The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-16

read with interest several ar
ticles and opinions on early clos
ing II ibis city in the columns OF your
valuable paper. Some of these. opin-
ions objections and so forth are really
amusing. Why does "Workingman,' as
he or she styles himself or herself, OBJ
ject so strongly to the closing of the
stores at, say, o'clock on Saturdays?
he idea of the workingman being able
to do his buying of stores, etc. on Sat
urday only, is absolutely ridiculous on
the face of it. The purchases of the
workingman, from noon till o'clock on
Saturdays do not amount to hill OF
beans. In some of the stores it does
not pay clerk-hire, storekeepers say.
well, if we close, people will patro-
nize the Chinese and Japanese stores
and we will lose trade" What baby
ish and silly idea! Surely the store
keepers of Honolulu have more faith in
their patrons than to think they would
resort too such methods. No, sir; no
store in this city is going to lose any
trade through the closing movement.
Intending buyers will do their shopping
earlier in the day. No doubt there will
be many grumblers, who don't care a
straw for any but themselves, who will
never think of such thing, and go out
to buy and find he can't do SO because
all the stores are closed and clerks and
employers are enjoying life for a time.
The public want to be educated in the
matter, same as a child in school. i
have seen this question fought out in
my own country, and also the eight
hour movement; and in that country
ore sees more happiness and content
ment than in a country where every
hour of the week is taken up in work.
Men do not feel like slaves then, and
one man is not afraid that another is
going to make more money than he
because he is going to keep his store
open for a few hours longer a week
There the stores open at eight and
close promptly at five, and at noon on
Saturdays. While business houses are
open from nine till five, it is compul-
sorry to give employees at least one-hali
day per week. There one can indulge
in sport of every kind and look forward
to various contests every Saturday aft
ernoon There one sees many a mar
working in his home for the benefit oil
his dear ones during the hours he
| don't have to go out to WORK. His WorE
| there is a pleasure to him and the sight
| of the many beautiful little flower bed:
and promising vegetable gardens arr
proof of what a boon and a blessing
| q few hours spent in a home will do
| But where man works from seven til
| six he don't have the heart to work fol
himself and family. In a climate likt
| this it is almost too much for any mar
| II work the hours he is compelled 70
| l! the hours were shorter the health oi
tie community would be better Small
wonder that so many people are rur
| dawn like they have lost all vitality
Sir, the Saturday closing people are 10
| ing a noble work no matter what
cranks may say, and they will havt
| the heartfelt thanks of many a CLERK
| in this town. The man or woman WIN
works all the week from seven to five
! and from seven till nine on Saturdays
is not fit for much on Sunday:
and where the enjoyment in life come.
in-well, I don't profess to know ant
surely the one who signs working
man to his letter is not so selfish ant
narrow as to begrudge a few more
hours a week TO those who would fully
appreciate the luxury.
| / am only a clerk, or a poor, tiret
clerk" as we are often called, ant
would enjoy the halliday as well as any
but at the same time I am fairly con
tented with my lot, but for the sake Of
others who are not so fortunate as my
self 1 would like to see the early clos
| ing in Honolulu, and the Y. w. C. A
have my best wishes in the work the,
have taken in hand.
| Americans are prone to boast of theil
| liberty, but IL we all take a good 1ooI
at ourselves-well we are all slaves t.
the Big d. God never intended man t.
work day after day and never take
any pleasure, and no man ought to be
expected to do nothing but work every
hour of his life that it is possible tc
crowd in. Trusting some ADLER per
than mine will enlighten us in this
proposition, l am, ETC.,
AXE AXE AXE.
FROM WORKINGMAN
Editor Advertiser: Kindly allow me