The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-01-02
CHRISTMAS ON KAUAI.

CHRISTMAS ON KAUAI.
Christmas gatherings, even when
confined to family circles and their
more immediate relations, are always
the gladdest meetings throughout the
year; and usually leave the most
lasting impressions on the minds of
young people. But when the en-
nobling influences of the unselfish
life of Him, of whose birth Christ
mas is the annual celebration, leads
us to look out beyond the circle Of
those who are most dear to us by
the ties of nature, upon the less
favored ones, and lend a helping
hand to gladden. their hearts, as well
as the hearts of our own families,
the good accomplished thereby
may be Unreasonable.
1t was my good fortune to be
visiting two of the large plantations
on Kauai, on the twenty-fourth and
twenty-tifth of the present month,
where l witnessed scenes, the des-
cription of which should be brought
before the. writers of the San Fran
cisco Chronicle, who have sought to
villify our planters, and dub them
shareholders. Those writer's ought
to come and see, then flee and hide
their diminished heads forever.
Arriving at Kilauea Plantation on
Christmas Eve, found Mr.. and
Mrs. Maciie, their governess, and
several young gentlemen, busily en-
gagged in preparing Christmas tree
for the children of the laborers en-
ployed on the plantation. Each and
every one of those ladies and gentle-
men were as much engrossed in
their undertaking, as if there had
been millions of money in it.
The tree was placed in the little
church, and we'll laden with suit
able fruit for the occasion. And
although the stripping of the tree
was not to take place till the even
ing, crowds Of little boys and girls,
full of expectation, were gathered
around the door of the little edifice
before midday, where they stayed
all afternoon, and sought to while
away the time by frolic and play till
evening, when they each received
some presents.
AtKealiaP Plantation, notwithstand-
ing the urgent necessity of pushing
the sugar works to speedy COM
pletion, halt was called and Christ
mas made holiday for all con.
cerned. Col. Spalding and his
corps of assistants had prepared
sport for the day in the shape of
horse and foot races on the Kapaa
plains. The weather being fine and
races good, very enjoyable day
was spent by the hundreds present.
In the meantime, while the Col. and
his lunas were carrying out their
part of the programme, Mrs. Spald-
ing was at home experimenting the
preparation for the festivities OF the
evening. Oh! for San Francisco
Chronicle reporter to see for him
self, and tell the truth for once, that
the number of slaves on SO large an
estate is actually reduced to two,
viz, Col. and Mrs. Spalding.
At about 1880 p. NJ, the guests
began to arrive at the residence
from all parts of the estate; they
were principally the working men
with their wives and children. All
were as cordially received, as il they
were on an equality with the owners.
The Christmas tree, very large
one, was placed in commodious
room upstairs. 1t was loaded down
with presents, but it would have re-
CURED large forest tree to carry
all the gifts. Many had to be laid
on the floor, and on tables around
the room. The guests visited this
room before dinner to see the grand
display. From there the gentlemen
escorted theladies TO seats at the
several tables spread in the spacious
dining hall, and the room adjoining
it. The exercises and sports of the
day had sharpened the appetites of
all present, and full justice was done
to the well-furnished tables.
After dinner, the guests repaired
to the Christmas tree, and the host
and hostess, assisted by several
ladies and gentlemen, proceeded to
harvest it in most mirth-provoking
manner, all present receiving perfect
avalanches of gifts. One of the
most opportune articles presented,
was chalk crayon in a silver case
the recipient was the genial host,
who, 1t seems, ever since he began
to remodel his sugar works, has had