The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-10
A STORY OF JAMES LICK.
The Giver of the Telescope Made
Pianos in Baltimore.

The Glver of the Telescope Made
Pianos in Baltimore.
From the Baltimore American
James Lick tie giver Of the greatest tel
escope in the world, was at one time resi-
dent of Baltimore. In 1919 he was working
at his bench as a piano-maker in the estab-
lishment Of Joseph Hiskey, On Light street,
between Mercer and LON ard Some of
| his work has been traced up to its resting
place In the modern establishment of Will
lam KnaDe q Co., which had begun to
make pianos before Mr.. Hiskey had retired
from the business, nearly half "A century
ago. Lick was native of Pennsylvania,
having been born at fredericksburg,
cestors were German, and the name
originally Luck. Tie family became
patriotic Americans. AMI some OF It's mem
bers fought under Washington against the
Hessians and tue British, and soon after
cherished the memories Of Valley Forge,
Trenton, and ths Bra dywlne Lick S
early life was obscure, blt when of age he
apprenticed himself 10 an 0 gan maker at
Hanover, Pa. Before he had served very
long, however, he resolved u come to the
large cities of Baltimore and Annapolis,
and here he engaged with Joseph II skey IN
1919. He was in Mary and bus a snort
time, but accident, as We say, started a
train Of consequences that no doubt led to
his success as well as to his benevolent bene-
factions
One day penniless youth named Conrad
Meyer applied at the factory for employ
ment He attracted Lexis fancy, who
took the stranger in cha &c, provided him
with food and proper clothing, and OBJ
tanned place for him IN the Hiskey estab-
hshmelt. He thus formed a friends hip
that lasted throughout his life. In 1854 the
pianos Of this same Conrad Meyer took the
first prize in the London International ex-
hibitioa, and their maker had a factory
that ranked as one of the largest in
America.
In 1920 Lick left Hickeys establishment
and went to New York, but, for want Of
capital, his plans miscarried, and he took
ship for South America. Ia ing his Balti-
more workbench with him, AID landing at
Buenos AyreS, be set up his factory there.
He made money at his trade, but finally
packed up again, came t. Philadelphia
where he went to work, but soon cha ged
again to New York, then again to Boston,
and fiually back sgain to BuenOs Ayres
There he filed a nu nber of orders for
pianos, and went n Chill, where he set up
his bench and labored until he determined to
try Callao, il Peru. There he remain cd seven
years, when be began to think of California,
then part Of Mexico. His friends tried to
dissuade him from going to live among the
outlaws, ut he q ieTnined to risk his
chances. He had, however, a contract to
deliver several pianos, and as his workmen
left him t go to Nexic he had to spend
two years, without assistance, to make the
pianos and fulfill his contract His prop
eltv then was worth $4,000, but he Sacri-
feed it for $50, 0)0 and left for California,
carefully taking MS familiar work! e1ch
with hin-au article which he etainel
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 il as kind of
shop divinity, on which his luck in trade
depended.
ROMANCE WITH THE MILLER'S DAUGHTER.
Mr.. Lick was never married, but like
many of the bachelors, as Shakespeare in
differently called the unmarrie members
of either sex, he had his eXr erience. One
Of mis- apparently unexplainabl3 freaks in
California was to build a mill, which as
ceilsd with mahogany and other beautiful
woods, and flushed in tine most expensive
stVle. There Sc med to be no reason for
this form of extrava gant folly until little
romance Of his early life came out
Before h went to learn the organ-mak-
ing business he had bee5 apurenticed to a
wealthy miller in Pennsylvania, who had a
pretty daug ter. Lick was a comely and
plucGy youth and the two fell in love Full
OF hope a d the prospect of happiness, the
young mau pied 10 the girPs father, Civ
ing him fl information as to both their
wishes. Wnerelpon the rich Pennsylvania
Dutchman became Indignant, and SC0ute
the idea, excl i.lluG: "Out, you beggari
Dare you cast eyes upon my daughter, who
will iuherit all my property2 Have you e
mill like thlsi Have you single penny in
your pursef To this TRADE tue poor youth
could only reply that just then be hadn't
but he added that the day would come
when he would have mill, com
pared with which that one would be moth
ing more than pig-sty. He left the mil
Ter, but he never forgot the cruel words
So, after he had become not only rich, but
a millionaire, he built this MILL and when
it was finished, it had everything that
could have added to tde perfection of its
appointing It. Its machinery was perfect
and its walls and floors OF the highest posi-
BILE p dish. He was not able to bring the
miller to see the ful6llment of his bOyish
declaration, but no had the mill photo
graphed in every possible way, within and
without, and, although his old sweetheart
bsd long since been married, he sent her
father tue pictures, aud recalled to him the
daY when he had b asted of his mi |.
Beyond the accomplishment Of his life
long purpo Q. however, there was but little
profit In the mill, and ne soon determined
10 give III away tie was a Close 81 dent
aud an ardent admlrer of tao works Of
Thomas Paine, and, all of sudden, tho
millionaire who bad been looked upon as IN
eccentric and penurious Old b. cheiur. made
his first donation BY deciding the props ryy
to the Thomas Paine Memorial As ,oci9ti n
Of Boston. TIE dona ion was not To bring
any happiness, however, for the essocilti m
sent out an agent who took possession Of the
property, and with ut noticing the donor
sacrificed it for the small sum Of $4,000
cash, which So disguised Mr.. Lick that he
gave up all interest in the follower Of
Thomas Paine, saying that after all they
were no better than other christian denomi-
nations
Into ruin to see falling
Teotn once sound Is quite appalling'