Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-09-08

: srGnARD smx MoNxf HAKER-~A recent number Of
the Hpuskkold Words contains &sketch Of Stephen
irarh h Is not correct ia ~ particulars md Ct
embodes mssy Interesting facts, in The hatorJ q
tie cslebsated sbauisr. After giving the leading
events in the early life Of Grard. the writer pro.
ceeds as follows: 5f.4 81 qyzef. - 81
!. In 1912, Stephen Grard. the one.eyed cabin boy
of Bordeaux purchased the banking premisss ri Ahs
old Bank Of the United States (whose chssis MAS,
not renewed) and started the GirArd Backs large
private establishment, which not only conferred adj
vantages on the community greater than the State
institution upon which it was founded, bnt while
the public credit shaken the Government 6nan-
ces were exhausted by war, the Girard Bank could
conn and large subscriptions Of loan and put itself
in the position Of the principal creditor Of the coun
try. In 1914, Girard subscribed the whole of
large Government loan from patriotic motives, and
in 1917 he contributed by his mistaken credit and
undminished funds to bring about the resumption
of specie payments In 1881, his operations were
so extensive that when the country was placed in
extreme embarrassment from the scarcity Of money,
by Of the balance of trade being against it.
he enabled by single transaction with an emf
nent English firm, to turn the exchanges and cause
specie to flow into the States.
To add to his singular and deficient character, he
was deaf in ear, could only speak broken Eng.
lish, never conversed upon anything but business
and the same old coat, cut in the French STYLE
for five years together. An old rickety chaise. re-
markable for its age, and marked with the initials
as. g." drawn by an old faded horse, was used
when he rode about the city He bad no sense of
hospitality friend to share bis house his table
He was deerential in appearance to rank and fam.
ly; violent and passionate only to one man-an old
and faithful clerk named Roberjot His theological
opinions were heterodox in the extreme. and he low
ed to name his splendid vessels after Votaire and
Rosseau. He was devoted to the improvement Of
his adopted country, and he was determined fol-
lower of ostentatious charity. No man ever applied
to him for large public grant in vain, while the
starving beggar was invariably sent from his gate.
He steadily rose every morning before the lark,
and unceasing labor was the daily worship Of his
life.
Stephen GiIard began his remarkable trading car
Ger with object, which he steadily kept in view
all his long fe-the making OF money for the power
it conferred He was content, at starting, with the
small profits of the retail trader, willing to labor in
any capacity to make these profits secure. He prac
tced the most rigid personal economy; he resisted
all the aurements Of pleasure; he exacted the last
farthng that was due him, and he paid the last far
thing that he owed. He took every advantage the
law allowed him in resisting claim; he used men
just as far as they would accomplish his purpose
he paid his servants more than the market price
when faithful cashier died he exhibited the ut.
most indifference, making provisions for his fami-
ly, ard uttering sentiment of regret for his loss.
He would higgle for a penny with a huckster in
the street he would deny the Waterman at his
bank the customary Christmas present of great
coat
Thus he attained his eighty second year, in 1880
he had nearly lost the sight of his eye, and used
to be seen cropping about his bank, disregardng eve
~ offer OF assistance. Crossing of the Phladel.
phia roads he was knocked down by passing wag-
on, his face was bruised and his right
ly cut off. His one eye, which before opened slight
ly, now entirely closed; he gradually wasted
away, and his health declined. On the Goth of De,
cember Stephen Girard expired in the back room
the third floor Of his house, in Water street, Phil
adepha, leaving the bulk of his large fortune, up
wards of million sterling to found charities and to
benefit the city and the country is which he acquir
ed it.
He left his monument in the " Girard College,
that marble rooted palace for the education and pro
lection Of the orphan children Of the poor, which
stands the perfect model Of architecture in the
New World, high above all the buildings of Phila
delphia. visible from every eminence Of the sur
rounding country. Every detail Of the external and
internal arrangement of this orphan college set
forth clearly and carefully in his will, showing that
the design upon which he had avished the OF
wealth not the hastily developed fancy of few
hours OF days. but the heart-cherished silen,
project of his whole life.