Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-09-09
STEPHEN GIRARD.

STEPHEN GIRARD.
A recent number of the Household Words
contains the following sketch of Stephen
Girard:
In 1872 Stephen Girard, the one eyed cab
in boy of Bordeaux, purchased the banking
premises of the Bank of the United States
(whose charter was not renewed and started
the Girard Bank, large private establish.
ment, which not only conferred advantages
on the community greater than the State
institution upon which it was founded, but
while the public credit was shaken, and the
Government finances were exhausted by war,
the Girard Bank could command large sub
scriptions of loan, and put itself in the posi-
ton of the principal creditor. of the country.
In 1914 Girard subscribed the whole of a
large Government loan from patriotic mo-
tives; in 1917 he contributed by his unshak-
en- credit and undiminished funds, to bring
about the resumption Of specie payments
In 1881 his operations, were 80 extensive
that when the country was placed in extreme
embarrassment from the scarcity of money
by reason of the balance of trade being
against it, he was enabled by single tran
saction with an eminent English firm, to
turn the exchanges and cause specie to
flow into the States.
To add to his singular and deficient char
acter, he was deaf in one ear, could only
speak broken English, never conVersed up.
on any thing but business, and wore the
same old coat cut in the French style, for
five years together. An old rickety chair,
remarkable for its age, and marked with the
initials S. Co. drawn by 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. He was deferential
in appearance to rank and family; violent
and passionate only to one man-an old and
faithful clerk named Robergot. His theo-
logical opinions were heretodox in the ex-
treme, and he loved to name his splendid
vessels after Voltaire and Rousseau. He
was devoted to the improvement of his adop.
ted city and country; he was a determined
follower of osteutatious charity. No man
ever applied to him for a large public grant
in vain, while the starving beggar was inva-
riable sent from his gate. He steadily rose
ever morning before the lark, and unceasing
was the daily worship of his life.
Stephen Girard began his remarkable tra-
ding career with one object, which he steadi-
ly Kept in view all his long life-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
practiced the most rigid personal economy,
he resisted all the allurements 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
80 far as they would accomplish his purpose; /;
he paid his servants no more than the mar
ket price; when faithful cashier died, he
exhibited the utmost indifference, making no
provision for his family, and uttering no
sentiment of regret for his loss. He would
higgle for penny with buckster in the
street he would deny the watchman at his
bank the customary Christmas present of a
great coat.
Thus he attained his oigbty-second year.
In 1880, he had nearly lost the sight of his
one eye, and used to be seen cropping about
his bank, disregarding every offer of assis-
tance. Crossing one ofthe Philadelphiaroad
he was knocked down by passing wagon,
his face was bruised, and his right ear was
nearly cut off. His one eye, which before
opened slightly was now entirely closed ; ne
gradually wasted, away, and his health de-
clined On the twenty-si1th of December,
Stephen Girard expired in back room, on
the third floor of his house, in Water street,
Philadelphia, leaving the bulk of bis large
fortune, upwards, of a million sterling, to
found charities, and to benefit the city and
the country in which he had acquired it.
He left his monument in the Girard COL
lege, that marble.roofed palace for the edu-
cation and protection Of the orphan children
of the poor, which stands the most perfect
model of architecture in the New Wcrld,
high above the buildings Of Philadelphia,
visible from every eminence Of the surround
ing country. Every detail Of the external
arrangement of his Orphan College was set
forth clearly and carefully in his will show.
ing that the design upon which he had Law
ished the mass of his wealth was not the hasty
developed fancy of few hours or days, but
was the heart-oherished, silent project Of his
whole life.