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GIRAFFE

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GIRONDISTS

master of works of the cathedral and city of Florence, where he decorated the cathedral with statues and designed the beautiful tower called the Campanile and the vivid bas-reliefs which adorn its base. He died on Jan. 8, 1337. The oft-quoted story of the "O of Giotto" tells how, when the pope sent a messenger to ask the painter for a specimen of his art, with a view to future employment, "Giotto took a sheet of paper and a pencil dipped in red color, then resting his elbow on his side, to form a sort of compass, with one turn of his hand he drew a circle so perfect and exact that it was a marvel to behold,'' and handed this to the courtier as a sufficient proof of his skill. From this anecdote comes the Italian phrase: "As round as Giotto's O." See H. yuilter's Giotto.

Giraffe, a picturesque animal of Africa, with spotted skin and very long neck. The giraffe is the tallest of living animals, a full-grown male being 12 feet at the shoulders and 18 to the crown of the head. It is common in equatorial Africa and Abyssinia, but is not found south of Orange

GIRAFFE

River The skin is dark brown5 varying to black in old specimens, with angular, rusty spots. On account of its spotted skin it is sometimes called the camelopard. In spite of the great length of the neck there are only seven (the usual number) neck-vertebrse, each one being elongated. The legs are slender, the fore ones longer than the hind, and end in cloven hoofs. It feeds on the foliage of trees like the mimosas, acacias, etc, gathering its food with the long, slender tongue. It is a ruminant or cud-chewer. The heads of both male and female are provided with horn-like outgrowths of bone, about eight inches long. These are covered with s£iu, which ends

in bristles. The eyes are prominent, and so situated that they can see behind as well as forwards and to the sides; this makes them hard to approach by their two chief enemies, the lion and man. They are hunted on horseback, with selected horses of the best quality, and when overtaken are cut in the ham-strings with a sword, while on the run.

Girard (ji-rdrdf), Stephen, an American merchant and banker, was born near Bordeaux, France, May 24, 1750. The son of a seaman, he began life as a cabin-boy, became master and part-owner of an American coasting-vessel, and in 1769 was able to start in business at Philadelphia as a small trader. With a remarkable capacity for business and a habit of strictness in money-matters he rapidly grew rich, and was recognized as one of the leading merchants of the city. In 1812 he founded a bank which proved a great benefit to the national currency. During the War of 18*2 he loaned the government $5,000,000. He also became a director in the United States bank. He was frugal and close in business affairs, stern in exacting the last farthing due him, but was generous in public-giving. He was uneducated, and in religion was a freethinker. At his death, which occurred Dec. 26, 1831, he bequeathed most of his vast fortune to public purposes, but the most important gift was that of $2,000,000 and a plot of ground in Philadelphia for the erection and support of a college for orphans, since known as Girard College. The most careful directions were left as to the grounds and buildings. The main building, built of marble, is one of the finest specimens of Greek architecture in America. Boys who are orphans are admitted between 6 and 10, fed, clothed and educated, and, when between 14 and 18, positions are found for them. The principles of morality are taught, but no particular religious creed. There are 1,578 pupils. f

Qirardin (zhe-rar~danf), Emile de, an eminent French journalist and politician, was born at Paris, June 22, 1806, and educated there. After several early literary attempts he founded in 1836 the Press, which politically leaned toward the conservative side. Girardin gradually became a Republican. He promoted Louis Napoleon's election to the presidency, but later on threw himself into the arms of the Socialists. He afterward edited the Liberty, and his paper was active m urging on the Franco-Prussian War. The Franc founded in 1874, and the Little Journal both supported the republic. He wrote a few pieces for the stage. He died on April 27, 1881.

Girondists (fi-ron*'dists), the moderate Republican party during the French Revolution. The name was given because its earliest leaders were from the Gironde de-