The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-08-02
Seleft MisrrllunQ.
Stephen Girard.

One OF the greatest phllanthroplsts
of history is Stephen Girard, whose
noble work, Girard College, is fitting
monument to one of the truest, most
frugal and far-sighted of men, and
whose memory it will immortalize
throughout all time.
What he did for Philadelphia merits
a recognition that should be given
always in golden letters. He made
his money in this city, and to the city
of his adoption he left his immense for
tune for the founding and support of a
grand institution, and which interest
and compound interest have made eel
ossal.
He was never so generous as he was
just, and his word was equal to his
bond.
Stephen Girard, whose one hundred
and fifty first birthday was celebrated
at the college, on Monday, May Goth,
was born in Bordeaux, France, in 1850.
His father and grandfather were de-
voted to the sea, and possessed a talent
for commerce. His father, Pierre
Girard, was made famous hy an act of
bravery on the high seas during war
between England and France. He
was knighted by Louis Nv, who gave
him the sword from his own side, and
conferred on him the Order of ST.
Louis. When Girard died, In COM
pliance with his request, this sword
was placed on his coffin and buried
with him.
One of Stephen Girard's brothers
was lawyer and sehoolfelIow Of Ma
poleon Bonaparte. In the days of the
French Revolution he was a member
of the "Franklin Club and held ever
a most honorable position in Bordeaux
Stephen was never sent to college, like
his brothers, because at the age of sew
entcen, in the presence of his step
mother, he made some unfortunate re-
marks on second marriage, and was
promptly told to leave the house,
which he at once did.
He sailed for the French West Indies
with thousand francs. He began as
cabin boy, and was gradually pro-
moted until he became captain. He
traded between New Orleans and the
West Indies, reaching Philadelphia for
the first time in l77G. In July the
ports were all blockaded hy Lord
Howe, and Girard gave up the sea.
He rented little house on Water
street and bottled up wine and brandy,
consigned to him in casks from Bor-
deauX.
There was pump in front of his
shop and among the girls who came for
water was young, dark-eyed Polly
Lum. They met, loved, and were
MAJ ried in st. Paul's Church, on the
sixth of July, III. They lived in the
little house on Water street until Sep
tember, when Howe occupied the city
They then moved to Mount Holly, n.
j., where they purchased house for
five hundred dollars. Girard still
carried on the bottling business and
sold his wine to the British soldiers.
IFS, when Howe evacuated Phladel-
phia, Girarl returned to the city.
Soon after marriage Girard's young
wife gave evidence OF insanity, and in
after Years became an inmate Of the
Pennsylvania Hospital, where she died
in 1873, and was buried in the hospital
yard. She was the one love of his life,
and the first bequest in his will was to
the hospital in which she died
He took the oath Of allegiance in
III, and lived in Water street content
and busy. He began with one small
vessel, and soon bought others which
sailed everywhere. He called his ships