Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-10-24
GEORGE WILLIAM CHILDs.
An Extraordinary Interview with an
Extraordinary Man.
The Home and Habits Of a PhiIanthrOplc
Business Man.

my own business, and never under any
TO interfere with what
did not concern me. Mr.. Childs is
one of the features of Philadelphia
life, as his journal is of American
journalism. Like it he is unique and
peculiar, and strangers are taken to
catch glimpse of him, just as they
are shown the park, the mint and the
vast Masonic Temple. The private
offices Of MIR. Childs are odd enough
to please the most fastidious. He sits
in what he calls the Queen Anne
room, the entrance to which is past
a heavy oaken door, hung on strong
brass hinges. The room, originally
seventeen feet by twenty feet, is re-
duced to seventeen feet square by the
introduction of an open screen sixteen
feet high, parallel with Sixth street.
On the glass fronting the street are
painted the arms of the United States,
Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. The
wainscoting is Of oak, broken by a
door, a mantel and fireplace, the lat
ter entirely unique in finish and very
costly.
INTERIOR OF THE OFFICE.
Brasses of every shape and style,
painted glass panels, with portraits of
Gutenberg, Faust and Scheffer, tiles
Of divers colors, geometrically ariang-
ed half dozep gorgeous clocks rang
ing in age from IS to 400 years, copies
oft Milton and other famous shields,
statuettes of Savonarola and Picarde
di Donati, floral patterns of different
designs, deep cornices elaborately
painted and gilded, heavy embossed
paper limitations Of Flemish leather,
cracle-ware vases, jars of cloisonne en-
amel, colossal suit of antique French
armor, ebony furniture an ebony cab
met, inlaid with various colored woods
and enamel fine specimens of ceramic
ware, massive malachite and lapis-
lazuli clocks and inkstands, and gifts
of n any styles and values adorn the
room, making it at once bizarre aud
beautiful, cosy and costly, elegant and
attractive. Here Mr.. Childs receives
callers, and here the Telegram CORE
spondent found him, CHEEKY faced
bright and affable, and as ready to talk
as the most exacting might desire. La
reply to a question, Mr.. Childs said:
Il bought the Leder in 1864. 1t wa:
losing money hand over fist. but l baC
faith in it and secured it. The first
thing | did wes to double the price
then | let it be distinctly understood
that | would print no questionable ad
vertisements.
did you make any changes?'
"Oh, yes. One man said to me, 8
hear you have bought the Ledger. D,
you intend making any changes?' Yes,
said |, I shall discharge you first o
of all, because you are a poor, misera
BILE drunkard. He was astonished, bu
presently said, If you'll give me {
chance III never touch another drop.
Said l, IF you mean that I'll doubl,
your salary, and l did. To-day tina
man owns houses and lands in the cit,
and is universally respected" "
II hayo always gone on the princi
pie of helping others as | went along
A number of my people are wortl
from $4,000 to 100000. | started
building associations for them anC
they have been of the greatest bene
| fit.
Have you never had any embar
rassments?'
Never. l have worked hard fo
an end and have secured it. Wha
could man wish that | cannot have
There is nothing in the gift of tn,
people, there was nothing in the elf
of General Grant, when he was Presi
dent, at home or abroad, that was no
at my disposal, if | had cared for it,
"You have met many distinguished
people2"
Eyes, probably more than any othep
American, and | know them all well.
FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.
"Were you in any way instrumental
in securing Fairmount Park to tn,
city2'
"Oh, yes. The land was about t
be sold, and a gentleman who vas de-
sirous that the city should have Il
came to consult with me about it.
said, IF you will furnish half the
money | will the other half, and i
the city doesn't wish it We can hole
it,. | mentioned it 10 Mr. Dreyel
who said he would furnish a quarter
so my friend had to find but a quarter
and | furnished the rest.
"And how about the Centennial?'
~ was one of the first to subscribe
$4,000 toward it, and my services tC
the British department. were acknowl
edged in a letter from the Duke 0.
Richmond in 1877"
You say you like to help othel
people, Ny. Cbilds?"
81 do, indeedi it's half the pleasure
Of life | once loaned my name fQl
100000 to my old friend and brother
publisher, George p. Putnam, of New
York He never forgot the favor
and, what's better, he never forgo
me. If | coin money like magician
| | like TO spend it like a man of heart
1t afforded me immense satisfaction Il
secure that tract of land for our grea
park. 1t gave me immense satisfaction
to push the 100000 subscription fo
the family Of General Meade. AL
though, as you see, know and an
known to dukes and earls, princes anC
millionaires, | am quite sure ! fnC
great satisfaction and mental comior
in providing literally for the men il
my employ and the bootblacks ant
newsboys in the street.
AN INTERESTING COLLECTION. g
Have you letters from othe
Presidents than Pierce and Grant ?
" Yes in this book is q portrait o
! o,,,v,s D~o-,l.,A p.e... ~ ,.... lW..l