The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-03-31
Society"

LETTER FROM MRS. SEGUs, no. 3.
Mr.. EDIroE Il was speaking to a lady who
enjoys some consideration in this country, having
been long established here, in reference to a newly
made lady acquaintance in whose behalf felt in
clined To speak rather warmly. oh, | do not
meet her IN society was the reply, which was
uttered with a look and tone that seemed TO admit
Of no farther question or discussion in relation TO
the matter. / had heard the same remark made
on one or two previous occasions during my short
sOjouru IN this country, and the remark was
ALWAYS uttered in a wav and voice To impress me
with the feeling that the case Of the individual
referred TO was fully disposed of, so far as regarded
any sort Of recognition or claims To consideration.
She was not in % society," That was 4 settler.
Now, according to my reading and observation, l
fully understand that, in the old States of Europe,
where class privilege has been established for ages,
there i i we'll defined select society, INTO whose
magic circle il IS impossible to enter without the
fayOring circumstances Of birth and fortune, al
though the wealth Of parvenuism may sometimes
enable the pnssessor TO hang on TO the outskirts Of
the elect ring But what constitutes society,
or any special upper circle here ? L am puzzled to
make ont the materials Of its composition, or TO
determine its location and limits. L feel that
honesty and respectable living should entitle any
one to kindly consideration at all times among
thcir fellows. But have made the mistake Of
directing a friendly attention to persons, who bore
every impress Of worthiness Of life, but yet not
having entered. what must be deemed in a cOun-
try like this, some imaginary circle of privilege
were held a. not exactly fitted for cordial assocIa-
ton. because not in q" society The qualities and
conditions that should determine the position of a
person As being in or out Of " society in Homo
lulu have truly puzzled me. There can be no claims
or uretentions on the part of anv one here to the
privilege Of BIRTH mean in the foreign cOmmun-
itv-all have come here as adventurerS and every
one has bettered his or her condition by coming
here All have sought the improvement OF their
condition either by the exercise Of some
skill. or in the interchange and manipulation
Of commodities. The shop l. associated
with the whole Of our society, and l have
always understood and felt that in all the
round Of this civilized world, aristocratic preten-
tiOns could only exist as disaSsOcIated with all cir
cur anres and relations Of trade. But what more
] zEnw1T 10 hpunraI IN mn hrzE ynunU mart by the
sea than all conditions and circumstances of trade
and the mechanical skill and art associated with
/ its prOmOtiOn; Here should be a commonwealth
Of kindly cO-operatOrs in the building mp Of a
young society and a young state and what has
I such 4 small community Of cO-adventurers to do
8 with iuvidious dividing social lines: When claims
are set up here about society l. IL not shop
become q little successful and consequently more
pretentious.. turning its back upon shop i IL
not the accidental and pretentious pioneer turning
M the nose at the hopeful and industrious new
cumcrz There should be no place for such a spirit
here among the small foreign community who have
/ sought a refuge or an improvement Of condition in
I these Islands. Whatever there may be OF aristocratic
precedence in this little kingdom may only be
! claimed by what few natives there may be descended
from a long liue Of privileged ancestors. But among
the foreigners Of whom but few, if any, have known
ausht Of their grandfathers-whO came here 10
earn the needed and welcome dollar, who have
worked by desk or counter, and who may have
handled 4 tool or sold beans-what grounds among
them are there for any inyidiOus line Of social de-
narration z And especially IN churches. where pro-
fessOrs and communicates proclaim their faith III
n Savior. that cOnsorted with the publican and
sinner. how can they have the assurance 70 hold
their skirts apart fer fear Of contact with some in
feriOr or plebeian association: Where Is the charity