Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-11-06
PRINCIPAL ST. HONOLULU, HI

ties occasionally and much more amusing moon
light surfing and swimming parties There Is no
particular social season in Honolulu More peo-
pie are out of town in summer, but on the other
hand that is the time when boys are at nome
with their friends from American colleges, and
they must be entertained day and night. ms
therefore, is the time to see more Of the dlstlnc>
lively Hawaiian forms of amusement.
The ancient Dances or "hulas," are not often
seen, both because the art of dancing is being
lost and because many of the dances, in the
motions, which make them up and in the words
which accompany them, are, from a clVlllzed
point of view, indecent. Some of them are occa-
sionally given in an eXpurgated form at the
vaudeville theaters certain selected dances, as
entertainment after private luaus, and no op-
portunity to see them should be neglected They
are often marvelously graceful-more so than
are the Arab dances-Jand with the mOnotonous
beat of their musical accompaniment are very
poetical and quite in class by themselves.
Of good theaters the islands are destitute. An
occasional series of mediocre performances, at
the Opera house in Honolulu brings out the
whole population. Of interest to tourists who
have never been in the Orient, however, there
are the Chinese and Japanese theaters with their
Unfortunately long plays, often gorgeously cos
tuned and probably we'll acted Nor is there
naturally much opportunity to hear good profess
sional musicians
For the women of the place housekeeping is
none of the easiest Servants all Orientals
admirable as far as they CO. but with inevitable
limitations. The Chinese faithful, good
cooks, and Immediately clean in their work
They are in general preferred to the japanese
even though during the Chinese New Year, for
three days in January or February, they all de-
part on their annual holiday. During these days
no bride could make them work. They also at
that time have the habit of giving to the fami-
lies for whom they work expensive and usually
hideous presents, which must be prominently dis
Dl0 An art n
Chinese New Year is the necessity for men Of
calling on all the Chinese merchants of their
acquantance-cer calls where they are
RECALLED with queer cIoying sweetmeats and cham
payne. The Japanese are filling the ranks now
as house servants, since under the United States
immigration laws the Chinese population is grad
ually dwindling. They far less reliable, but
are often excellent cooks, and japanese maids
in their bright kimonos are picturesque about
the house They be taught almost anything,
and once taught never forget, but unfortunately
the knowledge acquired is often of the parrot
variety. For example, a lady gave luncheon
and before the guests arrived showed her new
Japanese maid exactly how to serve each course
and what plates to use The following week
she gave another luncheon exactly like the first
but emitting one course Her Japanese maid
served it perfectly except that when the time
arrived for the course which was left out she
brought in all the plates and then carefully re-
moved them empty.
Because of the lack of literature there is no
way to get any permanent impression of the
charm Of Hawaii except by a visit. It's history
one can read and appreciate if one is able to
adopt in the reading a sympathetic point of view.
The fact that thoroughly American ideals per-
wade all phases of island industry, of modes of
living and of social intercourse may be accepted
and theoretically believed But the Hawaiian
flavor, with which these ideals are subtIy i'm
pregnated and that insensibly affects all who
have lived there, is something indescribable
something which seems to emanate from the
misty hills the whispering waters, the exquisite
vegetation the low voices of the people. All this
may be grasped only through the senses. The
eyes must see from the shores at Waikiki the
bright carpet Of water beyond which Diamond
Head so proudly stands at the gateway of the
world beyond. The ears must catch the melody
Of Hawaiian song and the swish of the wind in
the palms. The scent of stephanotis and plu
maria and ginger must strike as it steals
through the hibiscus hedges around secluded gar
dens, The whole body must respond to the ten
der caress of trade winds that have blown across
a thousand miles Of warm ocean. Only this is
full acknowledgement the sense of this no words
can convey.