The Evening critic., 1882-01-03
STEPHEN GIRARD.
his Marriage and Domestic Trou.
bies-Infideiify ana Death of Ills
BeRutifnl wife i'm Mad HOuse-
Causes Leading TO the Founding of

Bcautifnl wife in n Mad House
Causes leading to the Founding of
Girard College, etc.
Correspondence ofthe St. Louis Republican.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec 23.-Upon reading
in yesterdays Republican republished cor
rcspondencc from Gath, contributed to the
Cincinnati Enquirer on aristocratic mar
riagcs, was struck with astonishment at
the reference therein contained to the do.
mestiC relations of Stephen Girard. It Is
con fessedly strange that the world knows
so little respecting the private life of this
distinguished philan thropist, especially
since in these latter days the domestic con-
Germs of all public men seem to be regarded
as public property.
How many thousands have wondered
why Girard established a princely college
with such singular provisions left in his
last will for its government Every one
is presumed TO know that Girard College
the finest educational institution in the
world, with property, the assessed value
of which is So, 1000, ,000-admits none but
orphans, and that no minister or minister's
son is permitted to enter any of its build
ings or grounds.
But why?
Gath's correspondence, which conveys
some unjust insnuations against Girard,
prompts me to give the following informa-
ton which l obtained while visiting the
college in the early part Of November last:
Having several hours of leisure while in
Philadelphia upon the occasion referred to,
in company with resident of the place.
drove out to that renowned philanthropic
memorial, and after inspecting the eight
white granite buildings on the ample
grounds, instituted an inquiry among old
Philadelphians to ascertain if possible the
motives which prompted Girard in founding
the institution and the cause of his enmity
toward all churches. The story, as l
obtained it from unquestionably correct
sources, is as follows:
Girard was formerly deyout Catholic,
whose contributions to the church at times
were almost princely. He did not marry
until many years of old bachelorhood had
tinged his hair with gray, and but for
strange meeting would doubtless have re-
manned celibate. Being the largest ship
owner in the world his business led him to
nearly all ports of the globe, and his name
was familiar in every merchant port. On
public occasion when large body of mer-
chants welcomed him home after long
cruise, the festivities Of the reception
turned from speech-making to grand
ball, at which Girard saw and was intro
duced to the daughter of prominent gen.
tleman in Philadelphia, and this meeting,
which had many singular features about it
not necessary to be related here, culmi.
mated in marriage.
1t is said by all those with whom con.
versed on the subject that Girard's young
wife was eKquisitely beautiful and lady
of rare polish and education. His treat
ment of her, instead of being austere, as
Gath" declares, was that of a proud lover,
ever anxious to excite her favors by q be.
stowal of elegant gifts and a constant ex-
hibition of loving tenderness. One year
after his marriage, business called Girard
| l. II. L.. II
nearly eighteen months, and upon his re-
turn he was greeted affectionately by his
| young wife, but her caresses were poison
| to his lips, for there were unmstakable
| evidences readily apparent, that she was
about to become mother.
l could add nothing to the facts of this
sad story by dwelling upon the scene which
| followed. Girard's reproach was succeeded
| by frank confession from his wife, who
| named their fayOrite pastor as her guilty
| companion. i am not prepared to say of
what denomination Mrs. Girard was men,
| ber, but my impression now is that Girard
| had some time previously Withdrawn from
| the Catholic Church for some just reason.
| and that both he and his wife had united
with some Protestant sect.
| Girard could not forgive his wife, and
| she, being keenly-sensitive woman, was so
| conscience-stricken by her great crime that
| came insane and was carried to mad
| house. Hero she languished for nearly two
| years, when death delivered her of her
| malady. The church of which she was a
a member took charge of her remains and
| gave them burial in manner commensu-
| rate with the great wealth of her husband
| A bill Of the funeral expenses was after
ward presented to Girard, but he peremp-
| torily refused payment and the matter was
| llOnt In info the POurtg discovering
| the attitude in which such legal contest
would place him, Girard paid the bill un.
der protest, and then, feeling as though the
| church had stabbed him twice, he with
| drew from active life and realizing $1S ,000,-
| 000 from his shipping interests he concluded
| to expend $S, 100000 of that sum in found
| ing college, which he intended should be
| perpetual reproach to all churches and
the followers thereof His respect for So
! ciety and his relations prevented him from
exposing the secret which crushed his life,
and thus speculation has been left to write
| the history of his domestic sorrows.
| In the front centre of the main building
of Girard College is large picture of the
| philanthr0pist's faithful hOusekeeper, but
no portrait of his wife was ever suffered to
come inside the precincts which his will
has sought to protect from ministerial eyes,
and by which he has secured an intel
lectual Inheritance to many poor but de-
serving orphan boys.
Girard survived his wife fifteen years,
and now lies under marble sarcophagus in
the main college building.
| Il have not written this for the purpose
of resurrecting scandal, but to relieve
| the memory Of noble man from dishonest
aspersions, and to answer a question asked
| by thousands.