Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-08

Hawaii died in San Francisco a few
days ago. Annie Lalrie," writing In
the San francisco Examiner, says OF
this pubaic-spirited man, under the
title The Man Who Was:
He died-the other day-here in
San Francisco--the great merchant
the man sof affairs-one of the last
OF what seems to be sometimes van
ishing type.
He, came here years ago-a poor
German boy-I've beard him tell a
hundred times of his voyage AROUND
by Panama-of the queer German
clothes he wore and how they joked
him about his funny peaked cap and
clumsy heavy shoes.
He wanted to be merehant-and
be started his frs store with board
laid across two empty barrels.
There were five cups and saucers
on the. board--g3od. heavy, service
able wear worth every penny that he
asked for them. ard lowered with
roses SO that they looked erltrancingiy
pretty to the boy who wiped the street
dust from them-aiid fairly hated to
see them go-because he really loved
them-just little.
They went, though-at profit not
enough to stagger him or any one
else-but still-at q profit
And he bought more -and sold them
and then nnore-and then more
again land by and BY he had little
shop Of his own just a hole in the
wall IN q humble part of, the wild.
struggling. huIlabaloo of a town--but
clean-the little shop was. and neat
as wax, and every dish In 1t shone so
that you could see your face If you
looked carefully g s.,is J.
And the business grew-with the
city--sometimes. they said. almost q
little ahead Of the cityan In time
II became one Of the great establish
ments in the mercantile life here ON
the coast
We we're all proud of It and are to
this day.
I've taken q hundred people through
that store and told them it was the
biggest and finest store Of its kind
west of New York. and / told the
truth when | said it,
And when there was trouble in the
city the man who had begun life with
3 board across a barrel and five thick
cups and saucers for his stock In
trade was the one to whom we all
went for counsel.
And he always gave the counsel
and wise and good Il always was--
and there was always check went
with II.
And the great army OF people who
worked for the great merchant hon.
ored him for his honesty and for his
shrewd ability and for his courage
and for his enterprise. and more than
all they loved him for his kind and
generous heart.
Every employe in that great store
was profit-sharer In the concern.
For every year a clerk stayed with
the establishment he got a day more
On his vacation and every year after
J certain time OF employment ne took
r share in. the business.
And they we're all one great, happy
family In the great store.
went to q ball they gave one New
Years evening long, long ago.
and the great merchant led the dance
with the prettiest girl in the store
md his beautiful wife was the part,
ner OF bashful young fellow In the
packing department--not yet out Of
his teens-and there was no condos
cension and no patronage about the
affair from the beginning Of it to the
Ind.
They all danced-the great mer-
chant and his wife and his sons and
bis daughters and all the men and
women who were helping him build
up his fortune. from the smallest cash
boy up to the foreign buyers and as
sistant managers-and everybody
laughed and everybody sang and ev.
srybody ate and drank and when wei
aid Happy New Year that night wei
meant II.
Whenever there was love affair in
the store-he knew 1.-THE great
before anyone else except
the two who were in love-and hel
gloried in it and had the time OF his
life pretending to he blind-and be.
Ing overcome with amazement when
the young man took his courage in
his hands and stammered out the an
nouncement of the engagement.
And what time he had planning
put the wedding-oh, he was at the
wedding, be sure OF that. II nobody else
N town was; and be knew where the
young couple was going to live and
what rent they'd have to pay and just
the set of dishes they'd eat their first