Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-10-06
IA- Nr,r Drnnrfurs.

A social experiment was tried last Thursday
night. This experiment was to find out
whether we who are artisans,
expressmen, laborers-might not he furnished
with an entertainment Of sort TO interest u.s.
and serve as an offset to the influences by
which some OF us are constantly tempted.
The result OF this entertainment was at once
disappointing and encouraging, Disappointing
because the audience was so largely composed
Of church folk, to whom the entertainment was
only leaf from an old story; yet encouraging
because enough Of us who toll with our hands
were present TO make it probable that there
will be large attendance Of working people
next time. /, is most respectfully to be hoped
that, when next time" comes fully half the
well-to.do church people will stay at home and
that those church people who do 60 will exert
themselves beforehand to take with them non.
church-going people, especially those VINO have
no homes. The writer hopes not to be mis-
understood. Nothing is farther from his mean
ing that disparagement of either the ability or
the unsel6shness of the ladies and gentlemen
who worked so hard to make last Thursday S
entertainment success-and who did make
it success. But there is no disputing the
proposition that it is 'ike pulling teeth" to get
working people within the walls OF a place
like the hall of the Y. NJ. c. A. And ifwork-
ing people do visit such places, they do SO
under restraint--unless the audience is chiefly
of their own manner OF life
In itself the entertainment was good MI.
Csuzan made an admirable chairman, placing
himself in sympathy with his audience. He
made some brief opening remarks and felict-
ousy introduced his several co. workers of the
evening. After a few hymns, not very salts
iactorily sung by the audience, in go-as-you-
please fashion, and the chairman's '1ittle talk,
Miss Otto played a difficult piano solo with
much art. Mr.. Theophilus II. Davies
sang two songs, the second on an encore.
Captain Jackson read pathetic story abou, a
little English girl who broke her abstinence
pledge under stress OF temptation al a children's
party. Miss Carrie Castle and Mr.. yafndley
played duet-piano and violin Mr.. 5. Is.
Dole talked radical abstinence. in the straight
forward, manly fashion which makes all that
gentleman's public speaking so powerful. Miss
Margaret Hopper played piano solo; Mrs.
Cmzan and Mrs A. Il. Judd were 30 have
sung duet but Mrs. Cn1an was no, in voice,
unfortunately. Mr.. J. +. Brown read chap.
ter from ''our Mutual Friend Mn. A. +.
Judd sang vocal solo. Mrs. t. ?. Adams
read "1he Gambrel Roof. Miss Castle and
Mr.. yandley then played another instrumental
daei. And, after song by the audience. the
gathering dispersed.
The idea Of giving entertainments ior the
benefit Of young men, strangers and working
people Of both sexes, deserves the cordial co
operation Of all good citizens. Time, patience.
enthusiasm and twhen necessary money could
scarcely be spent to better purpose. The
great stream now constantly pouring into the
metropolis Of the Islands demands the thought
ful consideration Of all who care ior the social
future VI the city. Experience has shown thai
something must he added TO church work OF
eise these people cannot be reached. II the
ice can once be broken. BY furnishing rational
aud Interesting series Of secular entertainments,
II will be easier 70 meet and overcome the
diincuitics of the sociai s.tQatlen