Connecticut western news., 1871-09-22
MO-. H..
Anecdotes of Girard.

AnecUOCeS or Ulrafu.
 The benevolent Samuel Coates, one of the directors of the Pennsylvania hospital, met MT. Girard on the street, and told him the hospital wanted funds, and was about to ask him for a dona- tion. ...
 "Well," said Mir. Girard, "call at my counting house in the morning, and if you find me on right footing will do something for the institution"
 MT. Coates called, as agreed, and was invited to take some breakfast flor MT. Girard resided most of h1s time over his counting-house), after which MT. Coates observed
 "Now we will proceed to business"
 "Wel, what have you come for Sam uel ?"
 "Whatever thee pleases, Stephen"
 Girard then signed and presented q check for $2O0, which Mr. Coates put in his pocket without examining.
 "What !" said Girard, in his broken English, "you no look at the check I gave you?"
 r" No; beggars must not be choosers, Stephen"
 ''s Hand me back the check I gave you" said Girard
 "No, no, Stephen a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"
 "By George 7" exclaimed Girard, "you have caught me on the right footing t,i...... ..f.r
 He then. drew check for $500, and presented it to MT. Coates, saying, "Will you now look at 1t ?"
 "Well. to please thee, Stephen, will, said Cootes. ..' '. Now, give me back the first check, ," demanded Girard, and Coates immedi- ately complied with the request. .n It is customary to relate the above anecdote with the amounts in thousands; but careful examination of MT. Girard's books and papers warrants the above | figures. MT. Girard was so constantly giving, that he rarely made donations in thousands. Had he done so, greater fortune than his would have been i'm paired, and the thousands of orphans who have become useful citizens through his bounty would have been friendless. When the Baptist church was building in Sansom street, Philadelphia, Dr. Staughton called on MT. Girard for aid toward its erection. Girard was cold and formal, and without sayinga word, presented check for $500. which Staugh- ton received with astonishment, saying that he had expected $1,000 at least. "Ah, let me see the check; perhaps I have made one mistake, Said the French man. Staughton returned the docu- ment, which Girard immediately de- stroyed, saying at the same time, 'Well MT. Staughton, if you will not take what I will give, will give nothing" '" The Doctor left wiser man, but carried his heart in his throat. Girard never went to church, and as he regarded no sect more than another, he gave to all alike, for he believed that the building of churches should be encouraged be- cause they improved the city and in- creased the value of property. He gave $500 to the Episcopal Methodists to build their church on Tenth street, in the same city. This building was after wards changed to the Gothic style and sold to the Episcopalians, who now occupy 1t under the name of St. Steph- en's Church. .r..
 A deputation from the new adherents called on MT. Girard. They expected q large donation on account of the gran deur of their plans as compared with those of the former owners. They ex- | PAubCSA uPOu I11oSOSe7I AOWi GuluCe, but MT. Girard listened in silence, an l, calling for his check-book, filled up the blank for five hundred dollars. They were for moment struck dumb with surprise, when their spokesman said "
 h"You gave five hundred dollars to the poor Methodlsts you have surely omit ted cypher. , .a,t. ., .,- .'. e.. /. >ay1J,
 "Ah ! gentlemen" said Girard, 'swhat you say? I have made one mistake let me see-I believe not {; but if you say so, must correct it. :" s.s.a,s.
 Upon which he destroyed the check, saying '' t~ ..
 CT will not contribute one cent. Your society is wealthy-the Methodists are poor but make no distinction, yet I cannot please you" He then waited Q moment, as if in meditation, and. then proceeded "You remind me of the rich man in the Gospel. He would not be content with the blessings which at tended his agricultural tolls, but was so covetous that when his granary would not hold his abundant crops he erected new buildings for that pupose rather than distribute his surplus among the suffering poor. Profit by his fate, gen tlemen-I will give nothing to your magnificent church. "s . 4'