The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-06-26
ADDRESS OF GEN'L s. c.
ARMSTRONG.
Delivered at Kawaia
hao Church, June
] %, 1891.

10 THE TRUSTEES, FACULTY AM
ALUMNI OF OAHU COLLEGE AMI
FORMER AND PRESENT PUPILS Al
PUNAHoU.
Only Punahop boy of the old regime
can do Justice to the earlier DAYS tC
which on this fiftieth anniversary we
with deep interest look back. 1t is high
time that the recollections OF that period
were written by one of the then big boys
there is infinite humor and interest IN il
all real value for US and our children
Those were days of simple things, o.
severe discipline, of peculiar experiences
too rich and rare to lose.
My own earliest recollection is of being
rebuked for passing my plate for second
help, and of an enforced division among
my schoolmates of delicious squid sent
by my father; of Miss Smiths singing
class and occasional rigor, of Mrs. Rice'f
sewing class where we made quilts for
the Oregon Indians--whose pioneer mis-
sionaries had visited us en- route-and OF
her saying The little boys may now 90
out and play" when the present ChieI
Justice of the Kingdom, with myself and
others, would scamper out of doors, but
not until our too often disapproved
stitching had been examined Most dis
tinct is my recollection of our manual
labor drill did not then have it on
the brain; how, required to hoe our
patches in severalty OF melons or corn or
summer squash, till we could count
seven stars, we studied the heavens as
have never since done, not daring to
shirk, for Mr.. Rice, the farmer, was an
embodiment of firm, kindly discipline
that have never forgotten. He hit us
hard sometimes when delinquent, but
was always fair. How hated work then,
impatiently digging up the melon seeds
to see If they had started
We stood in awe of Father Dole's red
ruler and of his learning. He was seen
reading Hebrew; relaxing now and then
70 let the boys make rush at him, his
beaming face towering above the fellows
whom he held off with his long arms
Who OF US can forget the old adobe
school room between the two courts, the
green desks, especially defamation day
when in turn we stood up and recited
Marco Bozzaris or Hohenlinden.
What host OF associations throng the
memory as We of Punahou think of the
spring, with its llmpid waters, near
Rocky Hill whose caves we used to ex-
plore for ghosts and wooden gods; of the
old bathing pond, now finely renewed, OF
the play ground and the hotly-contested
games of ''Ai Puni " and wicket.
AS it seems to me now the delight of
our Hawaiian life was going barefoot, as
we did till we were quite grown Sundays
excepted, IN the midst OF wonderful nat
ural beauty-the health and the ioy of
i'll in spite Of the prickly plains; tempt
ed on Saturdays to climb Round Top.
just behind, or Tantalus beyond tower
ing thousands of feet; or to explore the
luxuriant depths of Manoa, Pauoa and
other tropical valleys; or, better, invited
tc round up of cattle on some ranch.
which meant horseback ride to Wal.
alua or over the Pail to- Waimanalo. or
Kaneohe, or Kualoa; the exciting chase,
the throwing of the lasso at the perilous
steer who was to be Knocked down and
branded; the unequalled feast of poi and
fish that followed, and the pillow fight at
night; then the glorious home ride, rae
ing our horses on the white sea beach, or
riding them into the surf for bath; but
nothing could excel the beauty of a
moonlight ride through the cocoanut
trees around Diamond Head-these were
some OF the delights of the Punahou bow.
But there is so much that cannot tell
that should be said by way of recollec-
tons of school days, / only begin the
story OF 1T, yet some one may be ahead
OF me. No doubt this occasion will be
rich in "reminiscences.
There was change about 1858, the
school became college, there was new
work and new workers. But I am not to
give the history of Oahu College. the
plans of which were discussed in nv
fathers study in old Stone House dis.
tinet memory, for the trusees' meeting
drove me elsewhere to learn my lessons.
A new force came into our student life
at that time. 1t was Punahou as it had
not been before. The springs of thought
and feeling were touched and our grow
ing manhood and womanhood responded
TO the voice of master.
The work OF Edward and George Beck
with, begun on some of us, a favored
company, about 1850 at the ROYAL School.
having already shaped our lives, now
reached pupils from all the islands with
their increased range came a larger re-
suit.
The college was really high school
hitting Its own student material for lib
eral studies, not however taxing them
beyond the Sophomore year, when, or
earlier, they left to finish in American
colleges.
The new President and Professor, re-
inforced by Professors Alexander and
Haskell from Yale, and their successors.
to this day, have given, l believe, as
thorough drill and AS solid foundation
90 ia Al.
States. in like studios.
/ never knew till as Junior entered
class OF fity at Williams College the
great advantages OF our pioneer class of
four at Oahu Colleges No wonder Hawaii
an boys have stood well at Williams, Yale
and elsewhere; there was no excuse for
not doing so.
Not without the stimulus of COMPETE
ton We had here almost the benefits of
private tutorship; constant personal at
tention. We were on the perpetual oui
viye from frequent Rotations. Hence
small colleges everywhere supply the
the largest proportion of strong men;
big institutions do not have all the adj
vantages. The thorougness of your work,
PRESIDENT Hcsmer, of whatever grade,
will give ample excuse for and enough
honor to this college; it will insure a
bright future and an influence that will
be vital upon these islands and be ;elt
beyond them. In time your excellent
work will bring pupils from over the sea
for the other advantages OF this Paradise
OF the PlclEc added to your first rate
training will make it an ideal place for
many American youths.
But the new force that came in 1858
was on the moral as we'll as on the mem
tai side; for eternity as well as for time.