The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03
F ANGUS LOVES OF
FAMOUS AMERICANS

into n handsome woman. II Stephen
Grard did not appreciate her there
were lots Of men who thought they
could. Many gallant went to the
Girard store or to the bottling works
more for the pleasure OF chatting with
or gazing upon the charming Polly than
to drink Girafds claret or cider or buy
goods In Girard's store.
Occasionally some Of the visitors,
drinking too much wine or presuming
on the reports Of Girard's harshness to
his wife, went beyond the bound Of de-
corum. The records Of the Continental
army show that Col. Walter Stewart
and Capt. Grice made free to kiss
Polly, that Polly promptly informed
Stephen Glrard, that. Girard preferred
charges against the two officers and
that the Colonel and the Captain made
humble apology to husband and wife.
Perhaps after all Stephen Girard In
his own queer way loved Polly Lum.
He did, at least, pay tribute to her by
giving expression to the fierceness of
his jealousy when any other man cast
eye upon her.
Poor Polly! She craved pretty
things and especially pretty dresses.
| Girard. who wore one suit Of clothes
six. eight or ten years, looked upon fine
garments as vanities.
When Howe evacuated Philadelphia
the Girards returned. Each year there
after saw his wealth increase. He
seemed to have the Midas touch. He
leased for ten years a row of frame
houses In Water street with the privi-
| lege Of renewing the lease for another
ten years. He made $4,000 profit out
Of the first ten years rental and more
than that out of the renewal.
| He bought ships and built ships. and
rare was the voyage that did not bring
profit to him.. Money poured in upon
him, but none Of 1t was for Polly Lum.
| Nothing she could do seemed to
please. Never did he show a spark of
tenderness toward her. The more he
read and the more his mind expanded
the more ne seemed to hold her in con-
tempt. Her place Of refuge was the
kitchen. There she worked as she had
in the house OF Col. Shee.
Her troubles preyed upon her mind
I to such an extent that her health was
affected. After a particularly bitter
quarrel with her husband she would be-
come hysterlcal. This led to melan-
| tuulla anu 1Udlly 10 insanity. III hu-
gust. 1890. her condition was such that
she was removed to the Pennsylvania
Hospital as lunatic.
Seven months after her admission e
the hospital a daughter was born to her
The arrival OF this child seemed e
awaken in the heart of Girard som,
latent tenderness. He spared no ex
pense in caring for the babe. which
was christened Mary. after the mother
but the child died in infancy and witt
the death OF the child ended whateve
there remained Of love for the mothe
in the heart Of Stephen Girard.
Freed Of his wife. freed Of his child
left to his own devices, stephen Girar'
gave play to ambition. Immediately h.
embarked upon a scheme for the devel
opment Of an American marine.
He built ships bigger, faster and fnel
than ever had sailed the seas before
The Voltalre Rosseau. Montesquieu
Helvetius and others he put in tn
China trade. and they brought a golde,
harvest to him.
And then he. who had been accused o
cowardica. gave an exhibition of mora
and physical bravery in 1923 that wor
for him a regard he never had know
, before. Philadelphia was visited by a
epidemic Of yellow fever. Thousand
: OF persons fed. Thousands of person
, were stricken. Nearly one-slxth Of tn
population was wiped out.
In the midst OF the terror st .,hc
+, Girard offered his services as ,rnurse
r They were accepted. From that da
? until the city was freed Of the fr!ghtfu
disease he worked eighteen hours a da
I To aid the living and bury the deac
He performed the most loathsome dutie
smllingly. Stunned nothing, no matte
how horrible. and by his example shame
/ those who had fear and exalted thos
, who were brave.
r But while he seemed to care little 70
his own life. neither did he seem to car
1 much for that Of Polly Lum. He neve