Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-22
USEFUL LIFE OF
f. v. DAMON IS
ENDED BY DEATH
CONTINUED from page one,

fuI home training In religious work
that counted so much In the later
years Of MS life He received his early
education In the schools OF the city
and grew up with a clear understand
ing CT the needs OF the Oriental peo-
pie Of the islands. he attended col
lege at Amherst, graduating from there
In 1873. and coming back to take up
educational work in Hawaii. immedi-
ately after finishing his course. In
1870 he was appointed instructor in
modern languages at Oahu College,
which position he held until 1876. Ills
major work in the languages while In
college and his work as instructor at
Oahu College, gave the opportunity In
the following year 10 go TO Berlin as
secretary and interpreter TO Nix. Henry
Carter.
In Diplomatic Service.
lie held the position under Mr.. Car
ter Tor two years. In 1873 he was ap-
pointed secretary Of the Hawaiian le-
cation at Berlin. Germany, and acted
In this capacity until 1881 when he
returned to Honolulu. While In Ber-
lin, AIR. Damon was a constant cor
respondent TO The Friend and wrote
a great many interesting articles on
Germany, Norway and Sweden, which
were published under the title OF
RambIes In the Old World" I
The return trip To Hawaii was made
lay way Of india and China and IL was
while he was visiting In Canton that
~. 80 nIRa No NH tagaa ~
time Miss Mary Happier, daughter OF
missionary OF Canton. and an earnest
missionary worker herself among the
Chinese people. II was at this time
that the friendship began which later
r.pened into courtship and marriage.
Mr.. Damon was wonderfully Impress
ed with the Chinese. and resolved at
this time. to devote his life to them.
He returned To Honolulu and began ut
once plans for this. lie secured a Chi
nese teacher and worked day by day
in the study OF the Chinese language.
Also he took up religious work in the
local Chinese churches, teaching Bible
classes and classes in singing. He.
studied the life of the Chinese in the
Oriental district and did much to bet,
ter their condition. He gave Christ.
mas and Children's day exercises and
various entertainments through the
year to add to the meager sunshine In
their lives. tt ii
Married in China. e~lI
In the spring of 1854, accompanied
by his father and mother, he went
back 10 China, and on May l Of that
year was MARRIED to Miss Mary Hap
per, by the Rsy. A. p, Happier, father
OF the bride. Mr.. Happier was assisted
In the ceremony by the Rev. 8. c. Da-
mon. father of the groom. Soon after
the wedding the happy young couple
jonrneyed to Honolulu TO make their
home. Very soon after this, they took
up the work together with the Chi
nese, under the supervision of the Ha-
waiian Board. Mr.. Damon had now
mastered the Chinese language fairly
well and he, and Mrs. Damon preached
to them in all parts Of the city. They
lived at this time In the old Damon
home on Chaplain lane. In 1892 the
home was thrown open as a school for
Chinese boys, the first students being
taught the rudiments of the English
language. This was the beginning or
Mills School. Teachers were added
slowly as the needs of the school in
creased and after several years OF con. |
slant service, Mr.. and Mrs. Damon
turned the principalship over to Mr.. A.
M. Merrill who had charge OF the
school when It was moved to its new
location In Manoa valley.
illness Becomes Serious. 81
In January OF 1912, Mr.. Merrill was
forced by illness to leave the school,
and II was at this time that Mr.. |
Damon again took up the work OF
the school. His work lasted but q |
few moAths, as in July he suffered /
general breakdown of the physical I
and nervous systems He was sent to |
the coast in the hope that change
OF climate might be beneficial. and
spent something over two years there,
returning to Honelulu In January or /
this year For the past few months he
has been under the doctors care at
the home on Moanalua island. His
had gradually become worse
until very little hope was held out for
his recovery. For the past week he l
had seemed to be slightly improved,
rallying at times to recognize and talk
with members OF the family. His
death early this morning came as
to the nearest friends and
relatives.
Mr.. Francis Damon Is survived by
a wife, Mary H. Damon: by q brother,
Mr.. S. NJ. Damon Of Moanalua, and
by ave children. These are Violet
Happier, wife of DR.. Frank Putnam Of
I.illue, Kauai: Mary Vera Damon, Cyr-
n Francis Damon, member of this
years graduating class at Harvard;
Daphne Mills Damon, who has been
taking the library course at Simmons
College in Boston. and Bernard Hap
per Ball Damon, graduate OF Puma
hou Academy this year
Mr.. Damon was man OF optimistic
life and character, of strong convic.
tions, and Of high ideals. He was
man who. was willing to wait in the
out Of his plans. rather than
be satisfied with only partial &C.
In his work here he
touched many lives, and endeared
a