Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-11-18
GIrnrd. nc Mnnex nInker-


rard, the money maker. 1t is not cor
rect in all particulars, and yet'it enbo-
dies many interesting facts, in the his
tory Of the celebrated banker. After
giving the leading events in the early
life of Girard, the writer proceeds as
follows !, e. - 49,
InS1812, Stephen Girard, the one-eyed
cabin boy of Bordeaux, purchased the
banking premises Of the old Bank Of
United States (whose charter was not
renqweD and started the Girard Bank,
a large private establishment, which not
only conferred advantages on the COM
m unity greater han the State i%nstitu-
ton upon which it was founded, but
while the public credit was shaken the
Government finances were exhausted by
wal, the Girurd Bank could command
large subscrietions Of loan, and put it
self in the position of the principal cre-
d,tor CT the country. In 1914, Girard
subscribed the whole of a large Govern
mcnt loan f:om patriotic motives, and
il 1877 he contributed by its mistaken
credit and undiminished funds to bring
about the resumption of specie pay
ments. In 1881, his operations were so
extensive that when the country was
placed in extreme cmbarrassments from
the scarcity of money by reason of the
balance of trade being against it, he was
enabled: by single transaction with an
cmihcnt; English firm, TO turn the ex-
changes and cause specie to flow into
the States 81 :. IoCi 4<L -
To add to his singular and deficient
character, he was deaf in one ear, could
only ~spcaLIbroken English, never con-
versed upon anything but business, and
wore the same old coat cut in French
style, for ives years together, An old
riekety chair, remarkable for lis age,
and marked With the initials IS. c."
drawn by, a faded horse, was used when
he rode about the city. lie had no
sense of hospitality, no friend to share
his house or his table. He was defer
entail in appearance to rank and family;
violent and passionate only to one man
old and faithful clerk named Ro-
bergot. His theological opinions were
hcrctodoxGih the extreme, and beloved
to name his Splendid vessels after Vol
ttire and Rosseau. He was devoted to
the imprerenen Mt ofllis adopted country,
he was u determined follower of o~stenta-
t;ous Charity. NJ man ever applied to
him for large public grant in vain,
while the starving bcsgaf was invariably
sentfrom his gate. He stcadlyArose
o,cry morning before. the lark, and un-
ccasing labor was the daily worship of
life. 50 sEs IsEE,a s E0sI /
Stephen Girard began his remarkable
trading careerwith one object. which he
steadily kept in view all his long life
the muking of money for the power it
conferred. He was content, at starting.
with The small profits of a retail trader,
willing to labor in any capacity to make
these profits secure. lie practiced the
most rigid personal economy; he re-
sisted all the alurenents of pleasure )
Leexaeted tho last farthing that was
due him and he paid the last farthing
that be owed. He took every advantage
the law allowed him in resisting a claim;
he used men just rs far as they would
accommodate his purpose he paid his
servants no more thnn the market price;
whep / a faithful cashier died he exhibit
ed the utmost indifference, making no
provision for the family, and tttering no
sentiment of regret for his loss. He
would higgle for a penny with a huck-
stersin,tbe street; he would deny the
watchman at his bank the customary
present of a great eoat.E fJIfa~
Thus he. attained his SD year, in
1880, he had nearly lost the sight of his
one eye, and used to be seen cropping
about his bank diregarding every offer
of assistance. Crossing One Of the Phil
adelphia roads he was knocked down by
n passing wagon, his face was bruised
and his right car was nearl,l u off,
His,one eye, which before opened slight
ly, was, now entirely closed he gradu-
ally wasted away, and his health declin-
ed:ssi0n the Goth of December, Stephen
Girard expired in the back room on the
third floor of his house: in Water street,.
PHILADELPHIA, leaving the bulk of his
large fortune, upwards ola million ster-
ling, rs found charities, and to benefit
the cityiand acoun try n,Which he had
acquired It. t9,-io!i 49,,
He left his monument In the "Girard
College, that mhrble:roofed palace for
the education and protection of the or
phdh children of the poor, which stands
the most perfect model of architecture
in the New World, high above all the
buildings of Philadelphia, visible from
every emfncnce of the surrounding coun-