The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-29

i ~ HE following first impressions o.
n Hawaii We're specially written fol
~ The Advertiser by Mr.. James Pin
mock. the celebrate6 African explores
and traveller, who is spending a month
in Honolulu:
! 1 was asked by my friends before
leaving the Old World to give then
| the many countries am visiting, and
| particularly of Hawaii, as it was un-
fortunately the scene of the painful
close of one of England's most cherish
| ed heroes, and their greatest of explor-
ers. and who, more than any man in
| history, by his great discoveries, was
the original founder of Britain's mag
| nificent colonies in the New World /;
needless to say, 1 refer to Captain
Cook, who was killed on a Heighboring
island in 1879.
First impressions of a country and its
people must necessarily be somewhat
crude. but L nave found. as an "all
world traveller, that they are often
sought for.
1t was a token of the development
of the country to find that a steamer
of the dimensions of the Coptic could
with the greatest safety enter a deep
and well buoyed passage and moor and
lie alongside a large quay, or wharf,
more quietly than the Atlantic liners
lie alongside the landing stage in Liv-
erpool. and this the more extraordinary
from Honolulu lying in the mid Pacific
Ocean. 1t is only those that have been
accustomed TO steamers dropping their
anchors a distance from the shore in
disturbed or rough waters, who can
realize theairamense advantages of this
and in so many ways, i.e., landing and
receiving passengers. cargo coal and
provisions,
I went with a lady (pardon me using
the customary English word lady"
when referring to one of the weaker
sex-Americans. 1 am told, only know
and write of women" and men"
which is possibly more expressive), to
a dressmakers or lady's tailor, and was
not little astonished to see strewn
over the tables all the latest books con-
tanning colored mates of the fashions
of the day, and I must add, only those
published for the current month; |
mention this fact as so many people in
the inland country towns and districts
In England have hazy idea that these I
distant Islands remain much the same !
as when discovered by Captain Cook. !
and they expected 1 should find the in |
habitants clothed much the same now
as then: they also imagined I might \
find shelter in some superior sort Of ma
tive hut and fare probably on roast
pig and native dishes. I am referring.
to the less enlightened sub
iects Of His Majesty. King Edward the
Seventh.
Instead. what do find? In the first
place. ladies handsomely attired in
silks and satins of the latest designs
and vieing with their New York sis
.ers and those of the Eastern states or
titles of Europe. Further, l find my
;elf ensconced in first-class hotel, in
he beautiful suburb of Waikiki. as
much and in some respects more up
o date than the latest in London.
The possession of the Islands by the
Tnited States. even as a coaling sta
ion. is beyond price. not only in time
II peace. but as an ocean basis for
upply for their navy in the dire. and
trust distant event. OF war-as the |
nest ironclad afloat is worthless with I
ut coal.
I was not less astonished than pleas :
q to see all the ladies here, fair Amer
,ans. English and others. riding on
orseback astride with divided skirts.
nd in which there is nothing in ap-
earance to shock the modesty of the
1ost critical. shrinking, elderly spin
ter From what can gather the Ia
les from the Eastern States, together
18th tourists and travellers from the
I'D World seem delighted with the
ustom and hail with delight their re-
Ease from the conventional orthodox
.nglish side saddle. and at once. upon
heir arrival here set about ordering
new divided riding skirt. Grace. ]
ealth, comfort and safety all favor {
ding imam Ashton on the part OF G
omen. and It is pure affectation 10 OBJ ]
.ct to the style. though this custom is G
ever seen. unfortunately. in England. {
Notwithstanding some agitation in ia
nr Of such a change.
II is only few years ago when no
oman could appear in public sitting
stride bicycle without being ridicul .
! and jeered a { I'm the public streets.
The day after my arrival I attended
,e departure Of the Alameda for San L