Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-19
A Bootblack Who Made Local
Shining Famous-Water-
front CrimpS Gone
BY ERNEST N. SMITH

any other- state Nor nation-and tn
pity OF 1t is Hawaii can't take fu
advantage OF It. Wherever official
the exposition officials 20. whereye
an exposition assenbSage appears, L
the very forefront of things, genera
ly even ahead OF President Moore
stands a coal-blact coon who som
years ago gave HnoluIu a snapp
idea OF metropolitan activity by rur
ming a bootblack sand, the like O
which had never ban seen In Homo
lulu.
Such activity as hi displayed is no
without its reward, pr he is now tn
official trumpeter ofthe Panama Pa
cific Exposition Waring gorgeou
white, gold laced uiform with th
dignity OF a peacod parading hi
TAIL William thing his name was
though I'm not sur,-rubs elbow;
with official life andfrom a secur,
position above the smmon crowd
blasts a way clear 70 any party h,
may accompany. -"
well remember TIL poor excuse!
for shines the Portuglse and orien
tai bootblasks used tosiye In Homo
lulu-wishy-washy effos which pro
duced inst enough ofan effect Il
. make it possible for aman with q
nerve to demand a dim Enter vii
liam-or whatever his name was
with a modest stand al a pleasant
smile as a bidder for loo trade. The
first few patrons after icy had re
covered their astonishmf made re.
marks that flew across lwn like a
rise in sugar quotations. Some went
TO see what a real shine ally was
and gained q thorough education.
Others, with ancient nnories OF
shines had on the Coast, stened to
revive them-and did.
Ones toes fairly tingle6ith VIII.
liam lowering over them lh brush
es and cloths. Never In thastory OF
Honolulu had anyone reced such
sines-you could actually ee your
face In your shoe tip. " walked
more carefully to preserve sight.
And a whisk broom opersn went
with each shine such a~bru as set
the other abooties" green u envy.
With q really stiff brush Swhisk,
he surged up and down ye back,
beat a light tattoo on ypfchest,
waltzed down one leg and b-step-
ed up the other, "turkeyotted"
around your collar. and deftlypping
: the dime you was crazy to him,
left you standing uprightehest
thrown out, spotless from top toe,
a man ready to face the VOL and
hoping the world would see, be-
fore q fleck of dust alightedi
Auwe! II was a seven-daygon-
der in Honolulu, and William her
ed the dime market. Theher
wishy-washy bootblacks scoffebut
q cartoon of themselves appeaila-
4 Il was no avail. Some finally Diet
little elbow grease" into .ir
work, but one saw it was painfud
. didn't relish the extra effort. lie
is nothing so catching" as good *
done with q smile.
Young men, take note Of this y
history. William departed. lea
sorrowing friends. but he has 81
ed and aclumb" well. Rarely can
spotlight land anywhere in off
San Francisco but in its very &c,
is seen q black, smiling face
mounting gold-laced white unfit
long Trumpet raised majesticall,
readiness to out.bugle Gabriel. i
wiIliam-the envy of every 81
boy In San Francisco-the inca
ton Of dignity and poise and self.
isfsction. It is William-in
glory.
Shades Of the Departed.
Something else upset Homo
once as things occasionally do.
was the advent of two gentlel
from San Francisco who at once
empted a prominent position IN
nolGlu's eye. There they rema
for some months, until shortly 9
a cortoon of themselves appeared
beled "The Prison Yawns Before,
Turnkey Stalks Behind. They
escorted to the dock by certain
Honolulu's officials and were
melting over the horizon.
Turk and Lewis-famous as W;
front crimps, as active gentlemel
ever cracked a sailor over the
and sold him TO shiprnaster, as
suasive men as ever argued befo
bar of justice-as cunning pal
ever lived off community and n
the community pay we'll. Only
unsayory memory fingers in
minds Of old Honolulans.
Turk, understand, is now DR.
a bakery wagon in San Francisco
processes not to speak to ma
low as Lewis-at least in pub
and Lewis is above noticing Tu
also in public. ~ ..- -.
But If Burlingame, California,
has need for a prominent citize
lead a good work, if Burlingame
needs an active citizen to pre-
suitable improvements, If b
games two political parties
need man TO speak on Civic R
eousness, on Public Decency, on
Purity, then all eyes turn to
Lewis end of the Turk-Lewis
bination-T SAY all eyes turn to
Lewis, because he is the first
up.
A prominent citizen is LIE,
Ys.r ~