The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-12-02
IN THE MATTER Of DRESS
AN OPINION THAT THERE SHOULD
BE NO DICTATION.
Not Essential to Follow New York or
London - According to Means 49,
Lines on a Swell.

Editor Star: Sir:-A little over
of your contemporaries that in Homo
lulu. touching matters of garb when at
tending theaters there is no rule
''men wear white or yellow, as the
fancy strikes them" but that in an
other Republic somewhat lalge than
the Hawaiian, at is the rule among
gentlemen, ever when attending the
atrical performance to garb himself
as if he was listening to grand opera"
(Sic.)
In this tropical town of twenty
eight or thirty thousand people, large
w Asiatic. let each and all dress as
they think fit, as monarchical eXtrav-
agance or republican simplicity
prompts. Why should Honolulu, in
latitude 81 degrees, be guided by eth
err London or New York? If we have
not originality enough to dress as we
choose let us take as examples those
who are, par excellence, the most mus
thinking more of what they are going
to see and hear than of how they
themselves are to be arrayed, give but
little considera ton to that "swellest
of suits-full dress" BY them it is
not considered particularly desirable
to be so CARRIED even when attending
the most perfect performances of the
greatest masters. We are not seldom
reminded by the local press of a pos
sibe future danger to our community,
the condition of having only two
classes. The one rich and the other
poor. However men and women
chose to dress, let us not accentuate
any differences in our midst, by I'M
necessary illusions in the press, to
the mode in which gentlemen"
should clothe themselves in places of
public resort Men and women should
be able to attend the theater in any
becoming and suitable attire. such as
and without comment from public
censors. Touching the reference to
London and New York society as
guides for our people, it may well be
asked, Why make it? when our every
condition is so unlike those obtaining
in the great centers of life named.
But apart from this why should the
leaders of thought here specially point
us to those wondrous aggregations of
men in London and New York, or
rather to very, very small section of
them. An American writer of emf
nence says, England, strong, pune
tual. practical, well-spolien England.
should not find if should go to the
island to see it. = = = In the play
house, at dinner tables. [ might see
a great number of rich, ignorant
bool-read, conventional, proud men
many old women-and not anywhere
the Englishmen who made the good
! speeches, combined the accurate en-
gines, and did the bold and nervous
: deeds. 1t is even worse in America
: where, from the intellectual quickness
of the race, the genius of the country
is more splendid in its promise. ant
more slight in its performance"
> Let those who prefer full evening
dress on public occasions, so present
, themselves; but let it be understood
that jean jacket or a bingham gowr
is every whit as presentable if sucl
mode better suits comfort or conven
fence.
Let nothing | have said be con
strued into a feeling antagonstic t.
"swells." | have, pardon me for say
ing, many friends amongst them, es
pecially the young ones. Let me con
clude this too long communication
a with words from poet not unknown
in our midst. He says:
"My mate that year was gentleman
Jim, and we got on mighty well
: For tell you, stranger, there's some
thing nice when you strike
y regular swell;
:, They're kind O. gentle, and brave, an,
free, with sort o. way. tina
I'm blamed
If ever ! see except in a child, and al
lnjin that amt been tanned"
/ am, sir, yours obediently,
CACOETHES SCRIBENDI.
flor banriDp Coma F,;a,,1. oo,+;,,