People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-11-09
. A Letter from Herbert Burcham.

|
was mailed at Honolulu. IT, il in
part as follows:
We sailed just a week ago tomor-
row, and expect 10 reach HonOlu,u
some time Sunday night. We broke
camp Sunday morning, October |. Az
the Preside and marched to the gov
eminent pier and went aboard The
Glenogle about noon. We sailed ont
Of the bay at4pm.
must tell you how sea sick | was.
Before dark | was deathly sick. |
put 10 all that night, and 1t is one |
shall never forget. | prayed that |
might die, and promised that if lever
lived to see the Philippine islands,
+here l would stay. But | have en-.
tlrely recovered, and am feeling fine.
l got over my sickness by the next
morning, but could not eat ANYTHING
till Tuesday, when l bought some rice
OF one OF The ships crew-a China
man-and ate it, and Jack was him.
self again" Some Of the bows Jared
worse than l did and are not over
being sick yet.
This has been dreary voyage ND 10
GATE; We have seen nothing save a
few flying fish since We left San Fran
CISCO. We will all be glad when we
reach Honolulu, for there We will
rest a few days.
We are tOlerably well quartered on
the boat, but are a little crowded,
however.
Last night our dynamo broke down
and we are without light, save some
old lanterns.
never "tumbled" to the full mean
ing OF "One.tOurth land and three.
fOurths water" that | used TO study
about in the geography, but now |
comprehend. We have been seven
days Oh the water and have only be-
gun our journey. Nothing but dark
blue water rolling and fOaming every.
where. | think the psalmist used the
strongest language possible when he
said that ''the Lord on high is
mlgbtler than the waves of the sea"
Sunday, Oct, S.-We sighted land
This afternoon, and it looks mighty
good"
The climate is growing warmer as
we progress. | suppose that cool
weather reigns there by this time. |
always liked this part of the year in
that country, but the one to which |
am going, the season Of autumn has
not many charms.
Wednesday, Oct. ll.-ThiS Is such
delightful morning, everything seems
so fresh and pure.
We are at the city of Honolulu, and
it is the most beautiful place | have
ever seen. All the tropical fruits are
plentiful and all kinds of flowers
abound. The palms are very pretty
and take my eye. This is strictly a
place Of wealth and refinement. The
population numbers about 81, 700. The
natives are very dark, and are heavy
built. The men range in size from
myself to about the size of Harry
Woods. They are all natural must
clans. They have one of the best
bands in the world-the Hawaiian
band-whiCh gave a concert in Wei
lington some years ago, you remem-
Der. | had the opportunity OF hear.
ing them last night. 1t was a fine
concert and enjoyed it very much. |
They play here almost every night.
The churches are very fine. | was
through the native church the other
day, and the old janitor, in his broken
English, told me the story OF the
queen, and showed me the pew 10
which she sat. The church is a fine
brown stene structure. On the in.
side, the rosewood pews, finely car
peted floors, handsomely decorated
pulpit aud large pipe organ, give it an
arist0cratic appearance.
The queens palace and executive
are also fine buildings.
The interior Of the island Is covered
with vast sugar plantations, some OF
which represent wealth Of four or
five million of dollars. There are also
large plantations Of c0cOaput and
banana graves. Along the shore the
mountains are very high and barren,
being mostly OF lava formation. The
climate is rather mild, and is the
same all the year round. Just think,
no difference between Christmas and
Fourth Of July. 1t seldom rains. ex-
cept in the mountains, where it rains
every day. Every day is bright and
sunShiDy. Today is one OF the most
perfect days ever saw.
The dwellings are very fine. The
palms, flowers, shrubs and electric
lights, give them an elegant as well as
a hOmelike appearance. | know the
Bible says "ThOu shalt not coyet,"
but one can not well obey this COM
mandment and look upon some Of
the homes Of Honolulu.
The improvements here are OF the
most modern tyne: street railways.
horselesS carriages, electric lights,
and 10 fact, everything is strictly up
IO-uaUe' OelleVe l should like TO
live here always. |
Another feature Of the city is the
school law, Every child, white,
Chinese, japanese, Malay, native, or
whatnOt, is compelled to attend
school. They have what they call
school police" and phone connect.
ing the school houses and the police
station. When the roll is called, il a
pupil is missing, the police is sum-
moned and the child is brought in.
The result Is that every child can
read aud write.
Today is my birthday and l cele-
brated it by taking a swim in the
Pacific. swan about a half mile
from the ship to a small island with a