The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-10-08


The saddest task on earth is to speak Of those
who have finished their earthly course. to e,st as
1t were the last handful Of earth upon this meui.
ory, to cry thrice the ri's' -l.' rlis, which will
never be answered, to put away wha. was once a
living reality and relogate 1t to a memory. .Lipg
instead of beisg. The memories are sweet and
become haIloved by time, but phi!osophi,s
as We will they are but memories: the flesh
and blood has gone, the tenderness has gone. the
kindly eye Is closed the warm pressure of the
hand Is no more, and those who are left can cling
but to hope and TO memory.
Last week dear friend departed from among
Us tined friend, above all a sterling mau-Henry
May. IL was not given to all TO kuoE him iutl-
matelyi those few who had that privilege valued
Il fully; but TO the larger portion Of our fellow
citizens he was known rs an honorable man in
capable OF meannesS, ever ready faesharity, with
broad views and one whose advice ~ The iutrieats
problem Of life was most valuable.
Nj May was seltmade man. At the time Of
his death he was one Of the most prominent men
IN this city. Besides his own business he wss en-
gagged in u number Of enterprises. was a manager
OF the firm of Brewer Il Co. a member of the
Chamber OF Commerce, and . stakeholder in
several Of our most solid cOrnuauies
Henry May was born January lTth lS2S. at
Newark-upOn-TEent, England. He yas apprsu-
tieed to the grocery business in the town OF Not
inghAm where he served seven wears. Shortly
I
TO Grantham where he was manager Of a grocery
business. Within a stones throw of his Mace ~
business was that OF Mr.. ) Savidge who OCCUPIED
! = similar position In 1851 Granthaui man who
had visited California and the Hawaiian Islands
returned TO his native place and becoming nc
quainted with Messrs. Sayidge and Nav cave
| them such description Of the business chances
here that they resolved 70 try the venture. They
sailed together from Liverpool in the 5. : Pacific
January Is, 1855, landed AZ New York and went
to San Francisco via Nicaragua. General Walker
the fllibuster was there al the time but the
vessel was detained by him only few hours
They left San Francisco IN the bark Fanny Major
and arrived II Honolulu March 39tE, lS55 After a
month delay store on Ming street was bought by
the two young partners from C. e. Harris. 1T that
time II Was the only grocery st0rs the Islands
and business prospered rapidly. During the next
few years Mr.. May made several trips TO the Coast
for the purpose Of buying goods.
In May 1853, Mr.. MAY retired from business
and returned TO his native town, where he soon be-
| came prominent man. He founded the Newark
/ Club and was Secretary till his return TO the
| Islands. How greatly he was appreciated NAV be
| gathered from the fact that his portrait was
painted at the expense Of the members to hang in
| the reception room, and that some handsome
pieces Of plate was presented to him. He was A
| trustee OF the Newark Library, and an officer in
| the South lnghamshire Volunteers He Is
/ well remembered IN the town for his charita-
| BILE deeds and took an active part in organizing
soup kitchens and other works fer the benefit OF
| the poor.
/
| Spring of lSts. Business troubles had come upon
the firm and Mr.. May took full charge at the store
/ IN Fort street, 10 which Mr.. Savidge had removed
/ This he has occupied till the time OF his death
| During these sixteen years be has paid several
visits to Europe; one IN 70. again II IL when he
| made tour through France. Italy and Germany
accompanied by his niece, Miss May, now Mrs
| Henderson, and Chief Justice Harris. During his
absence his late residence was erected. In lSSthe
again made short trip TO England, and was con-
| templAting vet another in ISIS. In 1876 he took
into partnership Mr.. I. May, his nephew, who
now becomes the head of the irm.
Mr.. May was taken III on Monday. September I'D
Just ten days before death. At first there were no
| alarming symptoms. On the evening Of Friday
the 18th, he tainted going bed and It may be
| said that from that moment lie never fully re-
| covered consciousness. He seemed to be doing
| well however until tuesday evening, when he sud
denly COLLAPSED, and IN spite of every medical care
| at 9l5 A. N of Wednesday, Oct. lst, peacefully
and without pain he ceased to breathe.
In detailing thus shortly the main incidents in
| the life Of our departed townsInau, we have but
| given the skeleton or scafoldIng Of a life which
| was full of beauty. Many Is the man, many the
| woman who has to thank Henry Nav for
| good advice and when need be substantial help.
| His was a peculiarly stauuch character An Epis-
copallan of strict views, he ready to help
| other churches and had many dear friends among
! their members. typical and uncompromisiug
| Englishman, be was thoroughly respected and
| liked by citizens of all uati0nalitiss. In Henry
May the city and even the nation suffers loss for
| quiet and uaobtrusiye though he was, Henry MAY
/ by his good common sense and his commercial
prestige welded a considerable power; he could
put his views in such shape that all men could
| understand him, and so furcibly that they be-
| lieyed them and believing acted upon them 1t
/ has been privilege to the writer OF this brief
notice to know and appreciate him and he feels
as all his friends must feel, that MI Mays
| Life wa gentle. and The elements
! so miXd in him that Nature might stand Up
| And say 10 all the world This q mani