The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-05-15
JAMES LICK'S ECCENTRICITIES.
The History of His Deed of Trust-He Re.
guests Test of HIS Own Sauity-A High
Old Monumeut-Mr. Lick md 3is nactor


From the San Francisco Chronicle
The incidents which go to make M
the history of James Lick's great d &c
of philanthropy have, for the most part
yet to be written. 1t appears that fo-
a year and half prior 10 his signins
the deed which he now seeks to revok,
he had been considering proposition.
for the disposition of his vast estate
he solicited the counsel of his friend,
very often and made several wills. Tn,
last will Cancelled by him provided lit
orally for nearly all the institutions enu
merated in the deed of trust, and others
whose claims upon his generosity ar,
ignored III that document. AMONG
these were the Catholic and Hebrew
Orphan Asylums, to which he had be
queathed SO. 900 each. This will wa.
witnessed by Chief Justice Wallace
Gov. Booth, and ID. j. Staples. After
Mr.. Lick had executed the trus
deed his chief concern seemed t.
be as to whether his act woulC
hold good after his death. HI
feared very much that the cues
ton of his sanity would come ND some
day and impair the validity of the deed
de frequently asked his friends if they
thought his relatives could have the
document declared void, and in his dis
tresslng conlectures upon such a posi-.
blhty, alluded to the memorable HAYES
will case. Turning anxiously on his
couch, he one day asked his visitor,
do you think | am sane? / would
like to be satisfied on that point" The
latter replied, 81 do, Mr.. Lick, but |
am not an expert" The feeble octogen-
arlan thereupon declared his desire that
an expert should PASS upon the question
Of his mental condition. Accordingly
his friend DR.. Stillman, an old pioneer,
was sent for, and Mr.. Lick gave him a
cheerful greeting. Next it was sug-
gested that DIR. Shurthff, for many
years President of the Stockton Insane
Asylum, should be summoned. Mr..
Lick was pleased to see him, and the
question of the latter's sanity was fully
determined at that time
The ruling passion of his nature, out
side of cold business speculation, was
the fervent spirit of patriotism that ami
mated him. His eyes always kindled
when his patriotic grandfather was the
subject of conversation, and he always
referred proudly to his grandsire as one
who had fought bravely in the War OF
the Revolution. When the proposition
to erect a monument to Francis Scott
Key was under consideration, it was
suggested TO Mr. Lick that an appro-
priation Of $5O,0 900 would be ample.
This sum, his friends urged. would
cover the cost of the finest monument
which could possibly be erected Then
the patriotic Cr@sus, with flash of an
ger IN his face, petulantly exclaimed
''By Cd, sir, we owe our country to
the patriotism inspired by that glorious
anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner;
by Cd, [ want to make this monu-
ment the best in the world-grand, sir,
grand, sir. Put down $780, 600 fol
that. The gentlemen interposed &c
further objections, but promptly insert
ed the figures designated
All the various donations enumerated
in the trust deed Will not foot up an az
gregate of over 81, 100000 The resi-
due OF the estate is to be equally divid-
ed between the Pioneer Society and the
Academy OF Sciences. This will allow
each of these societies over $1,000,000.
1t was proposed to Mr.. Lick that this
would be more than these associations
would have any use for, and that $780,
600 each would defray the cost OF splen-
did buildings. This information only
served to irritate the aged benefactor OF
his race, aud he said, 8. No, want them
to be way up, and I'm going to have il
So"
About the time the deed of trust was
executed, Mr.. Lick suffered a stroke OF
paralysis on one side of his body. This
only increased his irritability, and it
became exceedingly difficult to manage
him. His eccentric temper was con
slant affection to those around him.
But one man could manage him DIR.
Ieile conquered the obstreperous phil
anthropist. 1t seemed that Lick had
fired volley of abuse at the phys clan,
whereupon the latter seized q
cane, and threatened to raise a Key
monument on his head. This seasonal
bic treatment had the desired effect,
and ever after the great revoker was a
lamb III the hands of the resolute doe
tor.