The evening times., 1899-11-09

iects OF an absolute ruler and were accus-
toned to be directed in the simplest mat
ters ty their chiefs. do not offer much
prospect Of becoming practical, business
like citizens, though occasional exceptions
to this general rule may be noted. Phys
ically, the race Is decadent and will perish
from the earth. or become absorbed in
other nationalities. ie
Japanese Are GO0d-LooklnH.
The Japanese hereabouts are the best
locking Of the brown races. but they are far
from realizing the ideals OF Sir Edwin Ar
mold or Lafcadio Hearn. The class brought
here as plantation laborers are, on the
whole, dull-witted rustics, with little Of the
courtesy or refinement which we have been
taught to expect from people OF their race.
Morally. they are worse than the Hawaii
ans, who sin through abounding passion.
while these japanese buy, sell, and ex-
change their women on q purely CONNER
cial basis. They are great gamblers, and on
all grounds the least desirable inhabitants
of these islands. They appear to bear to the
better classes OF Japanese such relation
as the Chinese OF California bear to the
better classes of China. Probably every
country has the kind Of Chinaman 1t de-
serves. Coming with some dislike OF the
Chinese. due to observation Of those in CAL
ifcrnia, have been Obliged by my expe-
rience here to revise my opinion. Here
the Chinese exhibit their usual virtues Of
temperance. persistent industry, and order
ly disposition. To these they have added
gCcd morals. family life, and a great desire
to learn. Their children go to school, they
come with their parents, in f1ocks. to look
at the specimens In the Bishop Museum,
they make all small Industries their own.
They are. in short, good citizens who would
be benefit to any community in the
tropics.
The Portuguese are numerous here. and
mostly well employed at good wages.
Many are stonecutters, and, after the ex
piration Of their labor contracts, have set
tied down as mechanics or skilled laborers
1t Is delight to see the little Portuguese
girls, in clean white dresses with bright
trimmings, satchel in hand, trooping daily
to school past my lodgings That race is
not especially comeiy. but. when ligh.ened
with a few drops of Hawaiian blood the
result is often something dazzling.
AS town Honolulu is peculiar in its nu-
merous charities. schools, institutions. and
churches, in which. among towns OF equal
population, 1t would be hard to find its
equal. 1t has never forgotten its mission
ary origin. and. besides Its local missions
to the Chinese and japanese. maintains
missions OF its own in the Orient Many
of the local establishments are due to the
generosity of the old Hawaiian nobility,
and will preserve their memories in respect
when their frailties are forgotten. The
houses are for the most part plain, suited
to the climate. without cellars or chimneys.
but with generous verandas. 1t is not a
place where the housewife will take much
comfort. Notwithstanding the fertility of
the soil when irrigated, fruit, vegetables
in fact, all local products-are surprising
ly high; meats are very poor, and the cost
of imported articles is, of course. not low.
With intelligence and a garden much can
be done, but the town dweller's lot here is
difficult. The servants are chiefly Orien
tails. Unfortunately. the hotels and restau
rants are very inferior. and the sojourner
must put up with poor food and service. at
prices which at first seem quite unreascn-
able American enterprise will soon rem
edy the worst of these annoyances, and the
self-interest of the local population will in
time take care OF the rest.