The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-10-23
LECTURE ON Hawai-
WALTER G.. SMITH TUi
ON THE REVOLU1
island Lie and Poiitics-Perr~-~s ~ is
of the Monarchy-BlouI- - :.
Animus, Etc, Et

The following copious extracts from a
lecture delivered rect ntly by Walter q.
Smith before the Naval Reserve of San
Diego. California, is republished at the
request of his many personal and politi-
cal friends here:
1.-THE residence portion of Homo
lulu resembles much an interior
Ame lean city, except that the
houses are given more room,
being surrounded with an acre or SO of
beautifully wooded gardens, and the
porticos and breathing-places being bit
more generous, A capacous swimming
pool is one OF the customary adjuncts.
On every hand is seen evidence that life
is taken easily. Business houses open
late and close early. Every Saturday
afternoon is holiday, on which picnics
are taken to the many beautiful spots in
the vicinity of the city. The religious
life of the city is active, there being
many societies and much missionary
work. Hospitality seems to be portion
of the easy and generous life, and there
is continuous round of dinners, garden
parties and entertainment.
'In spite of the easy way of doing
things there, however, Honolulu will
compare with any American city in the
way of electric lights, streets, railways,
etc., and it excels many in the fact that
/ Ln, I,I nj
kerosene for electric light. The city has
the most complete telephone system in
the world, almost every private house
having two instruments from the rival
companies. All kinds of business is
done over this phone. Orders for bus
mess, society invitations, and gossiping
are carried on over the wire. Such is
the democratic condition of affairs, and
SO completely has the telephone come
into use that if you wish to commune
cate with the President of the Republic
but call him over the wire, and he re-
spends. The attendant at the central is
very accommodating, cheerfully giving
all the latest news and gossip when
called upon, thus proving formidable
rival of the press. He will also take
your order for meat, if you are late, and
will see that it is delivered at your door
the next morning"
A description of the national palace
followed, as well as the true story CT
the origin of the present native costume
of women there. ut seems" said MIR.
Smith, "that upon the visit of mis-
sionary ship at Honolulu, the native
princesses went on board, clad In tn.
royal robes made of feathers, which
proving too warm, were shed on deck
The missionary women from Boston
we're shocked at this, and going below
returned soon with garments which
they prevailed upon the princesses tt
wear. The cut and style of tie civil
lized raiment suited the dusky princo ase
so well that they permanently adopted
the mode, and thus the nightgown o
New England served as the pattern TO
the Hawaiian native costume which ha
; not changed from that day to this"
, "The natives were communists AM
polygamists, said Mr.. Smith, "but wer
not cannibals. In the old times tn
king was all powerful, and the dealt
penalty was inflicted for trivial reasons
Such, Tor instance, as remaining seate
when the kings name was spoken fo
climbing tree or other elevation highe
: than the king, or otherwise shown
S fancied disrespect to the majesty OF tn
f ruler. The deep superstition of tn
people was shown in the lamentations {
the kahunas, or priests, who succeeded
by praying for the death of those upo
= whom their maledictions were directed
in actually causing the death OF til
victim through his fear and superst
Q ton, even though he may have been
n robust health.
An instance of where.the kahuna trie
his black art against white man WI
given. The white man was John Youn,
d a Yankee sailor, and when the prize
is had builded his alter and began to pra
e for the death of the tar there was muC
fear, and he was Stunned by every bod
including his friend the King. The ma
'e ter reached such pass that Your
III could get nothing to eat, and he begi
g. to ponder way out of the difficult
II He went to the place where the kahul
y was praying so diligently for his deaf
and scrutinized him closely, shifting l
- ouid az he specialized on unique !
;, venge. Then he went to spot near
m erected an alter of his own, and beg
:, to pray in stentorian tones for the dea
of the priest. The latter looked wi
alarm at the sight, showing every 81
he of fear, and finally, overcome with
IS. force of his superstition, he fled to
re woods in terror, and was found the ne
is, day dead in his grass hut, and the v
ay tim of his own medicine. Since Il
day the white men were free from
incantations or priests.
go Reviewing the acts of some of ka
ne kauas predecessors. who removed so
IN of the hideous native superstitions a
or opened the way for Christian missi'
be aries, the speaker then came to kalaka
nu himself, who, he said, was an incorri
BILE drunkard, and was addicted
gambling. He grew up ragged q
in dissipated urchin on the water front
Honolulu, and was versed in all the
gies of the sailors. When, in the ire
~ of fate, he was made a king, he h
~ such orgies in the palace that human
was shocked. His sister, Liliuokali
,uas a Communion Of cahmen and sail