The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-12-10
A FAMILIAR TALK.
General j. f. b. Marshall on Hawaii
Fifty Years Ago"

The comfortable ball of the Y. NJ. c.
Association in the building on the corner
OF Hotel and Alakea streets, was well
filed Tuesday evening with an audi
ence OF ladies and gentlemen, many OF
whom are quite prominent members of
this community. The assemblage had
gathered together for the purpose OF
being RECALLED with listening to "Fa-
miliar Talk" by Gen1 ] F. B. Marshall,
an old former resident, and who pur-
posed giving Renaissance Of Hawaii
Fifty Years Ago" The speaker for the
evening, was introduced by Hon. Henry
Waterhouse, the President OF the Y. NJ.
c. A. After the close of his Talk"
which was listened to throughout with
rSpt interest, General Marshall was the
recipient at the hands of F. w. Lowrey,
chairman OF the entertainment commit
tee, OF a hearty vote Of thanks. Follow
ing is ths address of General Marshall:
HAWAII FIFTY YEARS AGO.
In these DAYS of frequent and rapid
communication with all foreign coun-
tries, when the United States, once five
or six months away, is now brought
within week, it is not easy to realize
the former isolation OF this group from
the rest of the world Fifty years ago l
arrived here, after six months passage,
from Boston; no steam vessel had then
made its way into the Pacific, Prof.
Morse had not then revolutionized the
intercourse and commerce of the world
with the electric telegraph. A yearly ship
from Boston, an occasional one from
European and Asiatic ports, small
trade with the various ports on the
Pacific coast--from kamschatka to Val
paraiso-with the spring and fall visits
OF the whaling fleet, comprised our
intercourse with the outside world. At
intervals, a vessel Of war would look in
upon US, either for its own amusement or
to see how our little tempest in teapot,
of internal politics, was bubbling,
and sometimes taking a hand in
the particular discussion by giving
little more or less wholesome advice,
al the lannon's mouth, or that of the
commander, and then sailing away
again, leaving one party very jubilant,
and the other down in the mouth, which
conditions would perhaps be reversed
by the next warship that arrived. No
body then seemed to be in hurry
Time was of little account. Items of
State news were to US as interesting are
now the latest cablegrams. In the deli
cIous climate of these islands in those
halcyon DAYS We lived an easy ''dolce
far niente" sort of existence which so
far at least as mere physical enjoyment,
was infinitely preferable to the hurried,
busting, anxious life OF the present day,
ctaa railroads fala-
phones and its sharp competition. While
the little schemes of the different foreign
nztionalities to secure a preponderating
influence with the native government
but furnished the necessary food for that
social gossip so essential to the life OF every
intelligent and well ordered community.
On NV return in the spring of lS49 from
a visit TO the United States, coming as
usual by the then rapid transit route of
five months voyage around Cape Horn,
l found that a social and commercial
revolution had taken place at Honolulu
in my absence. The gold fever, excited
by successive reports. each more dazzl-
ing than the last had rapidly risen to its
height and the Wild mad rush TO the Cali
fornia mines had begun. The easy going
indolent character of the place had gone
for ever, and a Severish busting, hurry
skurry sort of life had taken its place.
That revolution, like most revolutions,
did not 90 backward, and those days of
laziness and ease have never returned.
l reached Honolulu IN 1884, boy in
search of health, following medical
prescription. l had never been away
from home before, and was astonished
at many things. Perhaps at nothing
more than seeing as l landed from the
good ship Fama, portly lady sitting in
what looked like child's wagon. which |
was drawn by span of bronze colored |
bipeds, whose only covering was girdle. |
/ had not then heard OF the jinrikisha OF
the Japanese, but soon became accus-
toned to what l found was the fashion |
able equipage Of the place.
The kuhina nui, or Premier OF the |
Kingdom, Kinau, chiefess OF high |
tank and much force of character, had |
lied two days before my arrival. She |
vas the wife of Governor Kekuaunoa, |
md mother of Moses, Lot and Alexander |
nd Victoria. Her body lay in state two |
honths, during all Of which time her
rmy of retainers were seated around the /
uilding, keeping up an ineessant and
lost mournful wailing, without inter-
iission, night and day. Her funeral
hich was attended by the whole popu-
ton, native and foreign, was strange
Id most impressive mingling OF bar
tric and civilized pomp and ceremony,
.hieh l have never seen equalled here or
kewhere. =
The first house entered on my arrival
Honolclu was then the residence OF
lot. Domlnis, father of the ex-Govern-
Of Oahu. 1t is still standing on Fort
Pet. makai of the Catholic Church,
to reach what now is the Fort street
rance 1 followed my guide among
b patches at much risk of a muddy
The streets OF Honolulu we're then
being laid out, and Fort street, above
lei street, was still all kalo patches.
he Government was gradually Just
erging from barbarism and making
rress in the methods of civilization.
1urincipal business OF the group at
time, as you doubtless know, was
the fleet of whaleships which came
I. ports Spring and Fall to reft, and,
i. to ship their catch of oil and bone
the United States. After going to
lima, Hilo, or some other port where
tlcould get supplies to better advan-
than in Honolulu, they would come