The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-06-30

SIE IL NNOm NJ EASCl-AL "A L ~
Such being Hawaiian custom, it seems
less strange that the present Govern
ment should have decided at the close
of 1895 TO suddenly dispose of some OF
the crown china, glass, silver and plated
ware. One morning everybody read an
advertisement TO this effect, and Won
dered why so little notice had been
given Evidently hindsight came to the
rescue of too hasty foresight, and the
sale was postponed for two months.
Had it been deferred till the millen-
MUM there would have been much less
chatter this morning. l believe il is the
unwritten law of craftsmanship never
to excite unnecessary friction, especial
~ when playing for high stakes. What
are few thousand dollars more or less
compared with internal harmony? Were
there fine jewels and other property the
sale of which would help build roads,
sewers and school houses. a little more
adverse criticism from the disaffected
would not weigh in the balance. The
Republic of Hawaii has fallen heir TO
no such treasures. To the excellent and
amiable Queen DOwager, Kapiolani, be-
! long the gifts presented to her husband,
| Kalakaua, on his tour around the
world. With few exceptions, what is
/ left at IOlani Palace is intrinsically
worthless. But for the monogram and
! royal coat of arms the china and glass
would have no value. Silver, of course.
is worth its weight in bullion, but there
| is very little of it for sale. Unless | am
greatly mistaken, the whole royal lot
cannot bring $4,000 Is it worth while
/ stirring up a hornets nest for this pal
/ ny y,
more in i'll feeling among the royaIists
white and native, who, though perhaps
| caring nothing for the ex-Queen, don't
want to see the remains of the mon
archy knocked about in an auction
room. Evil is wrought by want of
| thought as well as by want of heart
writes dear Tom Hood. Were [ asked
what is the defect of the Hawaiian Gov
eminent, [ should answer, Want of
tact" One shrewd man of the world |
who understood human nature as it is. |
and not as it ought to be, and who
knew how to treat the press, would do
more to smooth the seamy sides of poll |
tics here than all the legislators and |
preachers so far evolved.
Bidding on ROYAL Relics.
In the absence of tact the auction be- |
gan two days ago, and l took my first |
lesson in the art for which Mrs TODD |
les was distinguished. In glass cases,
ranged on two sides of Morgan's mart, |
lay the silver, glass and china to be
knocked down to the highest bidder.
Silver plated dishes stood outside of the
cases. Cushions, helmets and saddle
cloths occupied corner by themselves.
Chairs were placed behind one row of
nent citizens of varied political hues
elbowed each other in friendly compe-
tition. The Minister of Foreign Affairs,
curiously enough, superintendent the
sale, and Chief Justice Judd bought
odds and ends to add to his collection
of Hawaiiana. Sam Damon, Minister
of Finance, bought a few souvenirs for
himself and the Bishop Museum, but
the bulk of the sales were made to roy
aliSts or those who are not identified
with what is called the missionary
party
First came the silver, all of which
belonged to the days of Kamehameha
III, and most of which was marked
*. III Having fastened my affections
on big, heavy gravy spoon and an
equally interesting fish knife, l won
dered how l could make them my own
without reducing myself to abject squa-
Tor. Just watch me-" said the keen
eyed auctioneer, but one remove from
old Ireland, "and nod when you wauC
to buy
Now, ladies and gentlemen, here's
the chance of your lives. There's a
small lot of silver and no more. Guar
anteed or no sale. Here's solid spoon
What'H you bid? Come make begin
ming. Life is short. Thank you, one
dollar" And then a stream of unintel
ligible lingo fell from the auctioneer's
lips that made my head spin. How can
l bid when l don't understand the Ian
guage spoken ?" l cried pathetically to
a hardened auction fiend of my own
sex. The unsympathetic creature re-
piled with laugh, 20, you will soon
catch. on; but remember one thing
don't bid on yourself"
What's that?'
a Wink Was the Cue.
The look of pity, not unmingled with
scOrn, that unconsciously pervaded my
face can never be described.
You'll find out after you've done it
once" replied the auction fiend, who
took as much pleasure in watching the
other people buy as [ should in listen
ing to Patti What a blessing we are
not all constituted alike!
Fork after fork, spoon after spoon
were sold, yet buyers said nothing.
Don't you see them nodding and wink
ing?" explained the fiend. You needn't
open your mouth. All you have to do is
to catch Mr.. MOrgan's eye and nod"
Nod and INDEPENDENTLY wink!
Could l? Would L? Should [? [ studied
the adopts around me. l was lost in ad-
miration at the repose of manner long
experience at auctions had given them.
would initiate their example and look
as if l had fed on auctions from child
hood. A nod gave me a spoon l had no
earthhly use for. | nodded solely for
practice to prepare for that fish knife
Discovering my ability to nod, l at
4 l. Il.