Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-12-21
IN FAR HAWAII.
G. B. Mcclellan Writes Of the Islands
Opportunities.

Opportunities.
For the Reflector.
HONOLULU, II. l., Dec. 5.--As Rich.
ard Harding Davis would wire his
paper, u am on the ground and the
situation is now satisfactory" This
favorable report about expresses our
feeling toward this new outpost Of
the United States which is to be our
home for the next few years at least.
| hasten to add, however, that this is
not the verdict Of all the people who
come here to make their home or
court Dame Fortune; many meet
great disappointment and finally seek
the only remedy in such cases--a re.
turn trip to the coast.
As many OF our Abilene friends
have asked for more definite informa-
ton on the Islands | shall jot down
some OF the outlines Of the conditions
that rule in this unique country.
First Of all, it is to be noted that
because this has been for so many
decades an isolated community, the
business of the Islands has come un-
der the control of a few old and
wealthy corporations. As the stock
Of these concerns is held by great
many people the community is in
terested in continuing the monopoly
in these various enterprises and fur
ther competition without large cap.
ital is practically impossible in most
lines.S This being true the opportun-
tiles for young men are limited
chiefly to getting inside the circle"
and showing one'sself able to further
those business enterprises and i'm.
prove their dividend.earning capac-
tiles.
But here again we find difficulties.
The English importing and commits
sion houses bring their help from
England and Scotland. The German
houses send back to Bremen and
other German cities for their clerks
and apprentices. This leaves only
the American houses to offer any |
chances and they are manned almost
exclusively by Honolulu young men.
These descendants Of the early mis-.
sionaries are mostly college bred men
and show themselves as able in bust
business as their ancestors did in
making a civilized Christian nation
out Of a dissolute heather people by
,he masterful work Of single gener-
alton.
The business problem then for a
lew conner is to get a foothold and
personal recognition from the circle
II rich and prosperous old residents.
They are fine set Of men with i'm
naculate business integrity, but hav-
ng been "taken in" occasionally by
ldventurers from the coast, they
naturally, treat strangers with the
et-alone policy. Consequently, if
me does not have the best OF creden-
ials and some personal influence or
means of approach to the ruling
powers, the way is sure to be a slow
md thorny one. Everyone here says
t is hard to get into the circle, but
'nce that is done the young man Of
mercy and industry car do we'll
We were extremely fortunate in
having letters ofintroduction to some
II the most prominent people here
md on that account have been able
o do very well from the start.
As an example. Of the conditions
lere, two weeks ago was offered a
position as book-keeper and head
'ffice man for the railroad on the
sland Of Maui at salary Of sl75 per
month. The position was offered me
because one Of the managers went to
he academy with me at Andover,