The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-07-15
A Word from Luning.
Observatory, July 10, 1898.


The malicious and untruthful
statement in the Advertiser headed
"Luningism," eompels nae to ask
you for space for the actual facts
and their bearing on the Library
question.
About five weeks since, finding
that the Library did not own any
Of the works of Harrison Ainsworth,
Henry Kingsley, and some other
standard novels, l told the Librarian
that l had complete sets Of these
works in good condition, which l
would sell at reduced rates, and Of
fered to leave one volume OF each
with her to lay before the committee.
To this she assented, and the books
were left with her at the LIBRARY
for nearly three weeks, At the end
of that time she stated she had been
unable to get the committee together
as they were so much engaged, Or out
OF the city, etc.
/ asked her to do the best she
could for me and said, that il she
would do so, would willingly give
her little niece Miss Ellis, Ia young
girl about IL or Ii years. five 1851
dollars towards the purchase of a
bicycle which proposition the
Librarian did not refuse. Finally
after more delay she stated she was
unable to do anything herself, ex-
pressed her regret that she had not
the power to buy, and as | left | ex-
pressed my feelings: "That the
Library was not run on up to date
lines, and that to refuse such lot
of standard works at such prices,
showed want of Judgment" L
further said, "As subscriber, L
shall write the matter up, and make
it warm for the committee"
l wrote the letter signed Suffer
ing Subscriber" and this was the
whole cause for the blackguardism,
and abuse in the Advertiser of July
18th.
A careful perusal of the first letter
on the Library question, will show
that my complaints are we'll found
cd and true, and the Advertiser has
carefully abstained from answering
any of them, especially on the $685.
600, and for want of reasonable de-
Tense descends to abuse. In my
business as collector, 1 have made
many enemies, for all defaulters,
dead beats, etc, hate collector, as
rat does terrier. This is the
second time that the editor of the
Advertiser has made vindictive
and personal attack on me for e1-
pressing my views on public ques-
tions, first On the coffee question
whore after unlimited abuse for tell.
ing the truth, the editorials within
six weeks were written exactly on
my views, On both occasions has
the attack been so spiteful that be-
lieve that at some past time in the
days of the Monarchy, | must have
hurt his feelings by presenting a
claim; l do not say it was so, but as
he so pertinently says, "the appear
ance of the rat tail, indicates the
rat"
l hold and submit that my propo-
sition was fair and honest to the
library, and further state that, on
Monday, the 18th inst, one of the
committee came to my Office, looked
over the books and expressed his in,
tention of recommending a portion
OF the works to the Library for pur.
chase. This was after the letters
had appeared. ask for fair play as
an individual and as Library sub
scriber, but | have never expected
any from the Advertiser editor, ano
l would give dollar, although
, that is more than it is worth, to
know how have incurred his hatred