The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-06-20
"INFIRM OF PURPOSE"

A gentleman, who adopts the pseu-
ionym of observer" argues once
again the necessity of erecting a home
for incurables. He touches a subject
which most of us are in the habit of
passing by. 1t is an awkward subject
and the most comfortable thing is to
ignore it, and trust that it may be for
gotten but every now and then some
pretenacious fellow like observer" re-
minds the community of it's duty.
We claim to be very charitable COM
munity, and there is no doubt that in an
emotional way we are. 1t is no diff
cult thing to go round and collect mon
ey for a special case If the right per
son goes round in the right way, mon
ey will pour in right and left. Let
case strike the towns feelings and mon
ey is readily raised. But we are woe
fully deficient in permanent accommo-
dalton for the afflicted.
Take the case of consumptives. A few
weeks ago a consumptive patient could
find no accommodation and died almost
in the streets. 1t is only necessary to
question ladies like Mrs. Macintosh or
Miss Green, whose time is devoted to
good works among the poor and needy
to know how often almost similar cases
have occurred. and how they and others
have to plan and contrive and beg for
accommodation of those whose days are
numbered.
After the case mentioned above was
brought into public notice, there was a
of q q
hospital for consumptives. There was
d discussion as to where it should be
placed, little sharp argument VI on
the point a letter or two of criticism
when one location was proposed, visit
of officials to look over the positions and
make choice, and then-the matter has
sunk into Oblivion until some other I'M
fortunate dies in the street and the
whole subject comes up with a rush, and
the whole process is gone through
again.
1t is patent that in matters of this
kind our leading men lack purpose and
determination of will. Like lack of pur-
pose has been shown in the choice of a
cemetery site for Honolulu. There is
quite furry over the matter, expedi-
tious rush from one end of the town to
another, special trains are used, wagons
are hired, the newspapers publish col
umns of views, and correspondents
plunge into print and then-the matter
remains just where it was before, not a
step made in advance
Another lesson can be learned from
River park. Eighteen months ago there
was great agitation for play grounds
for children for the poorer classes. Pen-
pictures of Palama We're drawn. The
press of the city unanimously COM
bined on the question and urged the
establishment of such place. The
Legislature met, and one of the earliest
bills put forward and passed, was the
reserYing of land for this purpose, and
then-the land reserved is used as a
quarry for road material and the chil-
dren of Palama are without their play
ground and likely to remain so.
observer" must therefore not be
surprised that he has to appeal again
for his proposed home for incurables. If
the incurables could be put daily before
the eyes of the wealthy, they would
readily respond, but they are not, ard
descriptions of suffering they are in
ured to. 1t is not pleasant reading so it
it generally skipped. But let "Obser-
yer" take heart, there is no rock SO
hard but what little drop will knock
admittance in a thousand years." in
quests are now held upon cases of sud-
den death, but it has taken twenty
years to bring the authorities to a real
izing sense of their necessity. In the
course of years our people will become
more purposeful, and we shall have
home for incurables, hospital for con-
sumptives, a free hospital for all classes
of patients, another cemetery site,
crematory, and a play ground for the
children of Palama. These things will
come, but a good many will lose heart
and feel weary while waiting for the
contamination of their hopes. Our COM
munity has yet to learn the lesson of
putting forward a plan and working
according to that at all seasons and at
all times.