Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-03-15
STEPHEN GIRARD,


Stephen Girard has not been so long
dead but many of the present generation
still remember him distinctly, and his Pc
euliarities; and no man possessed pecu-
liarities of more striking character
Various sketches of his life have been
given to the public, but the following,
from the North American Revieao for Jan
uary, is more discriminating in its charac-
ter, and presents tolerably accurate pic
ture OF the man and his mental and social
peculiarities
" Within the memory of many persons
still alive, 'old Girard,' as the famous
banker was usually styled, short, stout,
brisk old gentleman, used to walk, in his
swift, awkward way, the streets of the
lower part Of Philadelphia. Though eve:
rything about him indicated that lie had
very little in common with his fellow-citi-
zens, he was the marked man of the city
for more than generation. His aspect
was rather insignificant and quite unrre-
possessing. His dressing was oli-fashion-
ed and shabby and he wore the pig-tail,
the white neckcloth, the wide. brimmed
hat, and the large skirted coat Of the last
century. He was blind in one eye; and
though his burly eyebrows gave some
character to his countenance, it was curl
ously devoid Of expression. He had also
the absent look OF man who either had
no thoughts or was absorbed in thought;
and he shufied along on his enormous
feet, looking neither to the right nor to
the left. There was always certain look
OF the old mariner about him, though he
had been fifty years an inhabltant of the
town. When he rode, it was in the plain
est, least comfortable gig in Philadel phia,
drawn by an ancient and Informed horse,
driven always by the masters own hand
at good pace. He choose still to live
where he had lived for fifty years, in
Water street, close to the wharves, in a
small and inconvenient house, darkened
by tall store-houses, amid the hustle, the
noise and the odors Of commerce.
His sole pleasure was to visit, once
day, little farm Which he possessed a few
miles out OF town, where he was wont to
take of his coat, roll up his shirt sleeves,
and personally labor in the field and in the
barn, hoeing corn, pruning trees, tossing
hay, and not disdaining even to assist in
butchering the animals which he raised
tor market. 1t was no mere ornamental
or experimental farm. He made it pay
All OF its produce was carefully, nay scru-
pulonsly, husbanded, sold, recorded and
accounted for. He loved his grapes, his
pIums, his pigs, and especially his rare
breed Of canary birds; but the people of
Philadelphia had the full benefit of their
increase-at the highest market rates.
Many feared, and many served, but none
loved this singular and lonely old man.
II there was, among the very few who ha-
bitually conversed with him, one who I'M
derstood and esteemed him, there was but
one, and he was man of such Astounding
charity that, like Uncle Toby, if he had
heard that the Devil was hopelessly
damned, would have said, am sorry for
it, Never was there a person more des-
titute than Girard of the qualities which
win the affections of others. His temper
was violent, his presence torbidding, his
usual manner ungracious, his will infex-
IDLE, his heart untender, his imagination
dead He was odious to many Of his fel.
low-citizens, who considered him the hard.
est and meanest of men. He had lived
among them for half century, but he
was no more Philadelphia in 1880 than
he was in 1776. He still spoke with a
French accent, and accompanied his words
with a French shrug and French gesticu
latien. Surrounded with Christian church
es. which he had helped to build, he re
NAMED a sturdy unbelieyer, and possess eo
the complete works of only one man-Vol
taire.
"He made it point Of duty to labor OF
Sunday, as good example to o INT J.
| considered the idleness of Sunday an in
jury to the people, moral and economical San
| He would have opened ms oank on ); aun
day if any one you'd nave come col 30 20 H." ~,
For his part, he required no tr resi- sn'
would have none. lie never 1a'eiea'-