standing at an apparent incline, are decidedly
bad. A fine view Of Oahu prison completes
all the public is favored with Of Honolulu
excepting the well known view Of Kapena fall
copied from the well.worn photograph taken
by Bob Dickson years ago, showing a native
upon the cliff in an ungracciul position and
ugly bathing costume the picture being
narrowed by drawn curtains so as to hide the
Jagged rocks on the left and the beautiful
green sward where the joyous youth in years
gone by have danced and Yelled told stories
and snapped lies before making the delightful
plunge into the water beneath.
Why might not the artist have stood on
School street bridge or the bridge on Nuuanu
below Judd street and have sketched the
streams with their pools shaded by royal palms,
their picturesque rocks shaded by ferns and
covered by native washerwomen, a rainbow or
two, or mountain ralnstorm, or any OF these
simple everyday sights, which give greater
nteres, 10 your place and surroundings In
lieu, we are given two very stupid views of
Waikiki from the two extreme points, the
sand looking as yellow as 'on the shore of our
own Alameda, and the great bathing place, so
enthusiastically described heretofore to our
friends, appears anything but the delightful
spot imagined, the only satisfactory sight being
the water, which is as " blue as blue. "
From Oahu with its disappointing repre-
sentation we pass not reluctantly 10 the bal
ance of the panorama which is very interesting,
and shows decided talent Hanalei valley or
Kauai is generous painting and received
applause from the audience, the description Of
the beautiful island making up for the absence
Of any other view of this least familiar of the
group.
From Kauai we passed rapidly to Maui,
showing Waiuku in the distance, and then a
special picture of Wailuku falls, wherein the
foliage, giving a most beautiful and truthful
rendering OF the ferns, water and falls, so we
were becoming quite complacent over our
views as at last conciding with our enthus-
IN fri of nd
scenery. Ialeakala, showing extent of crater
and general bigness, in two viewSone exterior
the other interior, brought many exclamations
of surprise at the wonderful area. Spreckels'
Mill and its surroundings finish he'd up Maui.
Kealakekua Bay from the cliff, and showing
the Cook Monument and palm trees was very
pretty but view from the water showing the
cliff would have given additional interest to
the lecturers story OF Cooks death.
Kalawao, when announced, sent n shudder
through the audience, which sensation passed
away at the sight OF such beautiful landscape,
high mountains with the cosy village at the
base, the native church so familiar in all parts
OF the islands, the water beyond, green fields
in the foreground, all making picture giving
but little idea of the suffering and misery so
graphically described by the lecturer, who did
the subject full justice.
Hilo bay with moonlight effect was very
pret,y--and would have worked better another
night, the moonlight was too bright for the
town-it was Hilo bay minus Ilio The lava
,,.u,e c,n,. n.xt anil ,var.. vary lifa- bl,a III.
cascade OF lava being natural as to make
one almost realize the heat and steam as the
molten rocks rolled into the sea. A choice
bit of the road TO Kiuaea was beautiful and
was a companion picture to Waikiki falls.
IIalemaumau, by night was grand and i'm
pressive, very lile.like, CORY in color, but by
far the best views Of this subject yet exhibited.
So ended the panorama in a blaze of glory
"a succession of liie-like, faithfully painted
pictures found faul, with by the writer only
because 50 much which might have been added
was left out and because il contained some
views which might well have been left out.
Mr.. J. A. Gone, formerly Of Waikiki, was
the lecturer, and in the estimation Of all was
very entertaining, giving items Of interes, in
very pleasing Conversational style without
flourish OF elaboration, the papers generally
complimentng the lecture quite as much as
the pictures.
From San Francisco understand the pan
Drama goes east and to Europe. Success go
with it-and my criticism being from the
writer's personal stand point will 60 for what
il is worth--but the beauties Of Hawaii Mel
shall not be sighted II know it.
While al the theatre the time between pic
lures was occupied in gazing over the audience,
and had il no, been FOR the many San Fran
cisco faces might have thought myself in the
Music Hall, Honolulu for here are W. G.