Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-01-20
VISIT TO THE GRoo.sHoPs OF HONOLULU
THE SIGHTS WITHIN THEM, AND UPON
THE STREETS.


tours of inspection through the rum.shops,
where is being poured out the fiery deluge of
intoxicating drink for which the heartless Legis-
lature opened the door to destroy the few
remaining Hawaiian youth Of our native land.
AT the rum-shops which I entered
my heart was sick when 1 noticed that the
larger part of those within, who were debauch.
ing themselves, were young men from IS to 80
years old. Some were drinking, some bab-
bling, some making irreverent use of Gods
name, with words in the English language of
the basest sort. Some were fsticuffng each
other, some were making contortions with
their bodies, some were drinking, some were
playing on musical instruments, some were
dancing, some formed group and, with coarse
laugh, with stamping feet and clapping hands,
wriggling their bodies to one side and the
other, cheered on Others who were shuffing
about in gross dance, and distorting them
selves indecently. Those who had no money
were begging in sickly tones Of those who were
doing up 10 drink to let them also have glass.
Here is one thing noticed some Gilbert Is
landers went up to the barkeeper and bought
bottle Of rum for themselves, and then passed
into a small room to drink. There followed in
after them boy who begged OF them drink
for himself. The Gilbert Islanders refused
him. The boy persevered in begging, with
entreating words, saying, "Give fellow a
drink; I'm dead broke; come, you are
good fellows" Perhaps the Gilbert Islanders
wearied by his opportunities, for they
took the bottle with the balance Of the liquor
in it and went off. The begging boy was left
completely destitute and got no liquor.
Numbers Of people were constantly coming,
buying rum by the bottle and then departing to
drink it at their homes. Children between 10
and IA years of age, perhaps, came in to buy
bottles Of liquor and then departed. Perhaps
their parents had sent them, perhaps they came
of their own accord.
On Monday night last many drunken persons
were seen, some wrthing like snakes, some
shouting with loud, coarse voice
challenging others to fight, expressing satisfac-
ton at the free liquor law, saying it was great
blessing to the race, and many other similar
expressions were used. Soon rough and
tumble fight began; one man jumped on an
other and tried to gouge his eyes out, and to
beat him in the face. They struggled with
each other until they both fell down sprawling
on the floor; several then sprang towards them
to assist and to separate them. As went out
from this place saw man who was possessed
with the unclean spirit of rum pursuing
woman, with obscene and hateful language,
which he could not have used in his right mind.
inquired for the policeman Of that block; the
answer was made that he had gone to take a
man to the station-house. l went
up to the policeman and requested him to ar
rest the drunken man, but the policeman only
led him along short distance and then let him
go. He was asked why he did not arrest the
man who was drunk. He replied that their
instructions were not to seize drunken persons
who were making no disturbance, but when
they became very turbulent then they were to
arrest them. Is it not disturbance to pursue
woman with obscene anguage1 Is there no