The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-02

DREXEL AND GlRARD.

The death of Anthony DreXel is another
reminder to rich men that they are not
exempt from the law of humanity, and
that when they die they cannot take
their money with them. What Mr.. Drexel
has done for his country and his city we
shall have to walt till his will is published
before we know. He must have died
worth great many millions. He was a
man who always made money. ana was
never extravagant in spending 1t. In MS
home he lived almost frngally. WheD ne
established his clearinghouse at New
York, which was the head house OF his
system, he paid the highest price on record
for the best business location in the city.
But he erected on it the cheapest bank
building which builders and architects
could contrive. 1t was his boast that his
offices in the upper stories brought him In
so much money that he lived rent free.
His Paris offices were almost shabby far
less imposing than those of some Ameri-
can bankers whose capital is probematical.
Still one who acquired the warm friend
ship of two such men as General Grant and
George Washington Childs must have had
good in him. And indeed it is likely that
he was compelled to assume a repellant
manner toward people with subscription
papers in order to protect himself against
opportunities which even his wealth could
not have satisfied. His institute for young
men and young women is proof that he was
not a miser; we seem to have heard OF
many millionaires who have not done as
much as that.
He had fine example in another eminent
Phiadelphian, who was also of French
stock. stephen Glrard quilted life as Tony
Drexel began it; having like him accu-
mulated great fortune for those days.
ont of nothing. He left nine millions.
which went to build up hospitals. schools
and orphan asyums in the city where he
had made his money. There is. perhaps.
no instance on record of q parallel to
Girard as a broad-minded. big-hearted.
Open-hauded citizen. When the Govern
ment. in the throes of the second war with
England, asked for loan Of five millions,
and only got subscriptions for $4,000, be
took the whole. and when the interest be-
came due, the Government being still EN-
barras sed, he informed the Secretary OF
the Treasury that he would wait for
his money till it suited the convenience OF
the Government TO pay him. When the
yellow fever decimated Philadelphia he
built hospital at his own expense.
When the terror of the disease deprived
the doctors of nurses he and his man ser
want, and millionaire as he was. served
faithfully as nurses till the epidemic abated.
Such men stamp their impress on the
community in which they live. The recol-
lection of Stephen Glrard's courage and
generosity was probably present to the
minds of many of the Philadelphians who
conducted the admirable army hospitals in
that city during the civil war. The lines
Of Longfellow's hymn which children
learn a. school cling to their memory and
inspire young and ardent spirits with a
longing to make their lives sublime. Now.
if Tony Drexel has cared for the poor and
the illiterate, aud the sick and the orphan
of his city as Girard did, his name will go
down to prosperity with a halo which
riches cannot command. The house Of
Drexel. Morgan 81 Co. of New YOrk may
pile million upon million, but it will figure
as mere association of money gruhbers Of
less note in history than a great writer or
an eminent doctor if it leaves no monu-
ment of public benevolence behind.