Year: 1875




" Praise no man until he is dead" is
an aphorism the truth Of which is brought
forcibly to our minds, as from time to
time we see the idols we have set
up topple themselves oyer and lie prone
in the dust. The iconoclast is seldom
called in-the sacrificial act is generally
suicidal, also. 1t is pity that men live
so long F; that is, some men. 1t is said
Fortune knocks once at every mans door,
and if her path is followed, then fayors
are showered upon the chosen favoTite.-
SO, if some men could die at just the
right time they would leave glorious
name for posterity to bless. But they do
not die. The span of life is heightened
out to long years after their career of use
fulness is brought to an end. We are
sorry this is The case, but it is human to
err and we cannot expect to see any man,
however near perfection we may deem
him, constantly rising above the level of
his fellows.


The press Of the State, and we may say
Of the world, is not yet done cxtolling the
munfcence Of Mr.. james Lick. His
princely estate, valued at four or five
millions of dollars was, By his own free
act and deed, conveying in trust to GER
tain men, selected by himself, to be used
for the purpose of performing certain
~, ~
rejoieed that an observatory was to be
erected on this Coast, where the study of
astronomy could be carried on with facil-
itics unequalled in any other part of the
world patriotism was glad that the au-
thor Of our national anthem would be at
last honored with a fitting monument /;
and State pride was gratifed by that
clause which provided for the beautifca-
ton Of the State Capitol grounds. There
was no end to the press panegyrics show
cred upon the munificent LICK, by and
through whom all these things were to
be brought about.


But change is the order of all nature,
and the mind Of the great benelactor was
not exempt from the common lot of
earthly affairs. Mr.. Lick thinks the
trust is not being executed exactly as he
could desire hence he has gently intim-
ater to the Trustees his wish that they
should resign. This they refused to do,
whereupon james at once filed revoca-
ton Of his deed Of trust, and will Of
course contend for the recovery of the
estate. He says he still intends to carry
ont the objects named in the deed, and
will do so in Il more efficient manner than
could be done under it. With so vast II
stake at issue there is fun ahead for the
lawyers, who will be pretty certain to
keep the estate in the courts, unless n
compromise is effected, until the case of
Jarndyce vs.. Jarndyce will be the only
fitting comparison. Wealth is power,
and Lick knows it. The fit of generosity
which seized him when confined to q sick
bed has doubtless been dispeled by re-
turning health, and the desire to recoyer
the property he then parted with is only
natural and human after all. Doubtless
the majority Of men would have done
just the same as he has done, provided
they had been guilty Of the folly of part
ing with the property in the first ms
tance. While we should have rcjoiced
to have seen the objects expressed by
Mr.. Lick few months ago carried out
to the letter, we yet believe that if he has
rcpented Of his freak and wants the con-
troll of his property again, he should
have it.