The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-11
WHY DID HOLDEN QUITP

An evening contemporary prints an
interesting letter about the experiences
of young man of high character and
good attachments who came to Homo
lulu and could not get acquainted or
find anything suitable to do. AS there
are several points in the letter that Will
bear discussion we make room for it in
it's entirety as follows:
There left these Islands from the port
of Honolulu few days ago an excep-
tionally fine young American whose
name may he added to the long list of
men of merit frozen out. This was VIM.
Moody Holden, blood kin of the great
est evangelist AMER Jesus Christ and Luz
Their. Holuen, gentleman by breed ng
and education, a man of agreeable per-
sonality, man of correct habits, Chris
tian in his living, failed during a resi-
dence of nearly year, to secure the well
come of more than a pair of the house
holds of the city. Neither clergy nor or
ganiZation off-shooting from church took
the slightest interest in Holden He is
a young man of capability, a graduate of
the University of the State of Virginia
a member of the bar of Chicago, man
knowing his Inn tations and soliciting
and accepting employment only within
them. We cry out here for the citizen
ship of which young Holden is typical,
yet he returned to the Mainland because
there was no more extra Work with the
Board of Health to be secured. All who
met Holden during the strict quarantine
of Chinatown and after the fire, knew
him in the big camp at Kalihi, liked
him. He made sincere friends, whose
sentiments of regard and willingness to
aid were of the enduring quality. But
none of these possessed the relationship
or the influence required in most cases
TO place a man here permanently. Thus
one who would have made an excellent
citizen sadly sails back to the Mainland.
Perhaps IL is to try San Francisco, where
they say 400 applications for $50 a
month place in a store tells the tale of
the struggle for existence Perhaps he
returns to Chicago, Where the battle is
keener and sharper vet / do not argue
that Honolulu or Hawaii is under any
obligations to the many Holdens L have
known but it does seem pity they can
not be retained where less worthy and
/ less capable men find 1t so easy 10 De
more than comfortable.
! More data on this case would be in
teresting and important. We should
/ like to know if young Mr.. Holden, VINO
complains of the inattention OF rellS-
/ ious bodies, tried to identify himself
with any of them? Did he introduce
himself or did he expect TO be followed
up when he left the church door, as an
apparently casual worshipper, by
tracking committee? Did he go into
the Y NJ. c. A. or stand on the curo
outside, waiting to be called in? ON
locker says that but two households
received him. Why was that? lie
could not have brought letters of in
PRODUCTION, for if he had. especially
letters from his kindred, the family of
the late Dwight l.. Moody, hundred
doors would have opened to him; and ii
he had been the worthy and agreeable
man his friend describes, he would
have lacked nothing that Honolulu
hospitality can give.
1t seems that this stranger within
our gates, though a lawyer and col
, lege graduate, could find no employ
, ment. That is true of nineteen-twen-
tieths of the people who come here with
neither capital nor credentials. The re-
naming fraction get on by sheer per-
sonal momentum-by the impact oil
self-assertiveness and tireless persever-
" ance Less worthy and less capablt
| men" may often be counted on &c
forge ahead If hey keep up steam il
their engines. Perhaps Mr.. Holden wa:
waiting for tow.
To sum 1t all up young men who e
to distant places without credentials
expecting to be received with opeI
arms, are usually disappointed anC
young men who do not push themselve!
in the domain of trade or commerce,
get left. IT, as we say, Mr. Holden be
longs in either of these classes hi
: failure is accounted for; if not, and hi
| qualities are those of the successful
| and acceptable man. the experiences h
has had partake of the nature of phe
, nomena.