The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-17
Honolulu, Feb. 16, 1906.

One of the first thoughts that the
foregoing letter suggests is of intense
qualification that a lady resident of
Honolulu, one of it's most esteemed
musical artists withal, should have
exerted herself in the manner shown
to obtain a visit from a world-renown-
ed vocalist and company of worthy
support.
A careful reading of the Advertisers
article of yesterday, however, will
show that it was not a report-either
to be affirmed or denied-of a season
or even a single concert to be given
here by Madame Calve. The Wasp's
item was given in it's plain simplicity,
but positiveness as Well, as stating
that the famous singer was coming
back to San Francisco zen route to
Honolulu" Presuming, in the absence
of anything known to the contrary,
that a leading San Francisco weekly
devoting much attention always to
music and drama would not make a
statement with nothing in it, this pa
per drew from the transformations mode
of statement the conservative infer
ence that, if Madame Calve were COM
ing to Honolulu, it was merely for pur-
poses of rest and recreation. All the
remainder of the article, outside of
selections, was devoted to the urging
of something being done, in the event
of Nine. Calves arrival-frst, to ac-
cord her a fitting reception, and, sec
ondly. if possible to constrain her to
let her singing voice be heard, at least
once, before she departed.
After all may it not be hoped that
the negotiations of Mrs. ingalls, have
put the thought of a trip to Honolulu
into Madame Calves mind? For The
WaSp'S news is very recent-dated in
the first week of the present month.
Whether there is anything in it or not,
now that the subject has for the first
time been publicly discussed, is it not
worth While for the music-loving peo-
pie of Honolulu, in united influence, to
take up the effort at the place where
Mrs. ingalls, retired in disappointment?
In this connection, it may be recall
ed how successfully Honolulu respond
ed, eighteen or twenty years ago, to
a canvass for securing an appearance
of Sara Bernhard at the Hawaiian
Opera House while the steamer carry
ing her to Australia touched at this
port. The terms of 1.-The divine Sara"
We're high, as may be imagined. Yet
the terms were met. Seats at s. were
sold in advance to fill the house to
overlooking. Honolulu at that time
had but fraction of the class patron
lzing music and drama which is here to-
day, and but a 1.-THE of the wealth now
possessed by its citizens. Tourists,
with money TO burn, were a species
of rara avis in those days.
Here is a splendid means of the finest
kind of promotion, as Mrs. ingalls, apt
ly suggests. Now. say it would be as
easy to fill the house today at 81
seat as twenty years ago at S.. A full
house is reputedly worth $500 at an
average cost of S1.25 a seat At 81
you have then S44S0. Two nights would /
yield $500 This would leave but $3140 |
Of a deficiency. What should a mat
ter of, say, $4,000 seem to the present
alive as it is with pro-
motion spirit, teeming with wealth. /
swarming with tourists and ambitious |
Tor distinction as a place of hospitality |
% all manner of high art?
Let the agitation nroceed.