The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-22
Jn.ncs LtcS's Eccentrfcities

THE HISTORY OF HIS DEED OF TRtSI-Hh fs-
QUESTS TEST OF HIS OWN sASIrY-A HIGH
OLD MONUMENT Mr.. LICK AND HIS DOCTOR.
From the San Francisco Chrouiclel
The incidents which so to make up the
history OF James Lick'S great deed Of phi.
lanthropy have for the most part yet to be
written. 1t appears that for year and a
half prior to his signing the deed which he
nov seeks to revoke he had been considering
propositions Tor the disposition OF his vast
estate. He solicited the counsel Of his friends
very oitcu, and made several wills. The
last will cancelled by him provided lib
orally for nearly all the institutions emu
mcrated in the deed OF trust and others
whose claims upon his generosity are ig-
norcd in that document. Among these were
tie Catholic and Hebrew orphan aSylums, 10
which he had bCqueathed 5000 each. This
Will was witnessed by ChcfJustice Wal
lace. Governor Booth, and ID. j. Staples.
Alter Mr. Lick had executed the trust deed,
his chief cOuccrn seemed to be as TO whether
bis act would bold good after bis death. He
feared very much that the question OF his
sanity would come up some day and impair
! the validity of the deed. He frequently
asked his friends if they thought his
| relatives could have the document de-
clarcd void by the courts, and in
hi, distressing corjcc:urcs upon such a
| possibility, alluded TO the memorable Hawes
wii.-.a>c. Turning anXiouSly on his couch,
| he one day asked his visitor, "Do you think
| I'm sane: | would like to be satisfied on
that point" The latter replied, Il do, Mr..
| Lick, tut | am not an expert" The feeble
oclogenaiiln thcreupon declared bis desire
that IN expert should pass upon the ques-
| ton OF bis mental condition. Accordingly
! bis friend. DR.. Stilman, an old pioneer, was
sent for, and Mr.. Lick gave him cheerful
! greeting. Next i, was suggested that DR..
Shurlliif, for many years superintendent OF
the S'ockton Insane Asylum, should be sum
moned. 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, outside
of cold business speculation, WAS the tcrvcnt
spirit Of patriotism that animated him. his
! ewes always kindlcd when his patriotic grand
! father was the subject of conversation. ard
he ALWAYS referred proudly to his graudsire
is one who had fought bravcly in the war OF
the Revolution. When the proposition to
crcci "A monument to the memory of Francis
scott Kew was under consideration it was
suggested to Mr.. Lick that an appropriation
OF $4,000 would be ample. This sum, his
4
finest monument which could possibly be
ertc.ed Then the patriotic CrGsus, with a
flash OF anger 10 his face, petulaDlly eX.
Gained: by Cd. sir, we owe our coun-
try 10 the patriotism inspired by that glorious
anthem 'Thc Star.Spanged Banner, By
Cd. want TO make this monument the
best in the world grand, sir grand sir.
Put down Slj0,000 for that The gentle.
men interpoSed 30 farther objections, but
promptly inserted the figures designated.
All the various donations enumerated in
the trust d. ed will not foot up an aggregate
of over S1,700,000. The residue of the
estate is to hc equally divided between the
Pioneer Society and the Academy OF Sciences.
This will allow each of these societies over
81 .00O. 900. 1t was proposed to Mr. Lick
that this would be more than these aSsocia.
tons would have any use tJr, and that $780,
900 each would defray the cost Of splendid
buildings. This information only served to
irrit4e the 9ged benefactor of bis race, and
he said, No, j want them 10 be sway up,
and Pm going to have it So"
| About the time the deed OF trust was exc
cuted MIR. Lick suffered q stroke Of paralysi:
on one side of his body. This only increasec
his irrita5ility, and it became exceedingly
difficult to manage him. His eccentric tem
per was constant aftliction to those ar0un[
bin. But one man could manage him. Dr
Zelle conquered the obstreperous phllan
thropiSt. 1t seemed that Lick had fired {
voIlcy of abuse at the physician, whereupoI
the latter seized heavy cane and threatenet
TO raise a hey monument on his head. Thl
! sea>onabIc treatment had the desired effect
and ever after the great revoker was lamt
in the hands of the resolute doctor.