The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-13

The Sentinel has the pleasure this
morning of placing before its readers a
letter from the Hon. George w. Bell
He viii be remembered by our readers
as the eloquent orator who canvassed
Indiana very thoroughly, pleading the
cause Of a reform in the tariff and de-
nounclng the taxation imposed by the
republicans in the Mckinley tariff bill
His letter, although dated at Sydney.
Australia. confines itself to the scenes
in Honolulu. which Mr. Bell says is one
of the most charming spots on Gods
green earth. The letter will be found
exceedingly interesting and full of in
formation, and follows below;
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Oct. 10.
OF course absence defaces memory and
distance sewers the ties of affection, but
there is pleasure in feeling that on
the under side of the world l am always
on top and that some remember me and
are looking for something from me.
Since leaving America 1 have visited
one of the most charming spots on Gods
green earth, and as great events of re-
cent date have drawn the attention to
the PARKWAY Sandwich islands, l will
give you a brief glimpse Of the capital
Of that strangely delightful country.
j take II LOT granted lIldL our people
will readily remember that the Hawai-
Pacific ocean in latitude % degrees
north and longitude say 15S east; that
they are rich in tropical production,
such as sugar, rice, bananas, cocoa
nuts, tea, coffee, etc; that few years
ago our government formed a treaty
with this miniature kingdom providing
for reciprocity free tTade); that our
commerce advanced under the benefi-
cent laws, "by. leaps and bounds" until
we possess gfully three-fourths Of the
total trade in the country; that a few
months ago under the leadership of a
few enterprising Americans a revolu-
ton was effected; the queen" deposed,
q provisional government established
and that row things are pretty gener-
ally in the hands Of Americans with
the stars and stripes floating every
where as the emblem Of authority.
As l intend later to write Of the po-
litlcal situation in Hawaii, as before in
inferred, I will now write only of the
city and Of its peculiar, though very in
teresting, people.
The good ship Warrimoa, on which
sailed from Vancouver. 3. c., on Sept
16, steamed into Honolulu harbor Sun
day, Sept. "a, about Z o'clock in the
morning. The harbOr is on the south
side OF the Island Oahu and the city
"nesties" on its shores. occupying a
level stretch of land which skirts the
water and reaches by a gentle ascent
to the base Of the gracefully rounded
mountains which tower aloft and are
often half hidden by the low floating
clouds.
On entering the harbor, one of the
first objects that confronted me was
our dear old flag, for, safely moored but
a few yards from the wharf, gracefully
swung the great white war ships, the
Boston. whose marines formed in line
in font of the government building and
quieted the nerves of the people on the
island while the monarchy died, and the
Philadelphia, which was sent to these
waters after the revolution.
AS our allotted time was but seven
hours, to learn much of the city and its
people II was necessary to utilize every
moment. Sunday was a poor day for us
as these people are very pious, and as
am inclined to think they pay lit
tie attention to their religion week days
they feel bound to square up on Sum
day.
As we slowly neared the wharf hun
dreds of people, Of all ages color, size
and description crowded the docks. some
for curiosity, some on business and some
as worlImen to handle the cargo. A bed
lam Of yells from the harbor side of the
steamer attracted the attention and all
rushed abaft pell nell, and soon we saw
the black heads and tawny faces Of a
small army OF young natives hurrying.
with chat and chatter, from the war
ship to our own. As these young people
wore nothing but a mild expression, the
modesty Of our party WAS at first rather
shocked, but the almost marvellous feats
Of these aquatic beings banished this
shyness by the thrilling novelty of the
scene. No frog was ever more graceful,
nor seal more deXterous
The water was fully thirty feet deep
and did not appear over eleven, but
these hilarious boys and girls would
dive to the bottom as easily as a per-
poise. Dimes. nickels and pennies by
the dozen and hundred were thrown by
the passengers as far as strength and
skill could hurl them, and never one
struck the water that was not brought
from the bottom in triumph by some
lucky diver. From the very bottom one
could see arms closely laid by the side
and the body shoot up as straight and
easily as though IL were an air rush,
and with one shake Of the head and
sudden spout the coin would be held
up in triumph to the gaze Of the giver.
These natives seem not to tire IN water,
as movement as slight as made by a
frog keeps them up, so they remain for
hours swimming, diving and cutting
curious pranks. with no apparent IA
tigue
With my love for studying the "ani-
mails" 1 was impatient for a lark"
through the streets and sailed forth at
en- early hour. The city, with its 20, 900
people, composed chiefly OF men, women
and preachers, is subdivided into ma
tives, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese,
English and Americans, the latter in
GLIDING the predominating influences.
Our Americans in Honolulu have been
very generous-to themselves. The town
is rather pretty, though there are no
imposing buildings save the "roya"
palace.
AS there are no rains, beyond a
"drizZle" on low shore level to create
mud, the street are as fine as the asphalt
avenues Of Washington, ID. c., and as
the drainage is good the city is clean and
attractive. There are flowers. in end
less variety and tropical plants that Inn
press you with the exceeding fertility Of
the soil.
Remembering that Il was Sunday and
that usually people OF the kind L had TO
observe wound up the week by a gen.
eTal good time on Saturday, my first
exploit was a visit to the police station.
AS this took me through several blocks
along the chief streets, an opportunity
for a study Of the people was offered
me, and the sight more quaint
than romantic. OF course the chief at
traction for me was the natives and
while they are hardly more than 20
per cent. OF the population, their dis
tinctiVe characteristics are well defined
They are rather a small people, plump,
we'll built graceful and agile, with
liquid, innocent eyes, pleasant express
sion, and quiet, mild manner. The color
is a cocoanut brown and / am sure by
nature they are a mild, innocent, amiable
people, with lax ideas of morals and a