The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-02-03
He PAINTS 4 BIT
Some Word PiGtlPilg on Town
Life Incident.
WORK OF ALBERT p. TAYLOR
Story of the Idol Worshipper Ho-
mage Paid 70 Bronze.
PygmaI!on Again.

albert p. Taylor in Salt Lake Trib- |
une)
Phydias' sensitive hand held not the |
chisel which carved into human like
ness the heroic epic in stone and bronze !
OF Kamehameha |, standing sentinel |
like at the portals of Aliiolani Hale in
Honolulu; neither did Greek poet laud
and praise, nor bard of ancient days
sing of its glory. Nay. it was not bewn
from a block of white and dazzling
marble, for Kamehameha was OF the
tint and hue of an Egyptian Pharoah.
High above the grassy slopes upon
which the pictured and tableted pedes-
tai is erected. the heroic replication OF
the great Hawaiian conqueror rears
itself proudly erect, with determina-
ton and character strongly depicted
upon the face, yet withal, in the eX-
tended arm and open palm of the war
rior's hand there is given to all the
world welcome. The muscular arms
which oft welded the spear and shield
in fierceiy waged battles. the broad
manly breast, and the strong 1.-the
limbs are barred to the suns rays, the
loins girded about by feathered malo.
No head OF Crusader Knight ever bore
aloft more proudly mis- plumed and
visiOned helmet of steel. than did this
Island monarch his Minerva-like he'll
met of gold-tipped feathers. From
shoulder to Sandalled foot hangs the
Solden-feathered cloak of royal power
III folds of regal splendor, a cloak of
marvellous sheen and rarity When
the mornings rays flash brilliantly
from the summit of Diamond Head in
! TO the plain of Hawaii's capital. no
statue of Peruvian Inca. or Mexican
Aztec temples ever gave back a more
gorgeous and golden response than this
golden arrayed statue OF Hawaiian
manhood. Little wonder is it then that
its glowing beauty and grand aspect
should attract to it's feet a demented
son OF far-away Portugal, Il youth OF
swarthy and beardless face. White
CARRIED, with feet unshod. standing sol
itary in an attitude OF deep devotion
before the braZen likeness. the scene
seems like one transported before
some magnificent temple in Pagan In
dia or ancient Egypt, dedicated to the
images of stone and wood. before
which thousands of white-robed Fakirs
and devotees are ever appealing TO
their silent, immovable and awe-in-
spring gods. Tickle fortune in distrib-
uting talents and faculties to human
beings, forgot to fill this youths brain
with a healthy mind. and as each sue
cessive period Of his seven ages"
comes TO an end, the added brain be-
comes more and more confused. Thus.
distorted in reason and unable to dis
Germ Supreme Being other than in
the statue of the noble Namehameha
this youth approaches his Self-aDDoint-
ed idol in fear and trembling each
morning as dawn sheds it's rosy hue
over all Hawaii. In deferentiaI atti-
tude, with hands clasped upon his
breast in supplication, the worshipper
approaches nearer and nearer. Then.
with tongue extended. upon Bonded
knee, and with mumbled calculations.
this devotee offers up his prayer. Re
treating again until the statue is bare
! ly in sight, he watches closely. never
allowing it 10 pass from his vision. and
then advancing to its feet again. ne
watches and waits, hoping against
/ nope that the statue Will assume life
and descend from its pedestal. Was
ever Pygmalion more constant or pray
erful. more earnest in his desire to see
the beautiful and delicate work OF his
! hands become thrilled with the breath
of life, TO become flesh and blood aS Of
his own. TO speak 10 him in his own
tongue, than is this poor. deluded
| creature, who. day after day and year
after year braves the jeers and taunts
OF the multitude? How beautiful to US
( IS the story of the Grecian PygmaliOn
and his love of the hewn lump OF mar
bic chiselled by his masterful hand in
TO such a glorious counterpart of wo-
man in all her loneliness. and how sad
is the story of this modern youth. a
| PygmaliOn too, who emulates the love
and desires of the sculptor OF ancient
| days
! No bard Will sing the song of his I'M
! granted prayers. nor poet ever pen
verses of his devoted slavery TO his
| idol. His epitaph mayhap will be
hewn into the stone above the mound
| of earth which covers all that was
| earthly of him: Put not your faith in
craven images. for they are but mock
| cries.
| Honolulu. II. l., Jan. 18th. 1899.