The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-07-14
EDUCATION OF HAWAIIAN GIRLS.
The St. Cross Female Seminary at La
haina.

The St. Cross Female Seminary at La
haina.
\ communicated article that we pub
lished yesterday respecting the MakawaO
Female Seminary, was evidently prepared
by one not acquainted with the female
boarding schools in this Kingdom, as it is
therein stated that there are but two board
ing schools for Hawaiian girls on these
islands, the Kawaiahao Female Seminary
in this city and the other of Makawao, on
Maui.
We hasten to correct this statement in
our columns by remarking that there is a
very excellent boarding school of English
sisters and another OF French sisters, both
in this city there is also the boarding
school OF Mrs. Davies in Kona, and we
might mention other parties who take
charge of the education of Hawaiian girls,
but wish to call special attention to the
boarding school for Hawaiian girls of st.
Cross at Lahaina. This is. indeed, an in
stitution where the arts and accomplish
ments that make a girl not only a good wO-
man, but also a good h~Ousekeeper are
taught. The system of instruction en-
braces careful training in the art of cook
cry, in general housekeeping, and in the
hCtOlAAp llSnLlcnb vi uauCAhS. hCl ildS
been, unfortunately, implanted into the
Hawaiian mind, among Hawaiian parents,
who are having their children, male or fe-
paIe, taught in our various institutions for
instruction, a feeling that any kind OF labor,
especially domestic work of women, is a dis
grace. There is a ridiculous and most
unworthy pride that takes offence if a
daughter should be taught to handIe a
$780, ~ - IL ~ Ill .,a.Ely ,-o,I.
and iron an article of her own dress, and,
above all, it Is considered by some a de-
graduation tn enter a kitchen, to handle Gu
linary utensils, to have the hands immersed
ia dough and to be working out all the de-
tails of the preparation Of q meal. Such a
feeling Is entertained among poor Ha-
w~aiians; yet there may be presented to
their consideration the admirable practical
spirit that is carried out among the aristo-
cracy of Europe, where we see Processes,
Duehesses, COuntesses and numerous other
young ladies of the highest RANK and posi-
tion acquire q skilled knowledge of the
practical working Of housewiyery, and
where they are proud to show a certificate
Of their complete qualification as a prac-
teal hOnsekeeper.
1t is one of the misfortunes of the Ha-
DSAb W R4ACDA5 WIN
are accustomed to work hard and nave la
bored faithfully in times past, should be
slammed of putting their hands to any kind
OF manual employment. The only ambi-
ton in the case of q boy has been to set him
up as n lawyer. and in the ase of a girl so
that she would be enabIed TO show off sufi-
eiently to catch n wealthy haole. But a
beneficial change is coming over the young
Hawaiian in this respect. The students of
L~ahainaluna are now eager to handle a
plane and the other implements placed in
their hands under the direction OF skilled
and practical instruct on, and we are
pleased to state, as regarcs the Hawaiian
girls that are at the St. Cross female board
ing school Of Lahaina, that they there re-
ceive not only q regular scholastic educa-
ton, but are also thoroughly trained in all
the useful arts of housekeeping and all the
accomplishments that go to promote q cor
rect aud elegant department.. In the exhi-
billions that have taken place at this iHsti-
tuition visitors have not only been enter
tanned by the usual routine of recitatiors
aud compositions, but ve.y especially by
the preparation of and q tasteful repast pre-
pared by the young aides W. o are there
Instructed; and we are IN ther happy to be
assured that, in this institution, the repug-
nance Of the Hawaiian girl to soil her flu
gers With any kind Of culinary 'abor Is en-
tirely overcome, and that there are girls
who rejoice at having an OppoF unity to
prepare q dainty M cal, set forth on a nicely
arranged table, and TO Offer a guest supe-
rior, civilized and hOspitable entertain
ment. Such q system of INST uction, as is
carried out at the At. Cross seminary,
should be = model upon which all female
boarding school establishments in this
Kingdom for Hawaiian girls shonld be
based There is every and ample evidence
that the Hawaiian man when trained to
the labor OF exercising some mechanical
skill is about equal to any other man.
There are Hawaiian and
brieklayers and q few other mechanics re-
eeiving the highest wages that are paid for
skilled labor. Thsss ought TO have been
huBdreds, nay thoUsauds of such skilled
SEOrkmeB. and il the practical system Oh
served at 81. Gross were thoroughly carried
out among all the female educational insti-
tutions OF this Kingdom then there would
b a vast incres ss of well ordered and COM
Portable Hawaiian homes. To Miss AIbro,
the principal OF the st. C9o-- SEMINARY, -
due the credit Of carrying out a thorough
system Of training ia practical housekeep-
ing for Hawaiian girls