The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-12-28

A lean little waif stalked proudly
ahead of her mother, blowing horn as
large as herself and as noisy as her
small brother who was throwing con
fetti in defiance OF the police regula-
tons into the face of passersby. Moth
err carried a baby who smileH sleepily
at every one who caught her eye, won
dering what it was all about The
crowds snrged to md fro, laughinI,
shouting, swapping jokes and blows Of
featheIly busters. II was Christmas
Eve in Honolulu, where the races ming
le, melting into one great harmonious
whole called American.
In the eyes of the multitude of
Oriental faces was a strange look as Il
the minds behind the faces were won.
dering at this peculiar haUle custom
that celebrated the birth of little
baby more iran 1900 years ago. But
while they wondered Chinese and Kor
can, Japanese and Hawaiian, gaze fail
rein to the spirit of Christmas, which,
despite their foreign birth and trnh
tiOns forced itself deep into their inner
consciousness.
Background Of White
And of course the haeles celebrated.
Through the brilliant Oriental crowds
80 typical of Honolulu, the white men
and boys and girls and women thread
ed their way, the basis of the pattern,
the background on which the design Oi
n, Honolulu Christmas Eve celebration,
unique among such festas, was woven
for the year 1915.
The crowds filed the streets in the
downtown districts despite the early
threat of rain, a threat fully filed Ia
ter, when about nine clock heavy
drops splashed on the merry makers
driving some Of them indoors for shelf
er n But not even the rain nor the
totally uRChristmas like mugginess that
accompanied it, damped the spirit of
the thrORgs.
Tomorrow is Christ s birthday, "
blaTed rthe horns; snapped the pesky pa
per snappers; squeeked the whistles.
Tomorrow is Christs birthday, "
played the band, "and what 8 a little
rain to that. Forget it and let s enjoy
the night. It's long time to next
Christmas Eve"
And taking the tip from the band,
the whistles, the horns and the popping
snappers the crowd did forget every
thing and enjOyed itself most hugely.
Naturally the most picturesque spot
was Bishop street, brilliantly lighted
by the faring electrics in front of the
Young Hotel, and mude cOloTftu by the
glowing, red. orange and green bulbs in
the trees on the far side of vhe street
Up one side of this thOrOughfare went
the motley crowd and thence down lIn-
tel street to Fort, where it met and
mingled with the current Of humanity
that moved in both directions along
that highway.
Waves Of Humanity
There the streams eddied and swirled,
the stalled street ears looking like huge
logs appended in a Jam, while the waves
of humanity rushed about them. Ito
tel street blazed rs bright as day in
front of the theaters and stores, hut
the crowds paid no attention to the
tempting display of posters in front Of
the moving picture houses nor th" still
more attractive looking goods in the
stores. They had done their Christmas
buying for the, most part. What they
wanted was noise and the sense of
eompaEionship with their kind. They
surely got both.
The war WAS for the most part forgot
ten but for one little touch. The Gath.
ole Mission bandin masquerade costume
swung into TpParary as it turned into
Bishop street and the turn ran like
wild ere through the mob, which in an.
other minute was singing the chorus
Of the famous Allied marching song. II
rippled along growing in vOlumn until
the end of the chorus was reached, then
died away as the band,properIy neutral,
changed the tune to something else.
In the hotels and restaurants there
was little attempt to hold folk in doors.
Honolulu Believes in fresh-air Christ
mas Eve. But the management of the
Alexander Young saw TO it that for
such newcomers as wished it there was
music ard O good menu, to say nothing
Of dancing and a little frOlicing in the
rnthskeller, the cafe and up on the
roof garden, where the cabaret singers
went after nine o clock.
Out at the Moana Hotel there was