Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-08-18
Letter from Philadelphia
GIRARD COLLEGE.


stephen Girard its founder was born
ut Bordeau. France. in 1850. AT the
age of ten years he came to America in
a vessel rs cabin boy. lie followed the
sea until he became master Of small
coasting vessel. Shortly after this he
opened store in Philadelphia for the
sale of groceries and liquor, and in 1894
he was reported to be worth thirty
thousand dollars. He afterwards took
a long lease of n range of stores al n
time when rents were low on account
oil the war, these he subsequently relct
al an immense profit. Again at an
instruction Of the negroes in St.
Domingo. property to the amount of
iif,y thousand dollars was placed on
board two of his vessels. there for safe
Keeping The owners OF il were never
heard from afterwards. When the
charter OF the United States Bank ex-
pircd, he became banker in Phiadcl-
phia and accumulated "A fortune of nine
about thirty. but the marriage was an
unfortunate one, and he and his wife
soon separated. He had no children
and at his death willcd nearly all his
property 10 the public His chief be-
quest was \ sum of money amounting
to two million dollars for the founding
Of this asylun or college ~ il is called.
Ia addition to this he gave the land on
which the college i, situated, and the
| residue OF certain estates after leoacic,
were paid. The real estate included
stores in the city and coal mines in the
interior Of the state. He gave the most
minute directions, for the construction.
iulm and ,I<c of the buildings and
among other things made the following
| restriction. SECONDLY cnjoin aud rr-
qu;rr that no ecclesiastic, missionary
I VT minister OF amy sect whatever Shall
eyer hold or exercise any station or
I duty in said college. nor shall anv such
person ever be admitted for any pur-
i pose a. visitor within tho premises
/ appropriated T. the purposes oil said
College. In making this restriction.
However, do not mean TO cast ANY
I rejection upon any sect or person what
ever: but a, there j. such multitude
\ # sects, and such diversity OF opinion
amongst them, desire To keep the ten
der minds Of the orph aus. who are 10
derive the advantage Of this bcour-t.
Tree from the excitement which claShny
doctrines and >ectarian controversy are
- apt 70 produce. M desire il. that
All the Instructors and teachers in the
| college shall take pains to instill into
the minds OF the scholars the purcst
principles OF morality, so that on their
entrance into active life they mas from
'nchHdfion aud hubd cyinc. bencyn-
lcncc toward their fellow creatures. and
a love 81 truth, -obricty and industry.
adopting al the same true such religion.
tencts n their maturcd reason may
enable them Ia prefer
he building. were commenced in
lr33 aud were completed III Isis. They
are surrounded by stone wall ten
feet high enclosing iorty-onc acres Of
land laid out in play grounds. gardens,
walks &c. The main building is said
Ia he the finest specimen of Grecian
architecture OF modern times. The
outer wall. stair cases. floors and root
are Of white marble. Ii j. in The form
OF a Corinthian temple surrounded by a
portico OF thirty-four columns, each
titty-iivc feet high and six in diameter.
From the roof an excellent view OF the
Schnylkill river AMI the upper part OF
The city may be obtained la one Of the
upper rooms is placed the private prop
erty of Mr.. Girard including his private
papers, furniture, pictures, library,
the old chasc in which he rode &c, &c.
Beneath marble statue in the lower
hall are placed the remains Of Mr..
Girard. There are five other buildings
within the enclosure, one of which is
used as bakery. Mushroom &c: the
other four stand two on each side of the
main building, and are built of white
marble. The original cost was 81
10000.
A, many poor white orphans as the
endowment will support are admitted
between the ages of six and ten years,
and between the ages of fourteen and
eighteen are bound out to different oc-
equations. The college bearing all the
expense of feeding, clothing and teach
ing them. | believe each student upon
leaving must learn some trade or enter
some profession. The present number
Of students is five hundred and ten.
which Is TO be increased TO five hundl ed
and forty think. No visitors are adj
United without first procuring a ticket
ot admission from one of the directors
Al the Time oi my visit it was vacation,
so that had no opportunity to hear any
OF the recitations. A large number OF |
boys were at play on the grounds, or
conducting recitatiOns among them
selves IN the main building. Many of |
them have no where to 60 when vaca- |
ton comes, ndspend it on the grounds.
The institution is not strictly a college.
as it grants no degree, bat is an ex- |
cellent home where orphans NAV be |
cared for, and educated for lives OF use
fuiness.
Nnrx