Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-10-18
Anecdotes of Stephen 0irard.

| a paper read by DR.. w. M. Cornell at tho
last meeting of the New England Historical
Genealogical Society, in Boston, gave tho
following interesting anecdotes Of Stephen
Girard. .. a... .......
"Stephcn Girard was, the sole Judge Of his
beneficence. 1frightly approached iic iktuM
give largely; but if dictated to or treated
rudely, he would not give at all. Samuel
Coates, one of the old Friends, knew how
to manage Girard, while many who sought
aid from him were unsuccessful. Mr.. Coates
was one of the managers of the Pennsylval
mia Hospital, which then was much in want
Of funds. He undertook to get donation
from Mr.. Girard, and, meeting him on the
street, stated his object. Mr.. Girard asked
him to come to him next .tnofning. q.
Mr.. Coates called and found Mr.. Girard
at breakfast. He asked him to, take some,
which Mr.. Coates did. After breakfastlMr.
Coates said, well, Mr.. Girard we will prot
cecd to business well, what have YOU
come for, Samuel p said Mr.. Girard.' just
what thee pleascs, Stephen replied Mr..
Coates. Girard drew check fdr.4 4NOAQ
which Mr.. Coates put in his pocket without
looking att What! not look at the check
| gave you said Mr.. Girard. No; beg
gars must not be choosers, Stephen, said
Mr.. Coates. Hand me back again the
check gave YOU demanded Girard. mo,
no, Stephen bird in the hand is worth
two in the BUSH, said Mr.. Coates. BY
George 7 said Girard, you have caught mo
on the right footing He then drew a check
for $4,000, and presented it to Mr. Coates.
observing, Will you now look at itY We'll,
to please thee, Stephen, l will, said Mr..
Coates. Now give me back the first check
demanded Mr.. Girard, which was according
ly done. ... -. . .a.,s>
THE Rev. DR.. Stoughton, an eminent
Baptist minister of Philadelphia, did not un-
derstand Mr.. Girard so well as Mr.. Coates
did When they were about building their
meeting house in Samson Street, Dr. Slough
ton called on Mr.. Girard for aid. Girard re-
ceitea him, us he usually did bcggars, cooifv
but courteously, and gave him check for
$780, DIR. Stoughton received it with q low
T bow; bnt, upon examining it, expressed his
: astonishment, adding, only $5O0r Surely,
you will not give us less than $1,000 Let
me sec the check, Mr.. StotEhton,' said Cir
rard; perhaps | have made one mistake
The Doctor returned him the check. With
the utmost sang .troid Girard tore it into
fragments, observing, Well, Mr.. Stoughton,
if you will not have what Cite, will give
nothing The Doctor left him exceedingly
mortified. -
"Girard had no preferences for one sect
more than for another, and he gave to build
churches merely to improve the city.
"The Methodist wished to build church
, on Tenth street, just north of Chestnut.
, Thomas 1Iaskns, merchant, and neigh
Dor of Girard, called on him, and urged his
suit for aid in very modest terms. Girard
replied, l approve ofyour object and pre-.
r sented him a check for $500 The Metho-
dist society failed, and the house was bought
by the Episcopalians, who wished to alter it
st. Stephens Church. A committee waited
, upon Mr.. Girard, told him their plan, and
, asked his aid. He gave them check for
$500. They were disappointed and said,
why you gave the Methodists $500 for their
little church, and we are going to build
more splendid edificc, and surely you will
give us something COMFORTING with the
, grandeur Of our design. Have you not
omitted a cypher?' They returned him tho
check, asking him to make it $4,000. Girard
tore it in pieces and added: Il will not give
+ you one cent. Your society is rich-ths
Methodists are poor You remind me of
: the rich man in the Gospel He would pull
down and build greater. Profit by his fate
gentlemen. have nothing to give for your
, splendid church. - 49,.
IAN old Quaker has related to lie tie fd,
lowing A man who had just set up in tbs
hardware business, and who had been a
clerk where Girard traded, applied to him
S for share of his patronage Girard bought
of him, and when he brought in the bill,
found fault and marked dorn the prices.
Casks of nails, said he which was offered
so and so, and you must take it off, can't
c do it, said the young merchant You must
do it, said Girard. l cannot and will not
: said the merchant. Girard bolted out of tho
door, apparently in n rage, but soon after
sent check for the whole bill. The young
man began to relent and say to himself,
d, Perhaps he ,odS offered them at that price.
But it is all over now; l am sorry did not
reduce the bill and get it outof him on some.
thing else. His trade would have been worth
= a good deal to me- by and by Girard camc
and gave him another job. !. The young man
was very courteous, and Caid, was almost
sorry / did not reduce your former bil.'-
Reduce a bW!' said Girard had you
t done it would never have traded with you
again. meant to see if you had cheated
me-" .a..E .a
A Boar BY ExPREss.-" He was confined
, in strong wooden cage, but seeing himself
; in large mirror, which was also being trans
ported by express, he became enraged, crush
J cd through the top of the cage, and alighting
, upon the floor of the car, threw himself into
position, and marched sideways upon his re-
. flection in the mirror. The first touch of his
tusk broke. the glass, it's fractured particles
, then exhibiting dozen boars in formidable
| battle array. Our ferocious hog then seeing
that the enemy had the numbers, ttt+ned his
back upon the discourteous swine. and OBJ
serving me alone and defenseess, rushed upon
me. beat hasty retreat over trunks and
I boxes, humping my head against the roof Of
the car as went, until found place where
hog larger than myself could not GET
When looked back, my anger became ex-
cited. This internal boar would pick IN
way-bills in his mouth, and rhn shout ihe
car shaking them, as if to say that he was
the messenger, and that was the hog. At
length he took my receipt book in his mouth,
raised his nose, and ran sideways. ! could
not stand it any longer. got bold Of q pair
, of ice-tongs and rushed upon him. struck
him blow on the left eye, and he fell. I