The Hawaiian gazette., 1883-01-31

AL work and no play makes Jack Il
dull boy" is an old adage 1t is well oc
casionally to remember the adage, it CON
tains in a terse form good deal of phil
osophy. Honolulu certainly demands all
work and gives no play to very numer
Gus class of her most excellent citizens
In plain words there is not enough amuse-
ment The married man of course has
his home. and probably his little bit of
garden: between his family, his household
cares. his horticultural work. he can spend
his time profitably; and then again he
has most likely considerable number of
friends whose houses he can visit Still
even the married man lacks amusement in
public. In cities, much smaller than
| Honolulu, there Is constant succession
Of public amusements, here they are the
exception rather than the rule: man is a
gregariOus animal, with few exceptions,
his enjoyment of anything is heightened
by sharing it with his fellows; the mere
watching Of other people Is amusement
TO him: IT Is seldom he can indulge him
self here in any such pleasure.
When we turn 10 consider the condition
Of the single man We find him in a much
more evil plight than his married brother.
| Take the unmarried clerk, mechanic or
laborer In many cases his means only
allow him TO rent single room, not over
pleasant and by no means too invitingly
furnished. After his work is over he
takes his meal at a restaurant; he then
has the evening before him. Where
shall he go? Visit his older and settled
| friends; Yes! he does so. but their tastes
and his may not agree; he wishes to he
in the society of young men like himself.
He may go home to his solitary room and
read, but ten to one that is stufy and hot,
besides he cannot spend all his time read
ing: he Is very remarkable young man,
indeed. who would study so deeply: the
world is aei made up of remarkable young
men. and it is in the cause Of the average
youth that We write Occasionally he may
have the chance of hearing lectures, but
as Dickens showed in his story Of Hard
Times that scientific lectures, facts and fig.
ures are not the kind Of mental pabulum to
bring any one up on. Mr.. Gradgrind's
son. after course Of it, turned ont dis
sipated scamp. Whittier has the young
man to turn for amusement Our theatre
Is seldom opened; when it is the prices
charged are often far above the means of
those who have but very moderate salaries,
especially in a country where living is so
enormously expensive. Certain excellent
religious bodies strive to provide Ravens
of rest, which they strive to make as at
| tractiye as possible; but such places,
though most admirable and deserving of
all support cannot and as a fact do not
I'LL the want To a young man, then, not
religiously inclined, not a great reader,
who Is not a total abstainer, the drinking
saloon offers irresistible attractions II is
well lighted, he can see number of news
papers, he can play billiards, usually for
drinks. he can meet number of young
men ike himself Without intention be
fore the evening Is out he has drank a
great deal more than Is good for him.
That this Is so, no one can deny That it
Is serious evil many viii agree. How
can il be remedieda
1t Is much easier TO point out defects
than to point out remedies: We can how
ever make few suggestions, which will
doubtless be supplemented by many people
who take thorough and lively interest in
the matter
For one thing we would propose that
when Thomas Square Is completed, the
place should be well lighted that stalls
for the sale Of light refreshments should
be established: that the band should play
there frequently. All who are acquainted
with the Continent Of Europe. know how
delightful are those open air resorts,
which form so important feature in the
summer amusemcnts. Here we have per
petual summer; we can always indulge in
such amusements. Our theatrical enter
fainments- as We have already said, are too
costly. Whenever amateurs give enter
tainments they are usually for some char