The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-04-09

KEALIA, April THE Govern
ment English day school at Kappa,
closed for the regular spring vacation
on Friday, April 9Th. a special
feature of the closing exercises, which
consisted of declarations, compost
tions and calisthenics, interpreted
with music, songs and choruses, was
a grand picnic given by Mrs. VIM.
Blaisdell, wife of the well-known and
popular manager of the Makee Sugar
Company's Kealia plantation, at the
beautiful home of the owner, Col. T..
s. Spalding, whose spacious and
ornate grounds were thrown open to
the one hundred and ten little ones,
who were fortunate enough to success
fully pass with a general average of
not less than IS per cent. for scholar
ship department and attendance dur
ing the entire term of twelve weeks
past. Mr.. Harry u. Austin, the prin-
cipal, has introduced into this school
a system of daily marking as above,
in vogue in the public schools of
America and elsewhere, but probably
never before practiced in the schools
of the Hawaiian Islands.
The success of the experiment was
fully demonstrated by the admirable
department. of the children at this
outing, when over one hundred of
both sexes and many nationalities,
gathered together for q days sport,
which included games of all kinds,
such as base and foot ball with other
81 re 60
jumping rope, hammocks, croquet,
ETC., for the girls, all bountifully sup
piled by the generous lady patron,
who is so deeply interested and takes
such pride in the school, to which she
gives her patronage, by sending her
own children. Not a single squabble
or angry word was heard among the
children to mar the harmony which
was unbroken and perfect during the
entire day.
At the feast and in the games the
boys behaved like gentlemen, wait
ing quietly until after the little girls
their schoolmates, were: served and
otherwise attending to their wants
and looking after their welfare.
And such feast! 1t is doubtful if
public school children in any land
ever sat down to its like before.
There were roast and fricasseed chick
en-, and vegetables, with rice, for
every one and to spare, with bread
and butter, ham sandwiches, biscuits
with flies in 'em" as one of the little
ones called the currants, cakes and
crackers, oandieS, nuts, ra1s1ns, dates,
pop corn balls, fruits and ice cream,
with ice water and iced lemonade
not the circus article of one lime to
barrel of water-tO drink. And DUR
ing the afternoon hampers of cakes
and crackers were placed about the
grounds which were free to the little
ones to help themselves when hunger
prompted; and still no squabbling
was heard no selfishness manifested.
Mr.. Austin with his able assistants
were everywhere present and entered
into the games with the happy chill
dren with spirit. The prompt and
cheerful obedience rendered at word
from the teachers, was a remarkable
feature of the occasion, proving the
firm but kindly discipline of the
school.
Mrs. Blaisdell has her reward in
the happiness she gave to so many
little hearts, who will look back in
after years to this one red letter day
as the happiest "Reminiscences Of their
lives. May others emulate her exam
pie, for the happiness of our little
ones elsewhere and the betterment
of our public schools.