The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-19

The Bound Table has been publishing a
series of sketches of the leading publishing
houses of our country. Some time since it gave
us history of j. B. Lippincott Co., Hurd &
Houghton, and others, which we have already
made place for in our columns. The present
number of the magazine contains a sketch of
George W. Childs, ESQ.,, which we give below.
Mr.. Childs is a gentleman OF great enterprise,
discretion, and lberality, and the Round Tables
notice no more than gives him his just due.
GEORGE W. CHILDs.
The books published by the firm of Childs & Peter
son, now solely represented by George w. Chllds,
are more important IN cost and merit than in mere
nuInEer. The amount which they realized for their
authors has been unusually large, and the position
which Mr.. Childs now additionally occupies as news
paper proprietor is another reason why he should re-
ceive personal notice IN the series of papers to which
this belongs. Mr. ChIds, native Of Baltimore, now
about 81 years old, came to Philadelphia at the
of fourteen, and entered the bookstore of Mr. p.
Thompson, then situated at the northwest corner of
Sixth and Arch streets. He continued there for
-four yeaIs, when though not OF age, he began busl
ness on his own account in a small place corner of
Third and Chestnut streets-one-hsf of the office of
the great building now occupied by his own cashier
and assistants in the business management OF tho
Public Ledger OF which he now proprietor AT that
time nearly twenty years ago, he had made up his
mind TO own the Ledger, and frankly stated his de-
termination TO the propretors He never once aoan-
doned this purpose and the writer of this article has
frequently heard HIM speak OF 1t, ears before he sue
Ceeueu IN reallZl0g II One Is renlnQeQ IN tDlS sue
cessful pettinacity of Warren Hastings resolve be.
fore he left England for India, to repossesS himself
OF the manor which had passed from his lamly. In
was admitted into partnership with Mr.. Robert r.
Peterson (the firm was r. Z Peterson 6 Co D at
the northwest corner OF Fifth and Arch streets.
Soon after the firm became Childs & Peterson
nominal change, for the partners were the same;
tie principal business management was undertak en-
and successfully executed by Mr.. ChlIds. Tne first
book they published was "Peterson's Familiar
SOence," of which 10000 copies have been sold 1t
SVaq m 40 a fng .hOOl in tha nfYhlY
schools of Philadelphia and also OF Brooklyn. IL
was based upon book, written by an eminent Eng
lish scholar, which was not well adapted Tor this
country in many points and was dsiechvely
ranged. Mr.. Peterson, gentleman of high cul-
ture The had beer admitted 10 the bar and now a
member of the Academy of Natural Sciences OF
Philadelphia. and graduated M. ID. from the Uni
versity OF Pennyvaniah made the necessary altera-
flons and additions, and succeeded so we'll that the
Rev. DR.. Brewer, author OF the book warmly
thanked hlm TOR the improvements and publicly
signlfed his appreciation thereof, In successive
editions the book has been made to keep pace
with the most recent discoveries in science,
and there has latterly been incorporated
with it, as suitable appendix, occupying l5O
PAGES, Professor Peppers Scientific Amusements
Tor Young PEOPLE Being a personal friend of
him that should DR.. Elisha Kent Kane return from
the Arctic regions lwhither he had gone second
exploring tour 10 discover traces of Sir John Frank
lin and his crew and write book he (Mr. Chllds)
should publish it, DR.. Kane did return, wrote the
book, and Childs & Peterson published 1T, selling
nearly 10000 copies within a year, and paying
royalty OF one dollar on each copy. They subse.
quenuy purchased the stereotype plates OF the "Frst
GnnneN Expedition" by DIR. Kane, improving it
by the addition of MANY new illustrations, a fine
steel portrait Of Franklin, and sketch of his
life by Mr.: Allibone The three volumes
of Kane's "Arcnc Exporauons" were attractive
from the interest of the subject the adventurous hu.
manity Of those who designed and carried out the
search after Franklin, and, in a literary point of
view Tor the earnest simplicity of Dr. Kane's Jour.
mas. The numerous illustrations too, from DIR.
kane's own designs were valuable; those wood
were engraved bv Van lDgen & Snyder, and those
on teel, consisting of flushed views by Mr.. James
otter sketches by DIR Kane were executed under
the superintendence of j. NJ Butler, OF Phade
phla The work is still in oemanG-the more So
perhaps, because the author died, martyr
to humanity and science, not long after the publica
Won OF the seoono and concluding Journals OF his
1Arcuc Explorations" Uniform with this publica-
ton was spendidly illustrated volume, "Brazli
ana the Brazia9s," by the Rev. j. O. Fletcher
who had been United States chaplain at Rio
Janeiro, and for q ilme acting secretary 10 the
American legation there, and assisted by the Rev
DIR. Kidder, long resident in Brazil. or the first
edition OF this costly work 5000 copies were sold.
"BOuvier's Law Dictionary" OF which the twelfth
edition, revised and much enlarged, Is now IN the
press was another successful publication, on which
10000 have aIr6ady been paid for copyright. An
other original publication by Chids Peterson,
which has justly obtained the highest reputation, is
thus nohced in Trubner's photographed Guide to
American Literature ;"-"In this list (Of eminent
American scientific writersl we must not omit men,
tion of a remarkable American woman who has
achieved signal success In the science OF astronomy,
willie of the United states Hannah M Peterson, the
only child OF the late Judge Bowler received her
early training rom her father was first introduced to
the study OF mathematics by her very accomplished
husband spoken OF aboVe) and has since cultivated
the study OF astronomy with success. Her lRreat
Work, entitled Familiar AstronOmY,' has won her
abe applause of leading men of science on both
sides the Atlantic" Mr. Childs suggested aud
pla1a Judge Sharswoods edition OF "Black-
siaA DOmmentares," two volumes royal octave
with Very valuable notes, emphaticallY Che Ame.
Epan edition, which is now a textbook in all
law,schOols of the United States He planned
published "The National Almanac aud Annual
1bcord, and edited the first volume tor the wear
L hia Ia a NWOFE n Fnar
the accuracy and great fulness of its statistical
information. forthcoming work. on which he
has spared no expense, also undertaken at his sug
Resiion and on his pecunlary outlay, is Losing,