The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-05-13
HAWAII ISNOW NO EDEN
LOCKS AND BECcARs. UNKNOWN
ONCE. NOW FOUND THERE.

/
One by one the Hawaiian customs
and practices are being lost In the
| AmericaniZation of the Islands. Less
| than five years ago such thing as II
residence secured by bolts and locks
was unknown in Hawaii. but the dep
| relations of criminals in the last few
| weeks have compelled people to take
| steps TO secure the windows at night.
Robbery after robbery has alarmed
| the people of the islands, and the sense
! of security heretofore felt among the
! peaceful and honest Hawaiians has
| given way to fear of the depredatlons
of the new population sprung up since
| annexation.
Living in land of plenty where the
| fields bore sufficient to satisfy all the
desires of the native, the need of any
other form of riches was not apparent
to the Hawaiian. He was not disposed
| to lay up any of this worlds goods.
| and was content when the needs of
the day were satisfied. Such thing
as a beggar was practically unknown
and the crime of vagrancy was not
| known to the court calendar.
| ht vi lHc W nitt ulu III
tie to change this ut first. 1t is true
they had more regard for the accumu-
lation of riches, but as long as there
was enough for the native. he parted
| willingly with his lands in exchange
| for competence sufficient to satisfy
him for the remainder of his days.
| The newcomers saw little reason to
! change the customs of the natives.
| They built their houses. magnificent
mansions. some of them, but with no
thought of protection from thieves.
Around each of these residences was
built lanai, a wide veranda which
was furnished much as the interior
of the house, oftentimes with expen-
sive furniture and fine paintings. There
| was not lock to be found at window
or door.
| At night the doors We're left open
and families making trips from home
| for months at time deemed it unnec-
essary TO take any precautions against
theft. Even now the custom is fol-
lowed TO some extent. and the older
and Weather residents sleep serenely
despite the fact that there have been
no provisions taken TO prevent the en-
trance of thieves.
| The importation of Chinese and Jap
anese for work upon the plantations
was under contract formerly and they
were compelled to go direct to the
sugar fields. so that they caused no
change in customs or apprehension in
the cities.
| The first rude shock of awakening
came with the Spanish-American War,
and the establishment of the transport
service in the Pacific with Honolulu
as the midway stopping place. Thou
sands of American soldiers will remem-
Der with what joy they were received
| by the Hawaiians, and how Americans
| We'd with the Hawaiians to extend
the fullest measure of hospitality
They Were Toasted TO their hearts CON
tent, and there appeared TO be no let
| up to the enthusiasm of the Hawaiians
| Then came Il change. The departure
OF transport generally means the dis
appearance of sundry articles of value.
and always of bicycles which were not
| properly secured. Natives and Ameri-
cans alike became suspicious. 1t was
not the fault of the American soldier
as type. but there were some soldiers
who had not the scruOleS of the ma
jority.
The crowds that went to greet each
passing transport grew smaller and
smaller, and the offerings of fruit and
hospitality became rarer as the mis-
deeds of the soldiers became more gen
| orally lynnxun
and go with very little attention.
1t is not to the soldiers alone that the
passing of the old feeling of security
Is due. With the expiration of the la
Dor contracts, which kept japanese,
Portuguese and Chinese on the plan
tations. they began 10 come to town
and take up trade here. failing in
which they contracted some other
method of securing livelihood.
With annexation labor contracts be-
came Illegal. and laborers brought here
often elected to shift for themselves
rather than go TO the plantations A
few years ago n beggar was practi-
cally unknown on any of the islands
The Hawaians would rather have
starved than to ask for aims. for
there was always plenty to be had in
the fields and valleys without the ask
ing. Life then was not a problem. but
a pleasure, and the happy go lucky ma
tive had no fear of the future Now
begging is getting common.
The police were not needed In those
Gays for the detection of crime. They
were used more as the spies of the
various forms of government which
succeeded each other in rapid success
sion just prior to the annexation of the
islands by the United States. The DO
lice system for time was as complete
and perfect as that of Russia or
France. not in the detection of crime.
but in the search for treason and plots
against the Government.
Every other man was an informer in
the pay of the police or with the hope
of reward for the detection of some
conspiracy. No stranger arrived but
his business and history and intention
were known within twenty-four hours.
No thought was given to any crime
other than those existing against the
Government, and police records show
an almost total absence OF thieving ana
its kindred crimes. The Chinese. it Is
| trup were much addicted tn pambtiro