The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-23
Big DEAL In DIMES.
A Boy Financier in Hawaiian
Early Days.
THE SALVATION OF A KING.
lie Gave Away His lands to Redeem
His Soul.
CASTING OFF THEIR NATIVE GARB.
The Island Women Persuaded in the WAY
to Attain HOIiReSS-W. II. Cham.
bliss Tells Seine Stories.
CASTING OFF THEIR NATIVE GARB.

The present condition of affairs in Homo
lulu is attracting the attention, particu-
! larly, OF Americans who have spent any
| portion OF their time on the islands and
have formed an attachment for the ma
t1ves. William III. Chambliss, who, as an
officer OF different vessels sailing between
San Francisco and the islands, and as a
tourist, spent a good many pleasant
months there, has retained the memory
of interesting stories and events. He was
III reminiscent mood yesterday.
'"Fhe short bit as factor in the monetary
system of Honolulu was introduced by a
youth, son of the leading missionary in
the islands, some twenty years ago. said
he. They were short on small silver in
those days, a two-bit piece being the very
smallest fractional part of q dollar that
could be dug up, except occasionally in the
pocket of a tourist. The innocent natives
looked upon the occasional 1O-cent or s.
cent silver piece as a curiosity,
and, like the pioneers on the American
frontier, gave them small notice in
monetary sense. But when the
young tinancier started the 10-cent piece
rolling over the island, it found favor, and
the demand was increased till this young
son of a missionary had placed some SIC, 600
worth Of the coin in circulation and bazed
the trail to fortune and seat in the pres
ent Provisional Council. This enterpris-
ing youth was Sam NJ. Damon, the present
Minister of Finance" said Mr.. Chambliss
"Rev. Mr.. Damon, his father was known
rs Missionary Damon, who went to the
islands good many years ago to preach
the gospel to the natives. The preacher
was quite favorite with King Kameha-
meha II, and this made his preaching
effective among the natives for what the
King sanctioned his people swore by. The
missionary proSpered and was soon Joined
by his family. His eldest son, Samuel
originated the idea OF doing the small
shoppers and shop-keepers a service by
facilitating the making of change. He re-
turned to the United States and purchased
quantity of 10-cent pieces. Then he set
up shop In Honolulu as a changer of
money, representing to the natives the
great convenience of small change, and
gave them eight silver dimes for every
silver dollar they produced. This was sat
isfactory to both parties and nobody COM
planned.
After that the two Damonc, father and
son, got up plan, which gave them fur
ther prestige and laid the foundation for
fortune, of which the son, since his fathers
death, is in full possession, estimated at
probably half million dollars.
'Kamehameha II was very anxious to
become a member of Missionary Da-
mons flock as big man in the church.
So to make his calling and selection sure
in this and the next world, he gave TO the
Damons a large tract of land. The land
increased in value as the islands grew in
population and enterprise. Minister Da-
mon has handsome residence on one por-
ton of the coast, near Diamond Head.
But the idea that exhibited the greatest
acumen and illustrated the faulty of the
supplemented natives, as the natives now
jestingly tell it, was the establishment of
millinery and dressmaking parlors. The
native women were shown the necessity of
divestlng themselves, bodily, of all things
idolatrous and urged to assume the head
gear and gown of a Christian people.
'These goods they must of course pur-
chase OF the missionary's son. They did
so, and he received their short-bits at the
par value of ten to the dollar, thus keep
ing the floating silver in circulation
mo wonder Mr.. Damon became Min
lister of Finance. He has a great head for
finance. He started early and has never
let up.
81 never saw happier or more contented
race in all my fourteen years of travel
about the world than the Hawaiians were
prior to the Matching of the Doodle plot
which resulted in the Reinforcement of the
Queen and the usurpation by handful of
pretenders.
Imagine Dan Burns, Chris Buckley.
Sam Rainey and Max Pepper headed by
some foreign Consul or Minister under the
protection of an alien man-of-war, landing
a battalion of troops at the foot of Market
street, and marching up to the City Hall
and placing Judge Levy in Mayor Sutro's
place. That will give you an idea of the
of the Provisional Govern
ment in Hawaii"