The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-02
OUR YOUTH.


tival of yesterday showed us the chill
dren of the city from Moiliili to Moana-
lua and from Kakaako to Maemae. But
we have another class of youth nearly
grown, who will in a very few years
be coming to the front, and others who
have reached early manhood and are
already beginning TIE battle of life and
pushing their way forward from the
ranks to small command, one day to
be changed to very high command in
some cases.
One of the prides of Hawaii is her
young men and young women, just as
another of her prides is her 'chools
With all due difference to the pessimis-
tic statements of a few, who speak
from either prejudice or from purely
half knowledge, the youths of our
favored islands stand upon as high
plane morally as the youths of any city
or territory or state. That it was not
always so is true, but that it is so now,
and is gradually growing to a higher
place year by year is equally true. The
registering youth of the fifties, sixties
very different kind of youth in the pres
ent day. fg ...,t.
Not that every one IS good not that
there is not vice and the accompanying
wages of sin, but there is more whole
some atmosphere, a higher standard
and less hypocrisy. 1t is no longer con-
sidered the aim of young mans am
list of as many conquests as Leperello
sings in the first scene of Mozart's'
opera It is no longer a matter for
boasting that young company drank
so much champagne per capita, and
unitedly went to bed in it's boots. Not
so long ago a party of young Hawaiians
went across the continent returning to
various universities, they sang, they
larked, they played practical jokes and
so forth, and they made a good deal of
fun, but as a gentleman remI"ke ], who
came to know them and enjoyed their
society. 1T is most remarkable that
they did it all on soda water" The
high spirits came, not from the use of
other spirits, but from the pure
bubbling fun and laughter-love of early
youth
Whence has come this change? The
Star does not under value the church
influence in the slightest, but it is not
due to the church as enirely as some
classes of people are apt to think The
churches were here and we'll establish
ed and more influential in certain di-
tba'
than they are today. And yet during
those thirty years there We're many
youths whom the churches could not
restrain. Some went under. some turn
ed and are now among our most res
pected citizens.
There is undoubtedly a change. how
ever, and a higher moral tone and it
may be traced to the rise of Athletic
clubs in our midst These have given
other interests to our young men, than
the interests of debauchery. They keep
the young men together, they elbow the
men between twenty-five and thirty to
have a distinct influence and example
over those of from seventeen to twenty
five, the period when young men, as a
rule resent the advice of those of ma
ture age. They establish a standard of
conduct which is most thoroughly
healthy BY being united, at a small
expense entertainments can be given, |
and the young women join IN these, and
take an interest in what the youoe
men are doing. All of This is Of the
highest moral value, and it is so ar
ranged and managed that the grey
boards are not the guiding influence,
but the innate honor and nobeness
and truth of youth are the guiding in
fiuences, and healthy, honorable stan
dard is raised which is of the highest
good to the community.
Then there is another view. no man
can be a successful oarsman. or polo
player, or all round athlete who is a
rOue. 1t very soon tells upon him, and
he drops back, till finally he drops cut,
and is eliminated as a rotten apple or
a rotten potato is cast aside 10 prevent |
its affecting a whole pile of fruit or
tubers. This comes about naturally, it |
is not forced by others, but is the re-
suit partly of physical disability and
still more of a healthy public opinion
in the clubs that such men are not to
be relied on in contests of strength and
are, under any circumstances, no Gre
dit to the organizations.
Again what magnificent training in
temper, in strength, in judgment. in self
repression do athletic sports give. Take
polo for instance. 1t is a mimic war.
The men have to have the skill of the
born horseman. They have to be utter
ly fearless and must risk severe falls,
and at times dangerous blows. But
what an invigorating and healthy sport.
What excellent combination and gem
eralship it requires. 1t calls forth all
the manly attributes and skill of the
athlete.
But polo, though the king of games,
h