Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-09
THE GAZETTE.
-GIRARD, THE MoNEY-MAKER.
MONDAY MORNING, ADJUST 9, 1855.

GIRARD, THE MONEY-MAkER.
A recent number of the Household Words
contains q sketch of Stephen Girard. 1t Is
not correct in ell particulars, and yet 1t en-
bodies many interesting facts in the history
of the celebrated banker. After giving the
leading events in the early life of Grard, the
writer proceeds as follows
In 1912, Stephen Girarc, the one-eyed cal
in boy Of Bordeaux, purchased the banking
premises of the old Bank OF the United States
Whose charter was not reoeWed) ana started
the Girard Bank, u large private establish
ment, which not only conferred ADVANTAGES
on the community greater than the state IT.
stitution upon which it was founded, put'
while che public credit was shaken the 'os-
eminent finances we're exhausted by war, the
Girard Bank could command large suoscrip-
tons of loan, and pot itself in the position
of the principal creditor of the country; 10
1914 Girard subscribed the whole OF large
Government loan from patriotic motives
and in 1917 he contributed by his unshaken
credit and updiminished funds to bring bout
the resumption Of specie payments. In looV
his operatiops were 90 extensive that Wben
the country was placed in extreme embarrass-
mept from the scarcity Of money by reason
of the balance of trade being against 1t, be
was enabled. by single transaction WIN an
eminent English firm. to turn the exchanges
and cause specie to auw into the States.
TO add to bis singular aud deioleot char
aoter, he was deaf in one ear, could only
speak broken Eoglisb, never conrersed upon
an ything but business. and wore the same
old coat cut in the French style. for hVe
years together. An old ricketty chair, re-
markable for it's age, and marked with the
initials IS. g." drawn by faded horse, was
used when be rode about the city. tie had
no sense of hospitality, no friend to share bis
house or his table He was deferentiai IN
appearance to rank and family: violent and
passionate, only TO one man-an old ana
faithful clerk named Roberjot. His theolog'
ical opinions were he.erodox 10 the extreme,
aud he loved to name his splendid vessels after
Voltaire and Rousseau. He was devoted to
the improvement Of his adopted CITY and
country: he was q determined follower Of os'
tentatious charity. No man ever applied 10
him for large public grant in vain, while
the starsing beggar was Invariably seut from
bis gate. He steadily rose every morning
before the lark, and anceasing labor was
the daily worship of his life.
Stephen Girard began his remarkable trad
ing career with ore object, which he steadily
kept in view all bis long life-the making
of money for the power it conferred. III
was content, at starting, with the small pro
fits Of the retail trader, willing to labor IL
any ca pacity to make these profits secure.-
He praotised the most rigid personal econo
nv; he resisted all the allurements of pleas
ure; he exscted the last fsrtbing that was du
him; and be paid she last fartbiDg that b.
owed. He took every advantage the law al
lowed him in resisting claim; be used mel
just 80 far as they would accomplish his pu
pose; he paid his servants no more than th
market price; when faithful cashier died
he exhibited the utmost indifference, makini
no provision for bis family, and utteriDg n
sentiment of regret for bis loss. lie woul'
higple for a penny with huckster in tn
street; he would deny the Waterman at Ri
bank the customary Christmas present OF
great coat.
Thus he attained bis eigbty-second year
in 1880, he had nearly lost the sight OF b'
one eye, and used to be seen cropping abou
his bank, disregarding every offer of assls
tance. Crossing one of the PbiladelPbi
roads, be was knocked down by passing
wagon, bis face was bruised, and bis rigb
ear was nearly cut of. His one eye, whicl
before opened slightly. was now entlrei.
closed; he gradually wasted away. and hl
health declined. % the twenty sixth of DE
cember. Stephen Girsrd expired in the baci
room, on the third floor of bis house, in Wa
ter street, Philadelphia, leaving the bulk
his large fortune. upwards Of million ster
ling. to found charities, and to benefit to-
city and the country in which be had acquir
ed it.
lie left bis monument, in the "Girard Col
lege," that marble-roofed palace for the edu
cation ard protection Of the orphan children
of the poor, which stands, the most perlec
model Of architecture in the New World, hlg
above the buildings OF Philadelphia, visibl
from every eminepce OF the surroundin
country. Every detail Of the external an
internal arrangement Of this Orphan Colleg
was set forth clearly and carefully IN HI
will; showing that the design upon which b
had lavished the macs Of his wealth was no
the hastily developed fancy ola few hours o
days. but was the heart-cherished, silent pre-
ject OF bis whole life.