The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-02-07
IMPRESSIONS
Of HONOLULU
(From Thursdays Advertiser,

Ella Wheeler Wilcox'S coming to Ho-
nolulu in the steamship Mongolia yes
terday, from San Francisco, was the
signal for a host of people to send up
cards to room SO at the Alexander
Young Hotel, and late last evening
and prose, so many millions in the in
tricacies of the inner life returned from
a pleasant trip to Waikiki with her
husband, she found wedged under her
door a regular mat of cards bearing
the names of folks who begged an
early audience. Some were from peo-
pie who just wanted to feel the pres
ence of the wonderful woman whose
writings have inspired so many and
to get her autograph or a portrait, or
TO ask her advice, as thousands have.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox is a sweetly
womanly woman with a heart as big
as her mind and a mind as broad as
her soul, which shines right out of
her
When great folks, great in litera-
ture. history making or other fields of
usefulness, call at Honolulu they are
usually asked what they think of the
country. Ella Wheeler Wilcox, that
no distinctions might be made in the
time-honored custom, was so inter-
rogated.
Il was a little bit disappointed with
my first look at this island from the
steamship" said the poetess, for the
hills seemed somewhat barren and
there was nothing that particularly
seized the eye at first glance, but after
we came ashore and went on the cleo
trio car out to the beach we saw much
to delight us. Honolulu has sCme
splendid residences if those we saw en-
route to Waikiki are fair samples.
This is our first trip to Honolulu,
We have travelled extensively in warm
climates. We have spent winters in
Jamaica, Florida, Cuba, Southern CAL
ifornia, Sicily and Egypt. 4
From what we have already seen
Of Hawaii judge that there are great
opportunities here for the development
of tourist travel, but there are some
things, if 1 may be allowed to make
some suggestions, that you Should give
attention to if you expect this Terri
tory, now part of the United States,
to successfully compete with the many
attractive places on the mainland. u
You must get rid of the mosquito
and you must not allow the cost of
living to be so high; why rates of liv7
ing here appear to be as high as they
are in New York, and New York Isl
in a way, the center of two worlds.
receiving as it does all the wonderful
and beautiful things of Europe and the
great continent of which it is the east !
ern gateway. Honolulu, too, in sense
is the center of two worlds, the worlds
of the Occident and the Orient, and
it is for this reason and with the adj
vantages that such a strategic situa7
ton offers that the people of this Ter
ritory should see to it that the cost
of living here is reasonable and such
as will induce tourists and settlers to
come. OF course I do not pretend to,
know anything of the commercial con-.
ditions that may control prices, but it
does seem strange that prices here
should be as high as they are.
Hawaii. now a part of America,
must sit up and take notice if she
expects to get what she can get if she
tries. Climate and scenery will not do
everything. There are other places
MANY of them, where both are as de- :
Iightful or more delightful" :
Ella Wheeler Wilcox's latest work is I
Love sonnets of Abelard and
Beloise." a beautiful work, handsomely t
gotten up and published not very long :
ago. Some of her best work lies be- G
tween the covers of this volume. t
II have perseverance without con- a
.inuity enough to write novels" sail =,
Ella Wheeler Wilcox last night; some. G
line ago wrote two or three novels. h
out I do net believe enough people
we're aware of the fact for me ever to
lave gained a reputation as novelist.
write as I feel and mean every
hing I say. 1 believe there are few u
,rimes greater than insincerity."
Ella Wheeler Wilcox will not lecture a
II give readings or recitations while q
;he is here. THAT is not necessary"
;he says, land besides it would taka
90 much time from my home lie,
han which there is nothing 1 love
more" =
A few years ago, always interested :
n humane work, work for children and
or animals, Ella Wheeler Wilcox edit
ID a small aper at Pasadena, selling
I at one dollar the copy for the bene7
it of charity She is always doing
of the kind, or rather she
5 always doing something for charity. I
out she will not read her poems at
receptions or other functions because,
above all else, she will not neglect .