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

CThis is the paper Of Miss Lewa Iollia
who has just graduated from the Nor
NAL Department of the kamehameha
School for Girls. of which Miss Ida
Pope is principally
What special lines of work are there
which can be established and made prac-
teal as industries for girls of the Ha-
waiian race? This is one of the most
important questions of the present day in
Hawaii
In larger countries, there are many in
dustries for girls and women. But here
there are no empIoyments by which a
large number of Hawaiian girls are en-
abled to gain livelihood.
There are hundreds of girls who are
being educated in private and public
schools. As education advances. the
needs and wants multiply How are
these desires to be gratifed? In order TO
meet these needs, there must be pro
vided means for an honest livelihood
These means cannot be secured by going
back and living the lives that the former
generations have lived; but some ad-
vancement must be made TO make any
progress. Old conditions pass away; new
conditions must be met.
Some young women of the present gen
GRAFTON wish to live independent lives
own hands. The only way to secure this
Independence is by dignifying labor There
are many of US, too many, I fear, who
do not consider it a dignified thing to
labor; scarcely regard it as respectable
We should be proud of the opportunity
to work, and not be ashamed of it, If we
entertain the least feeling of false pride
in our hearts, we should root it out and
destroy it. We should not despise any
work, however mental it may be- if it
is honest labor; but should be eager to
do 1T. 1t may be that the lowest work
which is given TO us is but the stepping
stone to high and noble position. We
should be but following in the steps of
our beloved Lord and Master, who walked
by the blue sea of Galilee a lowly car
One of the daily papers has given to
the public suggestions as to the develop
ment of new industries for native girls
II these suggestions are practical they
may be the salvation of many of the
daughters of Hawaii nei, by bringing in
to the lives of these girls who wish to be
independent, means by which they may
maintain themselves in honest and use
full ways.
There are two kinds of industries to be
considered, industries to supply foreign
markets and industries for home trace.
If staple industries could be started it
would not be difficult to find markets for
the products. London, Paris and New
York are the market places of the world
and staple articles which are of the best
quality will not fail to find purchasers
The editor of the Advertiser favors the
founding of a school of Horticulture and
has written editorials on the subject This
nish employment in one line. but in diver
Sitied ways, giving occupation to women
as well as to men.
In many tropical and semi-tropfcal
countries, people engage in the business
of flower and plant culture, much as
men do IN the cultivation of sugar cane,
rice, coffee, bananas and pineapples, and
special individuals and companies have
made immense fortunes in these ways.
The climate of Hawaii nei is well adapt
ed to the raising of ferns, palms, fruits
and many kinds of flowers. Our noun
tain sides are covered with mum berIess
variety of ferns. These ferns might be
cultivated on a large scale, ana thus fur
niSh an industry in themselves, for peO-
pie in foreign lands would not only be
glad, but eager, to buy them for conser-
Vatories and private houses for decorat-
ing purposes.
1t is probable that San Francisco and
other cities on the Pacific Coast would
furnish markets for the ferns and palms;
so that there would not be an need of
sending them farther East. thlnA can
safely say there is not an Hawaiian girl
who does not love flowers. If we cherish
the beautiful flowers, we should love to
cultivate them. Whenever an Hawaiian
girl goes, the meanest flowers or ferns
are woven and transformed into beauti-
full garlandS. Might not this love of
plants be put into more serViceable use,
that of earning ones daily bread?
The manufacture of perfumery, if right
" started might become a successful
industry of the Islands. There is a kind
of flower called by the Hawaiians ''kalu,
but in science is an acacia, which grows
| wild on the Islands. DR.. Lyons, who was
! once a teacher of Oahu College, said;
| ''Kalu is the basis of all perfumery. II
! cultivated. this plant would be or great
value to perfume makers; and way OF
! distilIing the perfume could be found
which would be cheap enough to bring a
profit, when sold" other things have
/ also been mentioned, such as the raising
! A second Industry which has been
/ brought to our notice by the press, anC
! in whose favor I shall speak, is the man
/ ufacture of kid-gloves. The best gloves
are made from the skins of kids, others
( from sheep. lamb and deer skins. There
/ will always be a demand Tor gloves, "a
/ long as the sun continues TO SHllle aIL
| the winds to blow. If this manufacture
| could be established on the Islands, we
| couId not ONLY furnish the home markets
/ but also send to foreign markets. Sheer
! and goats ire raised here IN large num-
/ bers but their skins are not properly
| cared for. should the ma .Il.,Ia OF
! gloves be started and the skins cured OF
| tanned This industry would give the
/ Hawaiian girls abundant means of earn
! ing their living, and place them out o.
ployment and could be undertaken by any
! girl.
! are more Hawaiian girls teaching Schoo
| than in any other line of work. This i;
| one of the highest callings. Hawaiian
! girls should take their stand among Tor
| eigners They understand the ways OF
their people and can meet the little pc
! culiarities that belong 70 the children o.
! their race better than foreigners. II
order to be among. the best in, instructors true
Hawaiian girls must have a nigh ideal O
teaching. It is their duty, therefore, u
be professionally trained, if they intend
TO become true teachers.
! Kindergarten work should not fail L
he mentioned as a most profitable and
eIevating vocation for girls This worl
I is carried on in this island, but there is
/ much need for it on the other islands
! Some Hawaiian girls are now engaged il
! this noble work. They have been study
ing for two years and have proved them
selves valuable assistants. There should
be larger number Of Hawaiian girls
/ trained in Kindergarten work. It is sucl
! a blessed thing to be able to add a CLEAN
of happiness to some child's lonely life
| to show a child who has had a Ioveles
| childhood that life is bright and full o
joy. It may be the means of planting goo'