Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-08-21

Stephen Girard.

- lCCCuI uulhDCT Ol InC IlOuSCnUlU
Words contains sketch of Stephen Girard.
1t is not correct in all particulars, and vet
it cmbodics many interesting facts, in the
history of the celebrated banker. After
giving tho leading events in the carly life
Of Girard, thc writer proceeds as follows
In 1872 stephen Girard, the onc,cycd
cabin boy of Bordeaux, purchased the ban
king promises 0f The old Bank Of The Uni.
ted States (whosc charter was not renew
cd) and started the Girard Bank. e largo
private establishment, which not only con-
tcrrcd advantages ON the community great
CT than the State institution upon which it
was founded, but, while tho public credit
was shaken, and the Government finances
were exhausted by war, the Grard Bank
could command large subscriptions of loan
and put itsclfin the position Of the prrci-
pal creditor of the country. In 1914 Gil
rard subscribed the whole of LARGE Gov
ommcnt loan from patriotic motives, and
IN 1917 he contributed by his unshakon
credit and undiminishod funds to bring
about the resumption of specie payments.
In 1881 his operations were so extensive
that when the country was placed in OK
trcme embarrassment from the scarcity of
money by reason of the balance of trade
being against it, he was enabled, by sin
glc transaction with an eminent English
firm, to turn the exchanges and cause spc-
cic to flow into the States
TO add to his singular and deficient char
actcr, he was deaf in one ear, could only
speak broken English, never convcrscd up
on anything but business, and wore the
same old coat, cut in the French style, Tor
five years together. An old rickcty chair,
remarkable for its anc, and marked with
the initials rs. G.," drawn by a faded
horse was used when he rode about the
city. He had no sense of hospitality no
friend to share his house or his table,
lie was dcfcrcntial in appearance to rank
and family; violent and passionate only to
one man-an old and faithful clerk named
Robcrgot His theological opinions were
hcrctodox in the extreme, and he loved to
name his splendid vessels after Noltairc
and Rousseau He was devoted to the i'm
provcmcnt of his adopted city and country;
he was determined follower of ostcnta-
tious charity. Noman ever applied to him
for large public grant in vain, while the
starving bcggar was invariably sent from
his gate. He steadily rose every morning
before the lark, and unccasing labor was
the daily worship Of his life
Stephen Girard began his remarkable
trading career with one object, which he
steadily kept in view all his long lifc-thc
making ofmoney for the power it conferred.
lie was content, at starting, with the small
profits of the retail trader, willing to labor
in any capacity to make these profits secure
He practiced the most rigid personal econ
omy; he resisted all the allurcmcnts of
pleasure; he eXacted the last farthing that
was due him, and he paid the last farthing
that he owed. He took every advantage
the law allowed him in resisting claim :;
he used men just so far as they would ac-
complish his purpose; he paid his servants
no more than the market price; when a
faithful cashier died, he exhibited the ut
most Indifference, making no provision for
his family, and uttering no sentiment Of
regret for his loss. He would higs.n for e
penny with huckster in the streets; he
would deny the watchman at his bank the
customary Christmas present of great
coat.
Thus he attained his cighty-sccond year
IL LOW ilO h'u hC'iIJ loSC lHc StSilt vi
his ono eye, end used to be seen cropping
about his bank, disrcgarding every offer of
assistance. Crossing one of the Philadcl-
phia roads, he was knocked down by pas
sing wagon, his face was bruised, and his
right car was nearly cut off. His one eye
which before opened slightly was now en-
tiroly closed; he gradually wasted away
and his health declined. On the twenty
sixth Of December, Stephen Girard expired
in back room, on the third floor of his
house, in water street, Philadelphia, icay-
ing the bulk of his large fortune, upwards
of a million sterling, to found charities,
and to benefit the city and the country in
which he had acquired it.
lie left his monument in the "Gilard
College" that marb!c-roofcd palace for the
education and protection of the orphan
children of the poor, which stands, the
most perfect model of architecture in the
New World, high above the buildings of
Philadelphia, visible from every emncncc
of the surrounding country. Every detail
of the external and internal arrangement
of this orphan College was set forth clearly
and carefully in his will showing that the
design upon which he had lavished the
mass of his wealth was not the hastily de-
velopcd fancy of few hours or days, but
was the heartcherished, silent project of
his whole life
AN eccentric wealthy gentleman stuck
up board in a field upon his estate, on
! which was painted the following 81 will
give this field to any man who is contentcd -