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)


full home training In religious work
that counted so much In the later
years CT MS life. He received his early
education in the schools OF the city
and grew up with clear understand
ing OF the needs OF the Oriental PEG
pie Of the islands. tie attended col.
Iese at Amherst. graduating from there
in 1873. and coming back TO take up
educational work In Hawaii. immedi-
ately after finishing his course. In
1873 he was appointed Instructor In
modern languages at Oahu College,
which position no held until 1876. His
major work In the languages while In
college and his work az Instructor at
Oahu College. gave the opportunity In
the following year TO go 10 Berlin as
secretary and interpreter to Mr.. Henry
Carter. ~. ~
In Diplomatic Services. ~
He held the position under Mr.. CAT
ter for two years. In 1878 he was APP
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. Mr.. 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
Rambles In the Old World" /.
The return trip to Hawaii'was made
by way OF India and China and II was
while he, was visiting in Canton that
he met Mrs. Damon, who was at that
time Miss Mary HAPPIER daughter of Q
missionary OF Canton. and earnest
missionary Worker herself among the
Chinese people. II was at this time
that the friendship began which later
ripened 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 at
cnee plans for this. He secured q 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 tosbet
ter their condition He gave Christ
mas and Children's day exercises and
various entertainments through the
year to. add to the meager sunshine ~
their lives, @ t.tx
Married IN China. f' ~
In the spring of 1884, accompanied
by his father and mother. he went
back to China. and on May OF that
yearaxas married TO Miss Mary Hap
per. blythe R1v. A. P. Happet father
sfstha BRIDE Mr.. Happier was assisted
In. the ceremony by the Rev. 8, G. Da-
mon, father Of the groom. Soon after
the,,weddtng the happy young couple
TO Honolulu to make their
home. Very soon after this they took
lpi the work together with tha,l Chi
nese, under the supervision Of the ,Ha-
waiian Board, MIR. Dani6n had now
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
nome on Chaplain lane. In 1882 the
home was thrown open as school for
Chinese boys, the first students being |
Taught the rudiments of the English |
language. This was the beginning OF
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
.urned the principalship over to Mr.. A. |
n. Merrill who had charge OF the I
school when Il was moved to its new
ocatiOn in Manoa valley.
illness Becomes Serious. te1 80 I'll
In January of 1912. Mr. Merrill was
orced By illness TO leave the school,
md Il was at this time that Mr..
Damon again took up the work, oil
he. school His work lasted but a
ew, months, as In July he suffered
general breakdown of the physical
md nervous systems He was sent to
he coast In the hope that change
4 climate might be beneficial, and
Ipent something over two years there,
eturning to Honolulu In January OF
his year. For the past few months he
las been. under the Doctors care at
he home on Moanalua island. His
had gradually become worse
Intil very little hope was held out for
liz recovery. For the past week he
ad seemed to be slightly improved,
allying at times to recognize and talk II
nth members OF the family. His
eath early this morning came as o
urprise to the nearest friends and
elatives. Il
Mr.. Francis Damon Is survived by
wife, Mary H. Damon, by brother, h
ir. 8. NJ. Damon Of Moanalua, and
y iye children These are Violet
Iapper, wife OF DR.. Frank Putnam Of
.ihue. Kauai; Mary Vera Damon. Cyr-
Francis Damon. member OF this
ears graduating class at Harvard; E
'aphne Mills Damon, who has been
aking the library course at simmons
oilege in Boston, and Bernard Hap
er Ball Damon. graduate OF Puma.
on Academy this year.
Mr.. Damon was a man of optimistic
fe and character. Of strong convic.
ons, and Of high ideals He was a
ian Who was Wiling to- wait in the
arrying out Of his plans, rather than
e satisfied with only a partial &C. II
In his work here he
)uched many lives, and endeared ,
iv,eaH ~ fha hundrode of naonlo who .