Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-06

He WORKED AT THE BENCH IN THr MONUMENTAL
crTr-HIs TRAVELS N SOUTH AMERIcA-HIs Ro-
NANCE WITH A WEALTHY PENNSYLVANIA NIL
LERs DAUGHTER.
From the Baltimore American.
James Lick, the giver of the greatest tele-
scope in the world. was at one time a resident
of Baltimore. In 1919 he was working at his
bench as piano-maker in the establishment
of Joseph Hiskey, on Light street, between
Mercer and Lombard Some OF his work has
been traced up to its resting place in the
modern establishment Of VIM. Knabe Co.,
which had begun to make pianos be-
fore Mr.. Hiskey had retired from the
business, nearly half a century ago.
Lick was a native of PENNSYLVANIA. having been
born at Fredericksburg, Lebanon county IN
1870. His ancestors were German and the
name originally Luck. The family became
patriotic Americans, and some of its members
fought under Washington against the Hessians
and the British, and soon after cherished the
memories of Valley Forge. Trenton. and the
Brandywine. Lick's early life was obscure. but
when of age he apprenticed himself TO an
organ-maker at Hanover. Pa. Before he had
served very long, however, he resolved TO
come to the large cities of Baltimore and
Annapolis, and here he engaged with Joseph
Hiskey in 1919. He was in Maryland but a
short time, but accident. as we say. started a
train of consequences that no doubt led to his
success as well as to his benevolent benefac-
tions.
One day penniless youth named Conrad
Meyer applied at the factory for employment
He attracted Lick's fancy. who took the
stranger in charge. provided him with food and
proper clothing, and obtained place for him
In the Hiskey establishment He thus formed
a friendship that lasted throughout his life.
In 1854 the pianos of this same Conrad Meyer
took the first prize in the London international
exhibition, and their maker had factory that
ranked as one of the largest in America.
In 1870 Lick left Hickey's establishment and
went to New York. but for want of capital, his
plans miscarried. and he took ship for South
America. Taking his Baltimore workbench
with him, and landing at Buenos Ayres. he set
up his factory there. He made money at his
trade, but finally packed mp again. came 10
Philadelphia, where he went to work, but soon
changed again to New York. then again TO
Boston, and finally back again TO Buenos
Ayres. There he filled a number of orders for
pianos, and went to Chill, where he set up bis
bench and labored. until he determined to Try
Callao. in Peru. There he remained seven
years, when he began to think of California.
then part of Mexico. His friends tried TO
dissuade him from going to live among the
outlaws. but he determined to risk his chances.
He had. however, a contract to deliver several
pianos, and as his workmen left him TO go to
Mexico, he had to spend two years, without
sistance. to make the pianos and fulfill his con-
tract His property then was worth SJ0.000.
but he sacrificed it for $50 00O and left for Cali
fornia carefully taking his familiar workbench
with him-an article which he retained
throughout his life, and which now occupies a
conspicuous position in the hall of the Lick
observatory, on Mount Hamilton. In fact, he
seemed to revere it as a kind of shop divinity,
on which his luck in trade depended.
ROMANCE WITH THE MILLEs's DAUGHTER.
Mr.. Lick was never married, but like many
of the bachelors, as Shakespeare indifferently
called the unmarried members of either sex.
he had his experience. One of his apparently
unexplainable freaks in California was to build
a mill. which was ceiled with mahogany and
other beautiful woods, and finished in the most
expensive style. There seemed to be no rea-
son for this form of extravagant folly until a
little romance of his early life came out
Before he went to learn the organ-making
business he had been apprenticed TO a wealthy
miller in Pennsylvania, who had a pretty
daughter. Lick was a comedy and plucky youth
and the two fell in love. Full of hope and the
prospect of happiness. the young man applied
to the girls father. giving him full informa-
ton as to both their wishes. Whereupon the
rich Pennsylvania Dutchman became indignant
and secuted the idea, exclaiming: Out. YOU
beggar. Dare you cast eyes upon my daughter.
who will inherit all my property? Have you
mill like this? Have You single penny in your
purse?' To this TRADE the poor youth could only
reply that just then he hadn't. but he added that
the day would come when he would have a mill
compared with which that one would be moth
ing more than a pig-sty. He left the miller.
but he never forgot the cruel words. So after
he had become not only rich, but millionaire
he built this mill. and when il was finished. il
had everything that could have added to the
perfection of its appointment. Its machinery
was perfect and its walls and floors of the high
est possible polish. He was not able to bring
the miller to see the fulfillment of his bovish
declaration, but he had the mill photographed
in every possible way, within and without and.
although his old sweetheart had long since
been married, he sent her father the pictures.
and recalled TO him the day when he had
boosted of his mill.
Beyond the accomplishment of this lifelong
purpose, however. there was but little profit in
the mill. and he soon determined to give il
away. He a close student and an ardent
admirer of the works of Thomas Paine and
all Of a sudden, the millionaire who had been
looked upon eccentric and penurious old
bachelor, made his first donation by deciding
the property to the Thomas Paine Memorial
association of Boston. The donation was not
to bring any happiness, however, for the asso-
citation sent ont an agent who took possession
of the property and without noticing the donor
sacrificed il for the small sum of $4,000 cash
which so disguised Mr.. Lick that he gave up all
interest in the followers of Thomas Payne, saw
ing that latter all they were no better than
other Christian denominations"