Freeman's champion., 1858-07-22

weeks this man continued to perform
the same terrible office of attending
upon the sick and dying, discharging
the most painful and dangerous du-
ties of the lowest servants in the place.
This repulsive-looking Samaritan was
Stephen Cir rd, with his strong will,
his bodily energy, his strong heart,
and his one eye. The hard, gripping
trader was not SO selfish, after all.--
When all the paid attendants, all the
visitors Of the poor, were either dead,
dying, or had fed when no offers
Of money would purchase that labor
which was required for the reorgani-
cation of the pest-house hospital at
Bush Hill, two men nobly volunteer
ed for the fororn task-Stephen G."
rard and Peter Helm. On the after
noon of the same day on which he
offered his services, Stephen Girard,
a merchant of growing wealth and
inhuence---a foreigner, with no ties
Of country between him and the at
Hicted city--entered upon his danger
Gus task with all the perseverance
and decision of his character. He
soon established order and cleanliness;
provided accG mmodations and pro-
cured supplies and for sixty days
continued to discharge his duties at
the hospital.
In eighteen hundred and twelve,
Stephen Girard, the one-eyed cabin
boy Of Bordeaux, purchased the bank
ing premises OF the old Bank OF the
United States (whoSe charter was
not renewed, and started the Girard
Bank-a large private establishment,
which not only conferred advantages
upon the community greater than the
State institution upon which it was
founded, but, while the public credit
was shaken, and the Government f.
nances were exhausted by war, the
Girard Bank could command large
subscriptions Of loans, and put itself
in the position Of the principal cred
itor ofthe country. In eighteen huu-
dred and fourteen, Girard subscribed
the whole Of large Government loan
from patriotic motives and in eigh.
teen hundred and seventeen he con-
tributed, by his unshaken credit and
undiminiShed funds, to bring about
the resumption of specie payments,
In eighteen hundred and thirty one
his operations were so 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 trans
action with an eminent English firm,
to turn the exchanges, and cause spe-
Gle to flow into the United States.
Stephen Glrard began his remark
able trading career with one object,
which he steadily kept in view all his
long life-the making of money for
the power it conferred. He was con-
tent, at starting, with the small prof
its Of the retail trader, willing to la
Dor in any capacity to make those
profits secure. He practiced the most
rigid personal economy; he resisted
all the allurements Of pleasure he
exacted the last farthing that was due
to him, and he paid the last farthing
that he owed. He took every advan-
tage which the law allowed him in
resisting claim he used men just
so far as they would accomplish his
purpose he paid his servants no moro
than the market price when faith
full cashier died he exhibited the ut
most indifference, making no provis-
ion for his family, and uttering no
sentiment of regret for his loss. lie
would higgle for penny with huck-
ster in the streets he would deny the
watchman at his bank the customary
Christmas present Of great.coat.--
10 add TO his singular and deficient
character, he was deaf in one ear,
could only speak broken English,
never conversed upon anything but
business, and wore the same old coat,
cut in the French style, for five years
together. An old, fickety chair, re-
markable for It's age, and marked with
the initials rs. g." drawn by q fa-
ded 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 deferen-
tisl, in appearance, to rank and FAM
| lily, Violent and passionate---only
to one man, an oil and faithful clerk
named Robergot. His theological
opinions were heterodox in the ex-
treme, and he loved to name his
splendid vessels after Voltaire and
Kosseau. He was devoted to the i'm
provement OF his adopted city and
conntrv ha waa n dntarninad fal-