The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-04-14

When we take up the papers and read the
sayings and dOings OF some distinguished
men" (abroad), we are disposed to think
that they are . distinguished in the same
manner as the donkey that cavOrtS about
town i'll front of the Metropolitan Meat
Market cart. Everybody knows him-by
his ears, hide and antics.
The following list of prices paid for adver-
Using in the United States may tend TO
enlighten our business men on the grand
secret of success: The Chicago Tribune, it
is said, for Il column a year receives S26, 900.
The New York Herald receives for its low
est-priced column S39, 723, and for its high
est S34S, 900. The New York Tribune for its
lowest $40, 76f, and for its highest SS5,64S,
and these papers are never at 4 loss for
advertisement to fill their columns. Their
patronage come not from any desire to
assist the respective papers, but from bust
ness men who find it profitable to advertise.
1t is well to notice the small number of
cases of drunkenness that have appeared
on the docket at the Police Court during the
past week. In spite of the representations
which were freely made ny certain parties
Just before and Immediately after the re-
cent modification of the liquor law came
into effect, drunkenness seems to be con-
fined to a very limited proportion of the
population. The practice Of drinking to
excess, too, which has never been prevalent
to any great extent in this community, is
evidently becoming less and less popular
even among that class which is supposed to
be more especially fond of indulgence.
The prevalence of smallpox III China has
melted the foreign medical men to make
inquiries regarding the remedies of the Chi
reese in such cases. Throughout the whole
of the FOkien province they were pleased to
find that incubation by vaccination has
superseded both the customary methods of
infusion through the nostrils Of a violent
Chinese medicine; each of which supposed
remedies tended to otherwise impair the
constitution. When even the Chinese see
the efficacy of vaccination, and generally
adopt this method as n preventive of dis
ease, it appears passing strange that IL
more civilized ~ountries there are still to be
found many 50 blinded by prejudice as to
allow their offspring to suffer from this dire
complaint, and so encourage an epidemic
rage. "
We recently called attention to the fact
that drivers of cabs are frequently eXorb-
liant in their charges. Now there is Il COM
plaint that several drivers have taken men
who were in a state of semi~-intOXication to
the outskirts of the city, under the p%retence
that they misunderstood the directions of
the passengers, and then refused to bring
them in again unless double rates were
paid. Such Il kind of n job as this is little
short of robbery, and it is to be hoped thesR
cases which we refer to will be brought be-
fore the authorities. y driver who will
undertake such a piece of rascality, will
eventually venture TO do something worse,
and the proper place for him is on the reef.
In a couple of ill-natured paragraphs in last
Wednesdays Gazette the qualifications of Col.
Iukea, as His MajeSty's representative abroad,
are called III question. Inasmuch as the Colonel
is by birth, as well as by the favor Of the King,
fully entitled to be received in any Court to
which he may be credited as His Majesty's
envoy, and has also had that training in the
Foreign Office which will enable him to carry
out his instructions intelligently and satisfactor-
lily and is, besides all this, n gentleman in the
best sense of the word, We cannot imagine why
the Gazette writer should cavil at his appoint
ment; unless, indeed, the writer IS disappointed
in not being himself selected for the mission.
II such be the case, we would say that the para
graphs in question should destroy his future
chances, as they show that he lacks the last
named. but by no means the best qualification
that we have mentioned in connection with the
Colonel.
Soda and other iced drinks are becoming
very popular in Honolulu. Besides a mum
Der of ice cream parlors already well
patroniZed, we learn that several more are
soon to be opened also. And perhaps, in
view of the natural tendency to use cooling
refreshments in 4 country where the
climate is warm during the whole year, it
may be well to caution the community
against too great an indulgence in iced
beverages. 1t is well known tina if Il person
unduly heated, drinks very cold water i'll
large quantities, the effect on the human
system is most injurious. There are in
stances on record where the effect in such
n case has been fatal. An individual in the
habit of imbibing freely Of iced refresh
ments, is doubtless more liable to sunstroke
also, and, although the sun very seldom
produces such an effect here, yet il will not
be unwise to f~orestall any possible conse-
quence of the kind. y judicious use of ccol
drinks is not to be discouraged, but the
H--- e -, 1s1-4 thu aimee Of ar-Arv
thing else, is what should be avoided.
The diIatOry manner in which the fire
department turned out on Saturday last
when the fire alarm was sounded, suggests
the idea that there was some m~isunder-
standing about the alarm, and that many
thought it was Il call to practice, but under
no circumstances should it be possible for
any misunderstanding to arise about a fire,
which might cause a fatal delay. If a
fire should get we'll started in the middle
or latter part of the night, and a high wind
prevailed, the flames might easily get
beyond control unless the engines, hose
carriages, etc, could be rapidly and
promptly drawn to the seat of the fire.
When the fire alarm sounded last Satur-
day, II was some time before at least some
of the engines were got out at tall and when
finally they were drawn into the streets.
they were pulled along so slowly that it
would apparently nave taken half a dav to
get them To any distant part OF the city.
Indeed, one hose cart got fast in a small
rat in the road, and for some time was un-
able TO proceed.
The generosity of the people of Honolulu
i. or ought to be proverbial. Any one who
is unfortunate and really deserving of aid,
though he be n stranger but just landed on
our shores, is sure to find friendly assist
ance. In spite of the hurry and apparent
hcartlessness of business rivalry this COM
muuity is certainly most ready TO lend n
helping hand to all in need. Only a short
time ago our local columns contained an
account Of the accidental death of Mr..
Thomas Young, leaving a wife in strait
ened circumstances, and we recorded in Our
issue Of the 9Th instant the donation of the