The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-09-13
Anecdotes of Stephen Girard.

hneVuVbeS VI otepneu ulraTu.
A paper read by DR.. W. NJ. Cornell at
tho last meeting OF tho Now England His.
torica Genealogical society in Boston, gavo
tho following interesting anecdotes OF Ste.
phcn Girard:
Stephen Girard was the solo iudpo of
his beneiiconco. II rightly approuched no
would givo largely; but If dictated to or
treated rudcIy no would not give at ALL
Samuel Coates, one of tho old Friends, knew
how to manage Girard. whilo many who
sought mid from him were unsuccessful -
Mr.. Coates was ono of tho managers of the
Pennsylvania Hospital, which was then
much in want of funds. lIo undertook To
get doEation from Mr.. Girard. and meet.
ing HIM in tho street, stated his object Mr..
GIrard asked aim to como to him tho next
uOrniDg.
Mr. Coates called and found Girard Mt
breakfast. lIo asked him to ,nko somo.
which Mr. Coates did. A!tur breakfast Mr..
Coates said, "Well. Mr. Girard we will pro
coed to business" "WcI. what bayu Won
como Cor, Samuel = said Mr.. Grard. Just
what thee plcasos. Stephen" replied MIR.
Coates Girard drew u check for 80 600
which MIR. Coates put in Ills pocket without
looking at it. "What yon no look at the
check gave you = said Mr.. Girard. "No.
beggars must not no chooscrs, Stephen" !"
SAID Mr. Coates. "lIand me back again tho
check gave you" demanded Girurd. "No.
no, Stcphon--a bird in tho hand is worth
two in tho bush." said Mr.. Coates. BY
| George J. said Grard, "you have caught no
on thu right footing" llc then drew a check
for 5000, and presented it to Mr.. Coates.
observing, "Will you now look at il q well.
to please tboo, Stephen, will" said Mr..
Coates. "Now gvo mo back the irst cheek" I"
demanded MIR. Girard-which was accord.
ingly done.
Tho Rov. DR.. Stnughton, an eminent
Baptist minister of Philadelphia. did not
understand Mr.. Girard so woli as MIR. Coates
did. When they woro about building their
meeting house in Samson street, DR.. Slough
ton called on Mr.. Girard for aid. Girard
, received him as bo usually did bcggsrs,
coolly but courteously, and gavc him u
chock for $500 DIR. Stoughton received it
with u low bow but upon examining it ex
pressed his nstonishmont, adding. "oniy $500!
Surely you will not give us less than 81 600 .
Lot mo see the check, Mr.. S,oughton, -
said Girard; perhaps l havo made one
mistake" Tho Doctor returned him tho
check With tho utmost sang GoM Girard
tore il into fragments, observing, 'WulI. MIR,
StUughton, If you will not have what give,
l will give nothing" Tho Doctor left him,
exceedingly mortified.
Grard had no preference for ono scot
more than for auo!ber, and he gayo to build
churches merely to improve tho city.
Tho Methodists wisho6 to build a church
in Tenth street, just north of Chestnut
Thomas lIaskins, u merchant, and neigh
Dor of Girard, called on him, and urged his
suit for mid in very modest terms Girard
replied, IL approve of your object" aud pre-.
scntod him with a check for $500. The
Methodist society failed. and tho house was
bought by tho E,,iscopalians, who wished
to altor 1t into the splendid Gothic house
now called st. Stephen's church. A com.
mittce waited upon 8ir. Gira.d, told him
thcr plan, and asked lis aid. IIo gave
them check for $500. Tboy wcro dissp.
! pointed, and eaid: "Why. you gnvo tho
Methodls,s $500 for thoir little church, and
We are going 20 build moro splendid ediice,
and surely you will givo US something
comporting with tho grandeur of our design.
Have you not omitted n cypber :" They
returned the check, asking him to mako il
s5 600. Girard tore it in pieces and added:
Il will not give you ono cont. Your society
is rich-!he Methodists arc poor. You ro.
mind me OF tho rich man in the gospel. Ho
would pull down and build greater. Profit
by his fate, gentlemen. havo nothing to
give for your splendid church."
An old Quaker has related TO mo the
following: A man who had just sot u2 in
the hariwsre business. and who had been
a clerk whore Girard had traded. applied to
him for a share of his patronage. Girard
bought OF him, and when he brought in the
bill, found fault and marked dozen the prices
Casks of nails" said he, (which l wa,
offered so and 80. you hsvo charged so and
so, and you must take it off" II cant do il, ,
said the young merchant. "You must do it >
said Girord. Il cannot and will not" said
tho merchant. Girard boltod out of the
door, apparently in ragc, but soon afte,
sont check for tho whole bill. The young
man began to relont and cay to himself
"Perhaps ho ,ods offered thom at that price
But it is all over now; am sorry did not
reduce tho bill and get it out of him on
something olso. His trado would have boon
worth good deal to mo-" By and by Gi-
rard came again and gave him another job.
| The young man was very courteous and
said. II was almost sorry did not reduce
your former bill" "Rednce a bill! - said
Girard, had you douo it would nov or have
traded with you again. meant to SEQ if YOU
| had cheated mo-"