Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-20
GIRARD IN PLAGUE TIME

MANY honors have shone around 'As
AN1 name of Stephen Girard. Yet one Of
his most striking services to the common
wealth and. indeed, to humanity In gen
eral, is little commented on by histouahs
For in Philadelphia in 1898 there was
panic scarce equaled for intensity by any
similar happening in the United states
Yellow fever. which broke out violently
was the cause of it, The people were let.
ror-stricken. Half the population ned ths
city. Congress called for adjournmehl
Churches and schools closed, and only On'
Of the four daily newspapers continued
be published
Philadelphia bore bleak and uasn
aspect Naturally not everybody was aYs
to leave the detested city. Those WHY
mained had recourse to fantastic me'nOo.
of avoiding contagion. TobScco va
smoked continually, even by women ana
children. The chewing of garlic was sup.
posed to ward off the disease, ana .nOs'
who went into the open held nanuhe
chiefs or sponges drenched In garlic pelV.s
their noses Handshakng was escne.y IN
as If IL had been an invention OF ING ~
one. The only street sound that snstIslss
the silence was the creak OF tne ueA'-
wagons wheels. X,.a,.A
During a period Of about num-
days there were 403l burlals ou' ,..,s
population of $4,000. Fearful conol0n.
existed in the hospitals Nurses w'ls
vainly sought for service there
this juncture that the stately hsuIe J.
Girard enters the scene A commluss
appointed to tighten the plight OF lns
vastated city and take care OF tle .'. AZ
but only twelve would consent 70 seI'e y
this number but two would Volumes
assist in the hospital. Stephen uiaS
Peter Helm composed this heroic uuV ...iv
Possessing wealth, both nllsn. .lsst. sntIss
have fied and escaped their terriiyins u.,L
But they preferred to enter tne .ss q,
For sixty days they performed W. s a.ra
pellent tasks, nursing the SICK any .,s.s n
what else they could to alleviate tne Su,l s.,ssl,
disease which had fallen on FhhAr 'Sntn n.
Alone and unaided, Girard went ~
fected districts, carrying victims A,.'nr
pestiIence to his carriage, anu
them to be driven to the hospIssa. a .raln
on two occasions after thls un ~ ~ hsar.
proved his disinterested KINDNESS - n lhs
In 1897 and 1898 a revisitatlon took
niasne occurred. The philanthropy ..Olv INV
the lead in all charitable efforts l ~, culy
10 his friends praise was vi resi- sss fuIly
that NV strength and ability nave ~
seconded my good Will - ,ron As
Girard,s life has been looked upon ps..slv
riddle w many persons. IL Is "s.''scseded
true tiIat early disappointment ~ hs rs-
In embittering him somewhat " chIld Ne
lationships with persons. As .tons ard
had been made fun of by cOmpsniossiss "a uoI
his stepmother's treatment Of inst,cs h,n e. ne
detract from his sense OF ll'TT n hIs roi
Is said 10 have been exacting 10 an.r.onal
Of employer. Rigid frugality ~ rhoss who
habits was one OF his notices. ~ lHgshIn gpothIng
worked for him got their wss, - give q
more. and each was expeeteo lila. Ne
his best TO his employer AS - Me door
refused aid TO those who came intact y "hims.
10 beg. He did this TO P.os9' .Sns In pub.
lie Iro matters he was opsn-hands.S5 aao Zines @ W
hearted. Harsh criticism. many ~ his Ms per'
founded, was brought about "
sonal eccentricities. =, .s.t hs Iofa
II Is pleasing 10 recall tna' worse nai
children and animals. His own on,ds w so hia
dog we're sources OF especial pa. h|s ~
lie Vas kind and considerats " " "a, ~
nIsoes NE home was res - /. ~
cIpnnn until Il had been es'e'S
4.11' 0's11pere.