Except sugar and dollars, one rarely hears any subject
spoken about with general interest. The downfall of an
administration in England, or any important piece of national
legislation, arouses almost no interest in American society here,
and the English are ostentatiously apathetic regarding any piece of
intelligence specially absorbing to Americans. The papers pick up
every piece of gossip which drifts about the islands, and snarl with
much wordiness over local matters, but crowd into a small space the
movements which affect the masses of mankind, and in the absence of
a telegraph one hardly feels the beat of the pulses of the larger
world. Those intellectual movements of the West which might provoke
discussion and conversation are not cordially entered into, partly
owing to the difference in theological beliefs, and partly from an
indolence born of the climate, and the lack of mental stimulus.
After all, the gossip and the absence of large interests shared in
common, are the only specialities which can be alleged against
Hawaii, and I have never seen people among whom I should so well
like to live. The ladies are most charming; essentially womanly,
and fulfil all domestic and social duties in a way worthy of
imitation everywhere.
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