Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-10-30
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAN Francisco, Oct. 6. 1876.

sleep at one o'clock Of the morning Of
Oct. lst
As all New York paid the homage Of
curiosity when the merchant prince eeas-
ed from his labOrs. so all this city look
ed on eager-eyed as the preparations for
the funeral obsequies Of this rich man
were made.
Lying IN his room in the Lick hotel.
surrounded only by hired nurses. visited
only BY members Of the Society Of PiO-
neers, of which he was President, pky-
sieIans. his trustees and item-seeking re-
pOrters, he remained for weeks making
4 tight with the conquerOr Of all-the
rich as well as the poor. Fer eighty
years he had lived in this world so ma
ny are weary Of. yet he clung TO life
with all the power Of his will OF iron
constitution, without any disease Of body.
he only yielded when the machinery
wore out; and though be must have seen
and felt the stealthy approach Of the
Great Destroyer, he would not be told
that his days were numbered. Asifap-
pearances might deceive even the King
OF Terrors, he sent for his barber and
had the heavy fringe Of whiskers which
he always wore, dyed brown, which,
with the dark brown wig he wore, made
him seem years younger than he really
was But death would not be cheated.
aud stalked steadily on The shadows
dimmed the eyes and icy fingers clutch
ed at the heartstrings until the cords
snapped and the spirit Of the millionaire
went out into the Land Of Mystery. leav-
ing behind only the poor clay and tie
treaLth he had bent tie energies of long
Il LtstlHle to accumulate. No loving ones
were near to close the eyes or fold the
hands over the dead mans breast; for
his wealth could not purchase affection,
and his disposition was not of a kind
that wins friends
At dawn the undertaken prepared him
for his last resting place 4; the artist took
plaster cast Of his face; and then,
dressed in plain suit Of black broad
cloth, he was placed II mahogany eof-
I'm. heavy with silver ornamentation,
with lining Of white satin but the i've
hundred gold dollars paid for this cas-
ket, secured for him only long, narrow
bed IN the bosom Of mother earth, and a
beggar's pine box may claim the same
resting-plaee-
In the afternoon the coffin was remov-
ed to the Hall Of the Pioneers, there to
lie II state until the funeral, which was
set for Wednesday. The flags fOated at
half mast, heavy festoons Of black adOru-
ed the outside Of the building, while
within was placed every semblanee of
grief which money could command.
Heavy folds Of black cashmere and white
SATIN covered the Corinthian pillars, the
windows were draped with black, caught
up here and there with branches Of in
morteIles, the speakers stand was COW
cred with Grape. white satin and flowers,
streamers Of Grape and white ribbon
foated from the chandeliers, and Grape
shadoEed every picture on the wall In
the center Of the room. the cofin va;
placed on a catafalque which was ele.
= CANT IN its costly decorations Of satin
and flowers Members Of the Society
were detailed to act as q guard ofhOnOr
and on Monday morning the doors wer'
thrown open, and the stream Of visitors
: commenced to file by the coffin
l felt interest enough IN the old nal
who had accumulated such wealth anC
had lived so eccentric q life, to 20 to tbs
, Hall and wait ny turn to see him
, found the cohned form Of . man a ittli
below medium size with rather narrow
J forehead, heavily-Iined and firm mouth
5 and hands which must have been yer,
7 nervous in their days Of usefulness Tn
I ! silver plate said: James Lick, aged s.
Years - but the dark whiskers aud vi
. might deceive one into believing hir
i much younger
r Attached to the coffin was badg
: presented TO James Lick II 1871, By II
Society Of Pioneers The central fgur
Of the badge Is bear, Of solid gold, eu
; eireled By a wreath Of diamonds set /
4 gold leaves A monogram, j. l."
= diamonds. On gold quartz surmOunts II
= representation Of the bear, and beneat
: the latter there Is pan. holding grain
! Of gold dust, resting on a shovel al
2 pick
: Stepping to one side Of the hall,
4 spent an hour noticing the visitors tt
= heavy draperies. the profusion OF exper
: sive flowers. said plainly, I'VE pay hon
= age 70 riches" but in the hundreds
faces I scanned. saw no indication
.r the presence of feeling Of regret, and
Z could but say II ny heart: Poor o.
1t nan To live eighty years; TO posse
< !. wealth enough to buy kingdom. ar
! vet not enough 70 bay = single tear
!" On 4 table at the head Of the eot5n y
e 4 cage with canary in 1.-THE on
& thing Nr. Lick seemed to love but d
E die sang neither song Of joy or grief Z
y l. .