The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-01
A TALK NTH CHILDs, A. W.
The Famous Poet to Gu Abroad, Having
FIr.t Invited Sir. Unyes 10 Dinner.

The Famous Poet to Gu Abroad, Having
First Invited SIR. Hayes to Dinner.
PHILADELPHIA, April 29.--Thcrc has been
so much burlesquo written about Mr.. George
w. Childs that half expected to find him tall.
cadaverous person. with long black Grape flow
ing from his hat like mute Mt an English flu
neral. On the contrary he is short and fat with
n round. innocent face. twinklIng little eyes
trim chin whiskers. and cheeks of Il fresh color
that has almost reached his nose. II II were not
for the chin whiskcrs and the irreverence Of the
comparison. should say that Mr.. Childs resem-
blcs nothing 30 much as the chubby John the
Baptist in Raphael's Madonna OF the Chair"
Tho apartment in which Mr.. Childs received
me WIS luxurious beyond my powers Of dcscrip-
ton He swung his chair half way around from
n fine old desk of carved oak. and smiled kind
welcome. Mr. Childs has the habit Of inserting
his thumbs in the two lower pockets Of his vest
and gently pattng his abdomen with the dscn-
gagged fingers as IL delicately to call attention to
that very substantial token Of prosperous ca
rccr.
His cheerful smile faded out when mention
ed my errand. But. my dear SIR" he said
you can't expect me to talk on topics like
these II my views and opinions are to be held
up to ridicule. No man likes to be rdiculed"
Il am quite sure. Mr.. Childs." said l. that
whatever you may have to say will DO printed
in the most respectful type in the Office"
Mr. Childs laughed. little nervously. Il
never quite know what to make Of THE sun"
said he Now tell me-, in friendly way. is
there ANYTHING ridiculous about Ne ?"
without waiting for an answer, tie went on:
Ever since came 10 Philadelphia. u poor boy.
In 1914. have been dead in earnest. ] haven't
had time to appreciate Jokes. II had stopped
10 joke, do you suppose could ever have reared
this LedG"' building or built up the Ledgei
~ win
young friend. That's the advice IT man who
has made some HI" mon'y and some few, de-
sirabn acuuHiniunccs by bning serious. For
ney suys that when he carried letters from mo
To- Europe my name was like Il talisman. and
that i Tds pleasant 70 see bow pohlemun Ike
the Fake OF Blu bingham honorcd tho endorse
mcnt Of an American who thirty years ago
hadn't dollar in The world.
That" continued Mr.. Childs. after hal
murmured my thanks Tor his very Kind advice
- that is one result Of taking lie y earnest
Iventurcd to say that he looked like man
who enjoyed n good laugh.
"Thcre is a great difference" he said. be.
tseen cheeriulness and s.rdoni; frivollty;
my bonefnctions ,surh rs they are. and into my
daily social life. Now he added with genial
smile ann r eh Rsi yon have invited
the family oil Mr.. Hayes to spend the summer
at your Long Branch cottaseY
Why should ask EN- there he inquired
with some surprise. when | expect to be
Then you are really going abroad this sum
Hadn't you heard? Within month. prob
ably taxi, Mr.. Childs. and party Of friends
OF course YOU anticipate delightful jour
ney;,", c,,,.
obviously. Il expect to BE- deg;hly sick. l an,
| always sick On ~" wat r. don't know how |
| shall enjoy the voyage hut look forward 10
meeting my. European friends with a great deal
You viii not require many letters Of intro
Well. no" said Mr.. Childs, .pattns his
stomach with Increased viSor. / am pretty
well known over there already. guess.
shall you make any exhibit at the EXPOSE
'i99nwyrn ,o, mann -, 10 .,,.o, r,.,0o mo
| sudden look Of shy suspicon.
| Any exhibit rs proprietor Of great Ameri-
can newspaper .
ha yef he repi,ed; Sn ,dS shall
ment containing a copy OF the first ssuc oi the
| paper under my management, and copy OF
| some recent issue printed In gold or sHtn. !
| shall also exhibit photograph Of the Ledgp
! building aud the autograph letters addressed
tincuished personaeos in this aid other eonn.
tries. ] am also thinking Qt exhibiting the
! magnificent presents received by oX-Presileni
| tentates Of the East. and bv him intrustnd y
| my keeping II cN-Prcsident Grant has no oh.
lection. shall place these articles on eNhisi-
DO you expect to see Con. Grant while you
" shall undoubtedly meet him in Paris"
., How long do you eXpe.ct to remain in Paris
| IL that Is a lair question ~
| That depends entirely on the number Of my
! social engagements. | shall take apartments
somewhere in the Faubourg-the centre o.
| fashion and social activity. You know-and shal
| try TO give our foreign friends an idea of whn
| American hospitality ~. In IN unpretentlou.
| wav. Of course" he added with a smile.
Being asked II the r"'rut attention shown b,
| himsetto he HAYES party had any political SIX
| nihcance. Mr.. Childs replied:
! 80 Not in tho least. not in the least II was
| merely what man in my position would do iol
any distinguished strangers when they came e
town, Why L. IT, he went on, that people are
always discovering political movements an
| combinations IN simple acts ot hospitality
] was glui 90 entertain Mr.. Hayes and younL
Mr.. Webb Hayes. They seemed pleased wil
| their PERCEPTION here and with tho It'll,
trtips Of artistic value with which | pre-
scented them before they left. | contributed I,
SUR I'm very glad OF it.
=" Did YOU have much conversation with Mr.
Considerable He is worry afYable man
chock full Of IDEAS. Yes. the HIyesrs are de
liEhtul people. have already arranged to in
| viic them % dinner"
Before the writer shook hands with Mr.
| Childs he examiner AZ that gentumans cordiu
| request. the contents OF an elaborate ebony cab
met filed with choice specimens Of kernmi
ware. " II is a fine collection Mr.. Childs." sale
=" YES. SIR" said he. That cabinet with thu
HACK -knacks inside. cost me more than thirty
seven hundred dollars"
Are you very sure THE sun is not trying L
make fun Of me?" h. asked as the writer
opened the door 10 depart.
II0 Years old.