The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-04-12
MARSHALL p. WILDER AND
HIS VISIT TO HONOLULU
The Humorst AfIoat and Ashore in Hawaiian
Seas---Experiences Among the Wild
Waves and Peaceful Palms.

The following is a chapter of expe'
riences afloat by the famous humorist
Marshall P Wilder, who visited Ha-
waii some years ago:
To one accustomed only to Atlantic
travel the element of novelty begins
at once on a Pacific steamer. Instead
of SNUG English stewards, neat Chi
namen in spotless linen gowns of blue,
long cues, immaculate white stock
ings, and the broadcast of smiles, fly
nimbly about carrying baggage or
waiting on passengers with most
cheerful disparity.
The Chinese stewards interested us
exceedingly, and when, directly after
sailing from San Francisco, we de-
scended to luncheon, we saw them in
q new way. The long tables in the
saloon were laid out invitingiy with
massive silver and piles of fruit,
around which the neat boys whisked,
making an attractive picture. Here
we received our first introduction to
the far-famed 'pidgin English" which
we had previously conceived to be
very largely a Pigment of the story
feIler's brain. 1t was to be later i'm
pressed upon us how universal the use
Of it is, from San Francisco right
through to CeyIon, wherever the Chi
nese coolie lives and moves and has
his being.
In the dining saloon the boys wore
long gowns of blue linen, shiny with
starch, high cuffs over their sleeves,
nd
islfed at the end with a silk tassel
neatly tucked through a little strap
at the side of the gown. This is to
keep 1t from slipping over the shoulder
when STOPPING over the tables.
When at hard or outdoor work,
sGhinaman will twist his cue up like
a woman, but never in the house, as
1t is a disrespectful act to appear be-
fore superior with the cue bound
up Foreigners in many cases do not
know this, and the Chinaman, who in
stinctively hates all foreigners, will
often resort to this method of insult
ing them, taking a deal of comfort
out of it. even though the foreigner
may be in blissful ignorance of the in
tended disrespect.
Some of the dining-saloon boys had
been in the service long enough to
speak and understand English very
we'll; with others it was necessary 20
resort to the 'pidgin" dialect which is |
ridiculous hybrid of baby talk, !
broken, or rather mangled, English, |
ard few stray Chinese words.
It was my luck to draw a waiter |
who was particularly shy on straight |
English, and when I asked for a nice |
piece of rare roast beef, and vegeta-
bles such as my wife had. his face |
remained as blank as a newly white t
washed barn door. Seeing my per-
piexity, a kind neighbor taught me
what to say, and, though feeling
rather silly, I repeated: boy, you
ketchee me number one piece roast
beef, no too well done, and vegetables
sileaa same lady have GOT His face
beamed with intelligence. and my
order was executed with neatness and |,
dispatch.
I subsequently discovered that if
chair was desired from the upper
deck an order in plain English would
not be understood. But say to him,
Boy, you go-topside. ketchee my one
piece chair, bring to me- He will
depart cheerfuliy, knowing Just what
you mean.
.sPidgin'' is. the Chinese word for
business, and a great many years
ago this motley means of communica-
ton was evolved. piece by piece, as a
medium through which the English
speaking traders carried on business
with the Chinese. Despite the fact
that numbers of Chinese, especially
The merchants, speak excellent Eng
nsh. this absurd polyglot has held its
own, and it is a benighted Chinaman.
indeed, who can not conjure up a few
lame phrases. 1t is means of COM
even among Cinnamon. so
il is said for the different provinces
Of that country differ in dialect as so
many countries, but with a little of
The universal .tpfdgin" they make
themselves understood.
During our entire trip across the
Pacific we were never off an almost
sven keel. It was so different from
my first ocean trip, which was across
the Atlantic. I'll never forget that. I
hadn't been feeling we'll. and was told
that the sea voyage would make an
other man of me. Imagine making
another man of me, when there was
hardly enough material for one!
Well, the minute the ship left the
dock l felt better. / threw out my
lot of other VIKINGS I
ifdn't need-and prepared to enjoy
life
BY the time we got to Sandy Hook
the ship was having ST. Vitus' dance,
and most of the passens ers decided
10 go below to unpack. 1 started to