The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-08-25
His Impressions Of the Island King
dom and its People.
Remarks Upon It's Present Com
dition and the Possibilities
of the Uncle
Sans Duty.

trip to Hawaii on the steamer Mari
posa. He comes back with wonder
fully becoming tinge of bronze upon
his cheeks, and withal looking as
vigorous and healthful as the result of
his trip as his very best friends could
wish.
Mr.. Shortridge returns, too, with a
mind stored with the results of an in
telligent observation and study of the
present condition and future pOssibili-
ties of the Hawaiian isles, and filled
with appreciation also of the generous
and hOspitable character of their in
habitants. AS to this, however, there
is no reason for wonderment, for from
all accounts he had royal good time.
He admits that much himself very
frankly, and those particulars of the
attention shown him at the islands of
which he does not himself care to
speak, his friends and fellow voyagers
are no way backward in supplying.
1t Is very evident that they made q
good deal of lion of "our Sam'down
there, and it is no wonder therefore, =,
that he comes back filled with kindly
feeling for Hawaii and Hawaiians.
''There was much to surprise ma,n
said Mr.. ShOrtridge, speaking this
morning to q Post representative, Gin
my first observation of Hawaii In
point of fact, and l may as well ac-
knowledge it, l was nothing less than
astonished at the many evidences of
solid business thrift and progress
everywhere visible, not only in Homo
lulu, but also throughout the islands.
"At the island capital I found a
system of excellently cared for streets,
solid brick buildings, an electric light
plant supplying perfect illumination
for both public and private use. Fur
ther than this / found there perhaps
the most perfect and certainly the
cheapest telephone system that ever
met with. My reference to its cheap
ness of course applies to the question
of what it costs its patrons to use it.
A SIGNIFICANT CONTRACT.
"They put the telephone in your
house or Office and charge you So or
$3.50 month for it, and you are free
to make all the use you can of it.
There is no such thing as the extra
5-cents-a-message charge. There are
two telephone companies established
in Honolulu, and the inhabitants
have ali the benefit of actual COMPETE
ton.
"Nor was this all. The attention
that is bestowed upon the streets is
manifested in an equal degree in the
care of the beautiful parks of the city.
Everywhere, too, are substantial and
well-built business structures and ele-
giant residences, many of the latter,
indeed, being nothing short of pala-
tial. In fact, what found in Homo
lulu was in every way equal to what
might have looked for in progressive
and prosperous American city of the
like size and population, say of about
10000 inhabitants. / had read some
thing of the beauty and general adj
vancement of the Island capital, but
had not expected to find the evidences
of its progress in such number and
perfection.
A MODERN PARADISE.
GAS to other what l might call
physical characteristics of Hawaii"
continued Mr.. Shortridge, "well, I
simply found it q veritable modern
Paradise-as Paradise was, that is, be-
fore the serpent entered it, for SIS
everybody knows or ought to know,
there are no snakes on the islands.
had expected to find it oppressively
warm, bat was agreeably surprised
to find the weather delightfully."- cool
and refreshing. This is owing, of
course, to the nearness of the sea and
the mountainous character of the ISL
and, which is true not only of Oahu,
on which Honolulu is situated, but
also of the other islands of the group.
The air is wonderfully soft and balmy,
laden, too, with the Odors of the
abundant tropical flora and vegeta-
ton. In fact,h continued Mr.. Short
ridge, enthusiastically 'you cannot
take drive anywhere there without
continually inhaling the perfume OF
bud and blossom, while the air seems
fairly throbbing, if it is not too poeti-
cal TO say so, with the melody Of birds
and the soft voices of bronze island
maidens and the music of the Royal
Hawaiian band.
'The Hawaiians are passiOnately
fond of two things-flowers and music
and whenever mail steamer sails
she is given an "alOha" by the band
while the natives deck their departing
friends with wreaths and garlands O
fiowers-a custom which they hope
and I, too, for that matter, will never
fall into disuse. Then, as to the ma
tiyes' love for music, it is stated OIL
undeniable authority that howeve
much they may object to spendin!
public money for other things, Their
has yet to be the first objection raise'
to the appropriation for the mainten
ance of the Royal band. Being pub
lie institution, supported by the Gov
eminent, it plays for the Queen ever,
morning and in the public park
every day. In the summer months
also furnishes music to the vas
crowds that gather at the beautlft
Waikiki bathing resort, situated tou
miles from Honolulu and reached D
magnihcently kept road.
AN INLAND RESORT.
"Talk about bathing and its d,
lights. Surely nowhere are they
be found in such perfection as at Wa
kiki. The place is patronized by tt
best society of the islands,. Il
Queen having her summer hon
there; and there are also numerous pa
atial dwellings belonging to wealth
residents. The water is absolutel
perfection for bathing purposes, beir
entirely free from chill. A few hui
dred yards out are coral reefs, with
which the sharks never come; cons
quently the bathers can enjoy ther
-. selves with absolute security, and
'S'@s the summer months the beach Is co
SANITY visited by thousands.
PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE.
"But delightful as I found all this
i 4