The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-01-16

and seventy-hve cents, six bits.
No one had yet appeared to well
come me. l saw some people on the
lama or porch, and some monkeys in
cage, but none seemed to have any
special interest in my arrival. STEP
ped upon the lama and then a lady
appeared and called a Chinaman, tell
ing him to take me to Number Sixteen.
The almond-eye Celestial picked up
my valise and gave my overcoat a
stare That overcoat was as much a
curiosity in the city as native Samoan
in full dress would be in New York or
Chicago.
We had only gone as far as the pas
sageway between the two houses when
a Japanese girl, with hair pulled and
feet bare, came running toward US
chattering like monkey. She took my
valise, and John Chinaman disap-
peared. The lady Jap then went out
into a vast court laid out in regular
walks bordered by tall palms cocoanut
trees, banana plants, and every variety
of bright foliage and Towering shrub
of the tropics. The air was burdened
with the sweetest of perfumes, and the
gentle cooling of ring doves f1oated
about me. 1t seemed more of park
than a hotel, and all embowered in the
verdure of the tropics.
My female escort, carrying my
valise, walked down the lawn path, l
following. We soon passed through
gate into the street. Turning abruptly
to the left, she entered another build
ing, and assembled flight of stairs
with me, carrying my overcoat and
perspiring at every pore, bringing up
: the rear. In wide Corridor above,
we were met by another Japanese
called Tito, who took my valise to room
Number Sixten.
My apartment was large and sunny.
A great window opened on the porch
on the west, and l sank into a seat,
for few moments gazing out upon a
rear court. The scene was bathed in
the sunlight of June, although was
told that this was as cold weather as
one might ever expect in Honolulu.
The houses in Honolulu, by the way,
are constructed without furnaces or
other heating apparatus. There is but
one fireplace for heating on the
islands which is at the volcano houses
on Hawaii.
Though Honolulu is tropical town
in every respect, it is impossible for
one to be ashore five minutes without
realizing that after all, the energy and
propelling power in this wonderful
land are not tropical, but Anglo-Saxon.
Wherever there is directing energy or
organizing power, or enterprise, or
action, there one will find the Ameri-
can. Amerricanism predominates in
the intelligent and ruling spirits of.the
Islands. This is shown in hundred
ways. The very republic was declared
on the fourth of July in order that the
day might be doubly endeared to the
people. Almost as much interest is
manifested here in the affairs Of the
United States as in the States them
selves. The results Of the elections
and the policy of the administration
are watched with the keenest inter-
est.
The American is chief in business
and politics. He is in the church, the
school, the countingroom, on the rail-
road, and steamer; at the dry-dock
and the foundry; at the lumber yard,
at the mill, and tow boat. He is on
the wharf when you land, on the street
as you pass, at the hotel when you reg
lister. Nothing goes on successfully
without him. He fills teeth, cuts hair,
mends shoes, builds houses, shoes horses,
mends cofee-pots, sells furniture, med
icines, and hardwares, and fits clothes.
In fact, you rub up against him every
where, at least where there is evidence
of combined intelligence and prog
resS.
Such is the American who has made
his home in this land of sunshine.
Though he fully retains his race char
acteristics, and walks or sits beneath
the palms and gorgeous Towering
trees as he would beneath the elms and
naples his native land, seeming, indeed
to be foreigner in the presence o.
this unique vegetation, yet he is it:
author, having made Honolulu what
it is by his enterprise. He has intro
duced foreign plants, and encouraged
their growth. When the white mar
came, Honolulu was treeless, sandy
plain, with fringe of cocoanuts along
the shore. The Honolulu of to-day
is the creation of the foreigner-tht
offspring of his handiwork. You will
find English, Spanish, Germans, Port
uguese, Japanese, Cinese, and repre-
senatives of almost every nationalit,
in the city, but the American elemen
predominates.
In hospitality the people of Honolu
lu have no superiors. The traveller i
received with the warmth of thu
South, and no pains are spared t
make him comfortable.
JOHN R. MUslCK.
Effect of a Farce Comedy.