The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-10-08
GRIRD, THE MONEY MAKER.

recent number Of the Household Words
contains sketch OF Stephen Girard. It is moi
CORE ct in all particulars, and vet it embodies
many interesting facts, in the history of the cell
ebgated banker. After giving the LEADING g.
vents IN the eahy jj!eof OH lr'l, tax "fhef pro-
r"eds as follows:
nremjs1$9 81 hSf' oqI4BaGUarl, the one-fyed cab
ivhgse character was not renewed) and started
the Grard Bank, large private establishment,
which not only conferred advantage on the
community greater than the State Institution
,u,an which it was founded, but, while the pub
lie cr,,,,t was shaken, the Government finances
,yar, evha,. ;t,d BY war, the GIrard could COM
fnand large subsL. r,,ons OF loan, aud put Itstli
in the position of he prluclII@t creditor OF Inc
country. In 1911, Glrard subscribe" 'he ""o'T
of a large Government loan, from patfloiiT mo-
tives, and ia 1917, he contributed by his unShs-
ken credit and uudiminshed funds, 10 bring a
bout the the resumption OF specie payments
In 1891, his operations were 50 extensive, thai
when the country was placed IN extreme en-
barraSsn. ent from the scarcity of money, br rea-
son of the balance Of trade being against 1t, he
was enabled by single Transaction wth an
eminent English firm, to turn the exchanges
and cause The specie to flow INTO the States.
70 add To his singular and deficient chaFac-
Ter. he was deaf IN one ear, could only speak
broken Euglish, never converstd upon anythlhg
but business, aud wore the same CID at, cut IN
the French style, for five years together. An
old rickeiy chair, remarkable for IFS great age
and mafked with the initials .. G,,' drawn oy
g, faded horse, was used when he rode about the
citv. He had no sense of hospitality, no irIend
TO share his table. He was deierenilal IN aP-
pearance to rank and family, violent and pas
| siopate, only TO one man-an old ana ia!'Hiul
clerk, named Roberot.
His theological opinions were teterodoX ia 10
the extreme, and he loved to name his sPlehdlo
vessels after Voltaire and Rousseau. lie was
devoted to the improvement OF his adopted couh'
inv. and he was determined follower OF osten'
tatious charity. No nan ever appied 70 hlil
for large public grant in vain, while tue star
vino begcar was invariably sent from MS gaze
He steadily rose every morning before 'he Id h
and unceasing labor was the daily worship 0
his life.
stephen Gilard began his remarkable trading
career with an object, which he steadily keP' u
view all his long ilte-the making oi money 10
the power il conferred. lie was content
starting, with the small profits OF the retail IRA
ders. willing 10 labor in any capacity 10 n'aN
, these DrOtItS secure. ne I'idS'iNNN - =,
, ii personal economy; he resisted all the allure
N nsnrs Of pleasure; he eXacted the last iaFthin
HAT was due him, and hc paid the last iaf'fin
, ,hal he owed He took every advantage IN
i law allowed him in resisting claim; he use
, men lust as far as they would accomplish D
nurpose: he paid his servants no more 'hah u
! market price; when a faithful cashier died
p Exhibited the utmost indifference, making
# provisions for his family, an! altering no sem
\ ment of regret at his loss. He would hiSSle
i neony with buckster in the street, he "o"
y DENY the watchman at his bank the c0s'0Ina'
: Christmas present ola great coat
: Thus he attained bis eighty y-second year.
,e 1880; he had nearly lost the 81 Sht OF ms one y
l. and used to be seen cropping about his oanN' q
d REGARDING every offer Of assistance. Crossl ross.
- one of the Philadelphia roads, he was Ehoch
down by a passing wagon, his face was ,9i G[u's' St
a and his right ear was neatly cut OIL ms - =
~ eve. which before slightly opened, was ~
~ entirely closed; he gradually wasted away a
!. b;s LeaIth declined. On the 2oth OF Decemo
~ ~ Sienhen Girard expired, in the back room
m .n 1be third floor of his house, N water que