El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-06-22

~ TEPHEN GIRARD was born at
Bordeaux, France. May p, 1850. the
~ son of a sailor. At the age OF {
he became blind in one eye, and his en-
tire life was soured henceforth. His
to college. while he had to content him
self with three RS.
Stephens mother died when he was
quite young, and the seedlings of the
stepmother added to his other troubles
At 13 he left home and began, as a
cabin boy, the life of a sailor, sailing
for nine years between Bordeaux and
the French West Indies, rising to the
position of mate. Improving his spare
time at sea, he mastered the art OF
navigation, and made himself a gen
orally well informed man.
Lands in Philadelphia.
His father secured him command OF
a vessel. He made money, which he in
vested in cargos which he sold in the
ports to which he sailed He made his
first appearance in the port of Phlla-
delphia at IS. He was a tremendous
worker. He bought and sold any old
thing from groceries to junk His
largest profits came from wine and
cider.
an i'll tempered, but good looking ser
want girl. They were unsuited for
each other and lived wretched lives to-
Sether for seven years, when she be-
came insane and was placed In the
state insane asylum. She never recoF-
cred her reason and died in 1918.
Knew the Value of Little Things.
In 1777 Girard fled from Philadelphia,
at the approach of the British, and set
tied in Mount Holly. n. j., where he
carried on his bottling business, his
wine having found a ready sale among
the British in Philadelphia A year later
he was allowed to return to Philadel-
q do 10
humble, that would yield profit, and
carefully invested every dollar. No ma
ever knew better the value of little
things, or took advantage of every
tr1fllng circumstance.
At the outbreak of the insurrection
IN san Domingo, in 1871, he had two
vessels lying in one OF the ports of
that island. The planters sent their
Valuables on board for safe keeping,
and going back to their estates to Sc
cure mora lost their lives, and no one
claiming the property, the vessels sailed
Tor philadelphia, and after literally ad-
Yertlsing the property. and no owner
appearing, he sold them, realizing for
them $4,000. This sum enabled him to
build the ships which enabled him to
engage actively in the Chinese and East
India trades.
Sends Out Many Vessels.
his shlps now began to sail in every
direction, one he would send to BOr-
deauX, with grain, and return with
St Petersburg, exchanging them for
hemp and iron, which were sold at
Amsterdam for cash, and from thence
the ship sailed to China and India and
purchasing silks and teas, the ship
sailed for Philadelphia, where the final
purchase was again turned into money
he was perfect master of the knowl-
cage required IN directing these long
voyages.
In 1928 his wealth was estimated at
10000 600. He was the meanest man
alive Re lived in a dingy little house
He was childless. He was repulsive in
person He lived on less than any of
his clerks. He seldom smiled. He was
stony hearted and wOrshipped the gold
en- car He had no vices; vices are
usually expensive. and he had few vfr-
tues. His only ambition was to die rich.
He was friendIess. and those who point
ed out his folly got for the answer,