Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-07
CHRISTMAS IN HAWAII.
1t Seems In Many Ways Like the
Fourth Of July.

1t Seems In Many Ways Like the
Fourth OF July.
From the Chicago Times Herald.
When people speak of 1.-THE Islands
do you know to what place they refer?
1 think those living along the western
coast do, but perhaps not many others.
Hawaii is called 1.-The Islands, you are
called 1.-The States
Well do I remember Christmas in Ha-
wall. 1t is made up usually Of blue
skies, soft breezes, gay blossoms, white
gowns and no gowns. dusty streets, straw
berries, firecrackers. 1t all makes one
think of the Fourth of July-no snow,
holly, mistletoe, skates, sleigh bells or
fur-clad shoppers. Plum pudding and
Santa Claus We Go have. TIE former is a
bit rich and heavy, with the thermometer
at - degrees, but We eat 1t in memory
of THE States and old England. Santa
Claus is the same old fellow, but seems
uncom fOrtably warm in his cotton ermtne-
We see him al many different places of a
Christmas eve: at Central Union, where
children of rich and of poor white parents
gather in the big stone church to watch
the prompt old gentleman distribute the
load that never gives out. Then We go
to the Chinese church, where the old
hymns, sung by the strange voices. sound
so unfamiliar, and there, perhaps, the
Old fellow is costumed a little differently,
but he's the same jolly saint. Here are
children eager but less demOnstrative than
tine white ones; their black eyes glitter,
their pig tails swing excitedly on thei"
little backs, but the young fatalists con-
troll themselves; If the goodies come their
way we'll and good: if not-I cannot fol-
low it up further. The parents, 1 believe,
in similar circumstances would decide
calmly on death. But let us hope all the
little All DIS and All Changs get goodies!
Then we go to the Japanese church:
Here the children are quite gentle ana
sweet in their excitement, and so quaint
~ pretty! We find the stout, benevolent
gentleman at his old business OF giving
cut sweets. How different Is the chatter
from the hubbub of the first place-youns
Japan and young America-rain on shin
gied roof and hailstones on mansard.
Where shall we drive now? TO that
little native church, where band OF Ha-
waiian boys from the school near by are
giving a Christmas treat to some Door
folk of their own race. All. here all are
children-Old, white-haired crones, pent'
aged men-as well as those young in years.
There is no hubbub nor any restraint; I'm
affected joy in the gay tree mot pine,
hut a tree unknown to Amerca), in the
simple presents, in the good music. L
wish 1 could give you the e1aculatons'
they cannot be described. There Is the
Portuguese church to visit next, "nere
one NAV be sure will be clamor of shrill
voices But there will be Christmas cheer,
for this race has good friends who look
after it's welfare. The Portuguese chill
dren, the street Arabs of Honolulu. look
old and careworn. Their parents toll early
and late, and have little time to give to
Individual members of their big families.
One is glad to see these children young,
for at least once in a year-glad that
they are partakers of the bounty Of the
ubiquitous Santa.
There are other churches to visit-two
large native houses of worship-where
much is done in the way OF Christmas
celebration, the Anglican Church, where
they well know how to keep Christmas
the Roman Catholic also-but We are
weary. and prefer the open street to the
noisy interiors. We drive down Nunanu
street and see too many natives INDUCING
in their idea Of Christmas gayety-fower
crowned lads and girls, arm in arm, walk
ing unsteady. We leave them and go to
Fort street, where are the shops with
Christmas wares. Books, toys, slippers
gowns, hats, gloves, toilet articles. all
these things tired clerks are showing
anxious shoppers It is the eleventh hour
and much is still to be DONE Christmas
shopping in Hawaii is but a MeissonieI
picture of the same thing In big American
city. We leave the "grOwn-ups" thrifty
to use their money, and start for home
We are to drive two miles In an o0en
cart, with a white moonlight wrapping us
about in a holy calm. We look across
wide, green rice field, at the farther
edge Of which stands q solitary palm, and
beyond it a sheet of water, the Pacific
Beyond that is home. But We are not
homesick; We are glad to spend Christ.