The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-07-11
Under the Soafhern Cross.
Manila, P. l., May 90, 1902.

liant hues and resting like cluster of
emerald gems on the bosom of the Pacif-
ic, lies group of coral fringed isles,
the Hawaiian. They possess climate
of unrivaled healthiness, such as can
only be found where the trade winds
watt their cool breezes from the Arctic
regions over vast ocean expanse ming
ling them with the soft and balmy
zephyrs of the tropics. 1t was of these
Elysian isles and the six months spent
in their almost celestial atmosphere,
that Mark Twain, after an absence Of a
quarter of a century and in one of the
happiest moments of his dream life, gave
utterance to the following exquisite, but
by no means extravagant language.
mo alien land in all the world has any
deep strong charm for me but that one;
no other land could so longingly and SO
beseechingly haunt me, sleeping and
working through half lifetime as that
one has done. Other things leave me
but it abides. Other things change but
it remains the same. For me its balmy
airs are always blowing, its summer
seas flashing in the sun. In my nostrils
still lives the breath of flowers that
persisted twenty years ago."
This is land of perennial spring. 1t
is natures garden of fruits and flowers,
and most luxuriant verdure, where
fruit and flowers are in season all the
year round; winter and summer are
simply conventional terms It's climate
can justly be termed semi-tropical It's
peculiar exemption from atmospheric
disturbances is due to the trade wind
| currents Of air and water that sweep
down from the North Pacific with con-
slant regularity. This climatic condi-
ton justly entities Hawaii to be called
the paradise of the Pacific. The group
contains twenty volcanic islands, the
eight principal ones being inhabited.
On the morning of April 30 at about
five we were agreeably surprised to see
land few miles distant This was
Diamond head an extinct crater $50 feet
high at the head of Oahu. A beautiful
picture now opens to view. At the
| very base of the belt grove of trees is
| seen, groves of cocoanut palms line the
shore, with beautiful villas and seaside
| cottages. The mountain background
| clothed with mantle of variegated
| green, is a captivating one. AS the
steamer nears land the picture becomes
more fascinating like the ever changing
views of panorama.
After taking on board the pilot, and
having been passed by the quarantine
inspector, the ship turns her prov into
the narrow channel and we quickly
glide into the harbOr.
| Such mountain clefts; such fairy placel
Cast anchor in this cove.
Push out the boat for in this land,
A little we must rove.
After watching the young Kanokies
| dive for nickels thrown in the water,
almost invariably catching same before
reacheing the bottom, we went on shore
and up town to see the sights. Honolu-
lu or Fair Haven, has population Of
about forty thousand and is deceptive
in extent owing to the dense growth of
trees and shrubs. After going up town
our first visit is to the post Office, a
| novelty to us as all the boxes stamp and
| order windows open outside under a
board porch. We now take mule car
out one of the leading avenues where the
scene is like beautiful conservatory
Such wealth of tropical foliage with
it's brilliant colors; trees laden with
! delicious fruit, plants and shrubs
clothed in perpetual bloom; stately royal
palms whose trunks are as smooth and
round as if turned in a lathe with
pinnated leaves 90 and 30 feet in length.
Among flowers oleanders, fuchsias,
geraniums, hibiscus, iontand, ETC.,
which for size and luxuriance eclipse
anything seen elsewhere The latter
with its variegated flowers, clump of
which ON lawn in Owosso would be
tlC envy VI tHc IOWu, anu WillCn 10 81
tenderly cared for by our good wives, is
here found everywhere as weed in I'M
cultivated places.
We now take the electric cars for a
trip up to Pacific Heights. As we climb
900 feet in two and half miles, this
road is quite triumph of engineering
skill; from the top the view of the city
is magnificent. While waiting for
car we sat down and waited for some
ice cream which chinaman was labor
iously grinding in a small freezer
When Connor's Owosso cream was called
for the moon eyed brother stocially re-
marked, Me no savee." The ride down
is decidedly interesting, like shooting
the chutes on large scale, some of the
curves being as short as those on the
western road where it is said you can
see the back of your head in going
around them.
In the afternoon, being the guest of
my former classmate, DR.. Monsonat,
native of the city, and all round good