The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-06

AA ers admit, with one accord. tina
it is entitled to the distinction. Tahiti
has charms, and Samoa holds plac
in the hearts Of the people; but Hawai-
is peculiarly uniQue-not only in eli
mate, but in topography, scenery ant
in many other characteristics. Tahiti
is too straight beneath tropic sun Il
boast of climate as pleasant as tina
Of Hawaii. The Samoan isles are beau
tiful, and in many ways attractive. bu
lack of elevation above sea-leyel places
them beyond the pale as competitors
in the matter of grandeur of scenery
And to my mind, the Hawaiian people
are the gentlest, most lovable, most
hospitable and most attractive Of all
the Polynesians.
If the people knew OF the beauty of
this blossom-sown, palm-strewn land;
if they knew of its glad, delicious air;
If they knew of the rest, the peace and
the quiet Of this calm land. this palm
land, this land where cocoas fringe the
sea. they would sail away as did they
Of the golden feeced argoes of the long
ago. And those in search of health, and
wealth and homes. would surge and
crowd upon the shores as miners surg
ed upon the Dyea trail. That does not
mean that each would gain what each
one sought, for. world around, some
labor goes for naught. Hawaii is only
n oil like
the other paradise-after the fall.
Sea voyages are good for all the Ills
that flesh is heir to; and few there be
who are not benefited thereby. Land
fades from sight ere the sun sinks in
the west; and one awakes in the morn
ing to be greeted by a freshening
breeze and a surging sea. There's room,
and life, and air. Such room! Such
lack of care! No ship, no sail; no mail,
no rail. No kilograms, no politics. no
business there. Just rest, and food. and
air.
But there are minor things at sea
which never fail nor pail. AS gulls.
that wheel and whirl where the white
caps curl; and whales, that plow. and
plunge, and snort, and splash; and fly
ing-hsh, that haste away, and fly, and
futter. to lose themselves In the dash
ing spray; and sharks. asleep on a
CLASSY sea; and golden sunsets, with
their castled clouds, and phantom forms
that look like houses, hills and trees
you build a mansion or a mountain, as
you please.
Most birds inhabit certain zones.
They seem to know intuitively when
they approach a different cline Sea-
gulls. for instance, are seldom seen
more than five hundred miles from
shore. When that limit is passed, the
gulls disappear. and the bird known as
the BOBBY appears. He Is In evidence
for a like distance. and then 'goonies''
are seen. Upon approaching the tropics. |
the tropic bird comes into view
Then. come the lazy days of lower !
latitude: when mans insensitive alike |
to praise or platitude; and life's one |
long, delicious dreanl-not of things |
that are but of things that seem. And |
one gives up to the dangerous ease that |
is ever borne on tropic breeze. The |
stars may shine. or moon pass on, or |
sun stand still on Ajalon. What cares |
the dreamer. in his idle ease? He's
ulled to rest by lazy seas. Asleep he (
dreams; awake. he dimes and breathes.
And yet one tires of cen a smiling
sea, and to the traveller the sight of
and is ever welcome. Doubly so when
IL is a land of entrancing loneliness.
The contrast is peculiarly impressive, If
1ne has just hidden goodby to hills that
we're brown and bare, to greet a tropic
sic, framed with palms, luXuriant with
'oliage, rich in warmth and water. and
ntoxicant with bloom.
The outline of Diamond Head is pecu-
lar, and impresses itself indelibly upon
he mind of every beholder. The forest
lad slopes of the Pail. with the over
hanging clouds, constitute attractive
for Honolulu. a city en- .
powered in vines. hidden by trees. and
with bloom. As to business
louses, one finds up-to-date structures
longside of odd and ancient buildings.
Every street has surprises for lovers of {
he unique as we'll as for admirers of
he beautiful. One sees comparatively
title in the way of modern architec-
ure in the residence district. but there !
re a few very attractive and costly
esidences. Since annexation, a new
ra seems to have dawned for Homo {
llu. and within the next decade it vii! +
assume great commercial i'm d
ortance. Several new lines of steam I
RS have been placed upon the Oriental
quite within the past year. and Homo ,
1lu has felt the quickening impulse OF =
rade incident to increased travel and a
raffic. j
Directly north, and within a dozen {
locks of the heart of the city, rises : f
i'll known as the Punchbowl, upon the :
ummft of which is the crater of an =
xtinct volcano. 1t has an elevation % :
bout four hundred feet above sea- :
vel. and is an ideal site for fort +
Honolulu is situated upon the wind e
ard side of the island, and is not sub o
ct to the excessive rainfall which pre-
aiIs on the northern coast. Rain c
ouds hover over the Pail, or summit