The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-06

We have received and examined with cow.
siderable interest the issue for 1873 of Mr. q
w Chds. A. Ms. celebrated Almnnnc vbt,
publication has become famous ns the record =,
the poets social trumphs the vch 'cl, of mnnv
of his sadd"st and most beautiful Thoughts and
the distance of some OF his very rcmnrkate
charities. We are sorry to say that the n,imler
now before us is. on the whole. exceedingly a. -
appointing
Last years Almanac contained between 10
vcrmilion covers u fun account Of tho cNpcn-
sivc entertainments given by Mr.. Chills duriny
the Centennial season To members of the forciyn
nobility. high Off ,ials Of our own Government.
and distinguished people generally. From thu
memorable reception whom IA he graphically
puts II. II Incl gathered in my mansion mora
titled personagcs and more officials of national
reputation than were ever before collected under
ono roof in the United States" down 10 thu
dinner which he benevoently provided for tho
newsboys. all OF Chds's social triumphs wcre
chroniced in last years Almanac. It was this
feature. and not the mere calendar of the moons
phases or the patry list Of eclpscs that
gave the work that peculiar value which wa
were so quick to recognize when IL appeared,
The world wants To- know how G.. Washington
Childs, A. NJ. dimes, whom he dimes, and how
much II costs him to dino.
We regret our warm praise NJ this feature IN
last years Almanac IT, rs sccms probable has
deferred him from continuing to print the in-
tcresting record. The present number IL desii.
tute Of any personal information respecting Mr..
Childs and therefore very dry. The covers ara
as brilliant rs before. but the pages inside ara
drcary reading. Not even the small and not
fairly representative collection of obituary
thoughts ut the end Of the book can compensate
for the lack of the Information we want and
have a right to expect in any Almanac issued ny
this great and good man. II looks as If our rc-
marks last year had operated upon Mr. Childsa
morbid dread Of publicity and sensitive horror
Of anything that might be- regarded IA ostcnta-
ton.
In the absence Of any satisfactory matter fog
quotation from the Almanac we are happy tn
be able to lay before our readers a document Il
extraordinary interest, never before made pubs
lie.
We have In our possession In Mr.. Child-s
own neat but somewhat pen-ivo handwriting,
the original manuscript of an autobiography.
perhaps intended by him for posthumous pub
LEGATION. In justice to the poets admirers wa
cannot think of Withholding these precous
memoranda until the 1--WE hope distant day when
he shall have climbed the golden stair Even
though this premature publication may shock
Mr.. Chds's modest dread Of notoricty. we be-
lievc We do right in printing it now. From thu
lolloWlnE hft's also III inc Ii'l ihlilNlUlhts
we infer that somebody had applied TO him ioI
the facts in his career He writes:
My DIAN Docror. wa. frightened whouG received
your note and you sit you would send ID -kDt,h a
me tomorrow A. ,ou seem dcto rtnncd. have hastily
.hctchcd on few TACT. winch Sou can u-o O.. youmAY
deem best / really DON'T think meu notice.
In great haste, ia, crels yours. Ilo Gums
Observe the reluctance with which the great
man consents to write about himself. Ohscryd
his shrinking modcsty. lie really doesn't think
he merits a notice. But. ~ the dear Doctor
seemed determine TO give him notice. with
great Observation-Disclosures and no doubt with
infinite pain, the poet did his obvious duty.
AUToBrooBArHIcAL NOTICE OF @. We.
Roru isfh ofNay i-.n in the city Of Baltimore came
TO rliial, pma 9th o June 1913 and entered the BOOK
.or, of T. rnm- Mr. Thomson continues 600 t' one e
Mr. c'she.t ui,ni> ~ the y " cor of utn lnd Arch
IT.. Remained thee, unul 1877 WHEN he hoean busn,si
ON hi. own account although not OF age, nnd h' had
small plao. ln the present Liy, buhn- on $50 - teinG
on hnl OF i'c present office Low oeco.ei hf boz. ca-h"t
amt assistants o the tg. which De NOW owns In isu
hc entered into parin rsip with kpht Peterson, ~ x.
T. Peterson co., NJ the y cor. of 9TH ana Arch IS.
In short umo uI, nun was changed thld.A Peter.
tho partners nrinl the same rhe fret book th,y
published was ltt,I-ru', Familiar science nj whith
upward OF .pt0p copies have been sold NJ O. bin. a
personal friend o li s, Kane. the father of pr Kane hd
Away said 10 Ma hi SON the Or ,crrousn'd ioni
the Arctic regions au' wr", book, ne souli Iuui,h IL
The Dr did RETURN and G. A published tho work
and sold ncar, lu.Dpl copies wlihna year and laid
dollar ON each copy. see dedication Go ". e "a An.
bone Diet Nuu know an about IN. WnrN tni thc All
llNr the Or iu a. preparation. fletch,r- Hrtni Il
which W. printed aupl II, the 1T ci ienu.r's Law
uitt ami Institute of American Law ON which Iad about
siortl copyright - ". planned >hcIt.,as Bla,s-
STONE. Commentaries the standard co. in tho =;
ln.-f. Hist ny the tlv War tue Or. ace whic
speaks Ina u-h term. o. g Sever hal .h-puc Or
difference With an, author whom hc published tut
ou the contrary retained the respect OF an o., t,m Nr.
Peterson. lcntcnnu o' culture and taste, irur.d ~
1881 Purchased The Fi o. ant kf Gf..n. Nay. leoJ.
success. Appreciated at homr AMI abroad
Entered INTO partnership with hppincott co
but rDnauc. less dian year Purchased ulc Plhs
Iet,f the 3i , Doc i-jf and publish iournal1
ant carr, OF th' largest job priu. o-tAhhsh-
mcut.in the T. About erecting huiiluf - by ~
feet od Chestnut ~ alta cost o nearly ha i.hou
oi dollars
believe have the confidence AMI sncct tho riada
generally not only u the r. but throughout Great But.
/ ain. Ihavc enicavorci a. dcnl generously with ,l
s-Atis year, of u-c made up my mul 10 own fhe
Lsiir and 50 stated 90 the then prOpricior- and never
lost sight of my determination ana succeeded t,fruk
the paper The ormri proprietors retired with torfuue
| estimated AZ s'.u'lppl CIV e..
This autobiography must NOT bc confoundoi
with the " Life Of Childs.' published by him
/ in four different languages. The memoranda
published above constitute n now and mpor-
tant addition To- the puhlio's knowledge of tho
obituary bard and the friend of the European
nobility. It, modest tone is u sufficient answrr
to those who have maliriously accused MI.
Childs Of seeking notoretv