Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-13
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
An Interesting Lecture Upon Their Discov-
cry and History.

An Interesting Lecture Upon Their Discov-
cry and History.
Among the many advantages of the INCA
of this city there are few more attractive than
the courses of free evening lectures. Last
night DR.. V. ID. Collins of this city, who had
previously spoken on China, delivered very
interesting lecture on the Sandwich Islands, or
Hawaii, the natives style their country. His
story of the discovery of these islands, of their
volcanic and coralline origin, of the probable
way they were first inhabited, and of the former
greatness and gradual decay of the Hawaiian
race from four hundred down to less than forty
thousand souls in one century, was one OF sad
and tragic interest.
When discovered by Capt. Cook one hundred
and twelve years, ago the population. besides
women and children, was composed of kings
chiefs, warriors. agricultursts. artisans fisher
men. priests, bards and minstres. enjoying q
rude civilization and religion somewhat like
that of the ancient Romans. based on n mytbol-
ogy of gods and Soddesses residing i'm the
craters of the great volcanoes.
Though this people had no letters. vet some
Of their arts were very fair. their beautiful
feathered robes and helmets their water crafts
and their national songs and music all prove
and to the antique rian this would seem to have
been the golden age of the Hawaiian.
After the departure of Capt Cooks vessels in
1873, and the consequent revelation of this
island world. there came n period of fifty
years-the age of demOraliZation-when intern
perance. RIGHTEOUSNESS and other vices had full
sway; when. with some noble exceptions, the
whaler. the merchant sailor, the man-of-war' s.
man and the native, united in defying both the
laws of physical health and Of God. which are
really one.
THE GOLDEN AGE.
The next period of fifty years-from 1925 to
1S75-was the golden age of Christian mis-
sions when our own countrymen and women
became deeply interested. as they are today. in
the Hawaiian race and when Christianity be-
came a great civilizing. educating and refining
influence, and while it could not eradicate the
seeds of disease implanted by vicious foreigners
among the people arrest the great law of
physical penalty and decay, yet Christianity
nplifted the race to nobler plane of life. made
them intelligent law-abiding and sober, and
gave them happy homes graced by an open
Bible, family altar and hymns of faith and
hope. OF course. the entire nation was not
rescued, and yet. in the face of many opposing
influences no other race during this period ex.
celled them in a well-ordered civilization, in
the number Of those able to read, in the en-
joyment of happier homes.
A SAD EPOCH.
The present period of fifty years, which is
now passing, is q very sad one to all who love
the Hawaiians and who remember their hap
pier days. With excessive leprosy in their
midst and families rapidly diminishing the
early extinction of the race is self evident; and
yet, in these days of sadness, well suited to the
minor tones Of their plaintive national songs,
the golden age Of Irrational prosperity is at hand.
By the aid of American capital and skill of
Chinese labor and Of works of irrigation. the
dead lavas Of the extinct volcanoes, holding in
their grasp the phosphates and nitrates of life,
are made to give up their hidden and latent
wealth and nature everywhere smiles in in
creasing crops Of tobacco, taro, rice, cotton
and golden cane.
After speaking Of some Of the beautiful cities
and their suburbs. such AZ Honolulu, Lobina
and Hilo, empowered in wealth Of tropical
trees. plants and flowers, many gathered from
distant lands and planted and tended by skill
fni American hands, the lecturer concluded by
giving nm account OF visits to the craters Of the
two greatest volcanoes known, one, now ex-
tinct, on the island Of Mani and the other, &C
tive, on Hawaii, and to which, in the immedi-
ate future, he prophesied increasing numbers
Of visitors would 20 to witness the grandest
sight on our globe.