302 THE FEENCH BLOOD IN AMEEICA 



Philan- 

 thropist 



Student and 

 Author 



Benefactor 



of Priucetou College, and iu 1805 presented that institu- 

 tion with a valuable collection of specimens iu mitural 

 history. He was greatly interested in philanthropic 

 work of a religious nature. He served on the American 

 Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and was 

 generous in his contributions to that cause. He was also 

 one of the founders of the American Bible Society, be- 

 coming its first jaresident in 1816. Other lines of phil- 

 anthropic endeavour in which he was actively engaged 

 were the education of deaf mutes, the training of young 

 men for the ministry, and the relief of the poor. While 

 thus busily engaged in promoting the welfare of his fel- 

 lows, he found time to undertake many arduous studies 

 in biblical literature, and published a number of 

 volumes on religious subjects — the most famous of these 

 being a reply to Tom Paine. He died in 1821, full of 

 years and good deeds. In his will he gave 13,000 acres 

 of laud to the city of Philadelphia in order that the poor 

 might be able to buy wood at a small price ; 3,000 acres 

 to the Pennsylvania hospital, etc. Among the other be- 

 quests was the rather odd one of a fund with which to 

 buy spectacles for the aged poor. 



No short sketch of his life can do justice to Elias 

 Boudinot. To appreciate his real significance as an 

 actor in the drama which took place at the founding of 

 the Eepublic, it is necessary to read the history of his 

 times. As lawyer, statesman, patriot, scholar and j)hil- 

 anthropist, he was one of the most remarkable men of 

 the Eevolutiouary period. 



Story of 

 Stephen 

 Girard 



II 



One of the most interesting characters that France has 

 contributed to America is Stephen Girard, founder of 

 Girard College in Philadelphia. He represented the ac- 

 cumulative and thrifty spirit of his race. From a penni- 

 less runaway he rose to be merchant, banker, multi-million- 

 aire, the richest man of his day in America, and at the 



