Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/385

LEFT GIPSYWORT 321 GIRL SCOUTS Timoor the Tartar, or Tamerlane, and first appeared in Paris in the end of August, 1427. GIPSYWORT, or GYPSYWORT, a labiate plant, with dense whorls of flow- ers, white, with purple dots. It is about two feet high, and grows in ditches and by river banks. GIRAFFE, the camelopard, Camelo- pardalis giraffa. It has an affinity to the camel; but its resemblance to the leop- ard, which is only in its color and spots, is an analogy and no more. It has two small frontal horns and one central horn. The neck is very long. The tongue is t^r^^^' I III // ^'^ ■' ''{-"= GIRAFFE long and prehensile, and is used for stripping leaves off trees. The forelegs are very long, making the animal stand 15 to 18 feet high. It lives in small herds, and gallops in a ludicrously clumsy manner. Its flesh is good. The hide makes excellent leather. It is found in Nubia, Abyssinia, and the Cape of Good Hope. GIRARD, a town of Ohio, in Trumbull CO. It is on the Erie, Baltimore and Ohio, and the Pennsylvania railroads. Its industries include the manufacture of iron and steel products, leather, and chewing gum. Pop. (1910) 3,736; (1920) 6,556. GIRARD, STEPHEN, an American philanthropist; was born near Bordeaux, France, May 24, 1750. In 1769 he settled as a trader in Philadelphia, where he established the Second National Bank, and advanced several millions to the United States treasury during the War of 1812. In the yellow fever epidemic in 1793 he nursed many of the sick in the hospitals; and in public matters his gen- erosity was remarkable. Among other bequests he left $7,500,000 for the erec- tion and maintenance in Philadelphia of a college for male white orphans. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 26, 1831. GIRARD COLLEGE, an institution in Philadelphia, Pa., for the education of poor white orphan boys; founded under the will of Stephen Girard, and opened Jan. 1, 1848. By a provision in the will no ecclesiastic, missionary, or minister of any sect whatever is to have any con- nection with the college. In 1919 it re- ported: Professors and instructors, about 100; students, 1,540; volumes in the library, about 25,000; endowment and plant, $40,000,000; president, Chees- man A. Herrick, Ph. D., LL. D. GIRGEH (jer'je), a town of Egypt, on the Nile, lO^^ miles N. of the ancient Abydus. It was hei-e that the discontented Mamelukes rallied against Mehemet Ali. Outside the town is a Roman Catholic monastery, said to be the oldest in Egypt. GIRGENTI ( jer-jen'te), a town of Sicily, near the site of the ancient Agri- gentum, on the S. coast, 84 miles S. S. E. of Palermo. The town is the seat of a bishop, and has a trade in grain, oil, fruit, sulphur, sumach, salt, and fish. Ite port is Porto Empedocle. Pop. of dis- trict, 409,000. GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA. A national organization having for its ob- ject the general welfare of girls, giving them through wholesome pleasure those habits of mind and body which will make them useful, responsible women, ready and willing to take a definite part in the home, civic, and national affairs of the country. The association was founded in 1912, and the movement became popu- lar, numbering in 1920 over 82,000 mem- bers, representing an increase of 40 per cent, over the preceding year. The oi"- ganization is non-sectarian and non-par- tisan. The activities are designed to bring to the girls the opportunity for an all-round life, indoors, outdoors, at home, and in the community. Woman is recognized as a producer, a consumer, and a citizen, and the girl scout is trained toward these ends. Throughout all the activities is the definite ideal of charac- ter building. The governing body is the