The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-08-27

seed in chiIdren's hearts which VIII af-
feet their early days and cause them 10
grow up into noble manhood and woman
hood. II is a grand thing TO be trusted
and loved by children. II would not only
be- the means OF seIf-support. but il would
pave way for spiritual growth and train
generation To be better mothers.
VIII not the profession OF "a trained
nurse be profitable employment for Ha-
waIian girls2 Young women should con-
slider the subject Well before taking up
this work. for II requires severe and rigid
training. This profession Is not an easy
one. It requires persistent effort and
strong constitution TO endure nights and
days without sleep. It requires both self
control and Self-pOSSesSiOu. There should
be a school in Honolulu where Hawaiian
girls could be trained as nurses. They
could do much good for their own race
in this line. We know Hawaiians are
generally afraid of foreign physicians
and medicines but seeing a nurse of their
own race would help them TO allay or
cause them 10 entirely abandon their
fears Since last october. under the wise
supervision of Mrs. Thompson, of Ka-
mehameha. the children OF the free kind
ergartens have. twice a week, received
the attention and care of nurses The
assistants have been Hawaiian girls
Another industry which would be of
great benefit TO the young women of Ha-
earlier days, our grandmOthers and great
grandmothers used 10 take in washing
and ironing. They We're not ashamed to
do this. W e know that their education
and bringing up were different from ours.
still our securing better education
ought not TO make US despise honest
labor. This story was once told in my
presence: a young woman who possessed
a fine intellect and rare ability was grad
uated with high honors from one OF the
best colleges She, not caring to enter IN
to the OVercrOWded profession of school
teacher, decided to take up laundry work.
After visiting many laundry establish
mentS in Europe and studying the bust
ress very carefully, she returned home,
and started in and superintendent the es-
adjustment. which in time became pros
porous. There are many people mere WnG
are anxious TO get some one who can DO
UP their fine dresses for them. They do
not like to give them to the laundrymen
here, buC are only too glad to give them
to some one whom they can trust and
who viii ask reasonable prices for them.
1 have spent many years in boarding
schools ana nave seen some CT the pest
ironing done by Hawaiian girls. ! know
that they are very capable in this branch
of work. and / do not think il is StatinS
too much when / say, that should this
industry be started on the Islands the
work done by the Hawaiian girls in this
line cannot be surpassed by any girls of
other nationaities. The daughters of Ha-
wall nei have a delicate and magic touch
if they are trained in the right way.
There are other things which the Ha-
waiian girls can do, sewing, hOusekeep-
ing, nursing of children, weaving and
fancy work: but there is sharp competi-
ton between the Hawaiian women and
the women of other nationalities.
The sewing department of Kawaiahao
Seminary has been carried on seven years
and has been the means of support to a
number of pupils trained in this depart
ment- DreSSmaking might prove a sue
ceSSful industry for a few girls but not
for the majority; because the Hawaiian
women cannot compete with the Ameri-
can and European women. The women
of these nationalities have learned the
needle art Tor many generations, but the
Hawaiians are just entering the field.
Housekeeping was once a chief employ
ment of HaWaiians, but now this has
died out and Asiatics have taken their
places Is it too late for the Hawaiians
to regain these places? Have the Asia
tics crowded them out altogether? There
are girls who are and have been trained
in boarding schools as housekeepers. Can
these girls enter the field, and will they
be willing to take up the work with these
men and women whose fathers and moth
ers for generations back have been train
ed for service?
weaving might be successful indus
try on a small scale. few can earn
a living by it, Weaving done by Hawai-
ians is beautiful and artistic, and com
mands fair prices. There is always
ready sale for a we'll made Hawaiian far,
or mat, hat or basket.
Since this subject of Hawaiian indus
tries has been brought before the consd
Grafton of the public, two steps have
been taken in the right direction. A 0e-
partment of agriculture is to be intro
duced in the course of study in the Gov
eminent Normal School and also in the
Kamehameha Manual. These steps are
taken for the benefit of the boys espec-
tally. Cannot something be done for the
benefit of the girls? Is it the duty of
the public of the private school to do
this? It is unquestiOnably the duty of
both. 1t is the duty of the community
in the interest it ought to have in train
ing the youth for practical life work in
the public schools; and it is the duty of
the private school to advance both the
intellectual and practical sides of q
childs life. There is objection to this.
many of the private schools have not
the money to organize such industries.
BernIce Pauahi Bishop has richly en-
dowed the Kamehameha School for Girls.
Would it not be working according to
pended in starting industries by which the
girls would be able to get means of sup
port after they leave school? In start
ing these industries will not be an easy
task. A great amount of money is need
ed and also men and women who have an
abundance of practical business ability,
and who have keen foresight. Deep think
ing and planning are essential in this mat
ter. 1t may take long time to start
these industries, but they can be started
when the competent persons are found.
If these industries become a reaIizat ton
for Hawaiian girls, are ready and
willing to take hold of the work, what
ever it may be, and 90 it to the best of
our ability? 1t lies with us to decide.
Shall we not make an effort ourselves
to forward these Industries and not leave
all for others to do?
If the moral and social progress of the
land depends upon the women, then there
is a great work for US. and now is the
time to do it. Let us not leave our part
of the work undone. Let US open the way
for the next generation by being self
respecting and self-suppOrting womec.