The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-19
GEORGE WILLIAM cHILDS.
An Extraordinary Interview with
an Extraordinary Man.
HIS MODE OF LIVING.
The Home and Habits Of a PhlanthrOpic
Business Man.
WEALTH AND BENEVOIlENCE..
[Brom the Evening Telegram of yestorday.l

a1Aa4 IL A1N0 O6Av - ~ 1850 -
N
[Erom the Evening Telegram of yesterday.l
- PH1IApKLpAIA. Oct. II. 1879.
''Yes, sir. have been uniformly successful"
said Mr.. George W. Childs. no sat back In his CON-
Portable chair the private offico OF tho Ledgr;
'and my rule has ever bcon to mind my own ousi-
and never. under any circumstances TO inter-
fore with what did not concern me-. Mr. Chiids Is
one Of the features of Phadepha lfc. as his jour-
nal IL of American journalism. Like it he Is unique
and peculiar ana strangers taken to catch
glimpse of him. Just as they shown the Park the
Mint and the vast Masonic Temple The private Offices
y Mr.. Childs are odd enough to please the most
astidious. He sits in what he calls the queen Anne
room," the entrance to which Is past heavy oaKen
door. hung on strong brass hinges. The room.
originally seventeen feet by twenty feet. is reduced
to seventeen feet square by the introduction OF an
open scr cen sixteen feet high parallel with Sixth
street On the gass. fronting the street. are painted
the arms OF the United States, Pennsylvania and
Philadelphia. The wainscoting is Of oak. broken
by door. mante and fireplace. the latter entirely
UNIQUE in finish and very costly.
INTERIOR TIKI OFFICE.
Brasses of every shape and style. painted glass
panels. with portraits of Gutenberg Faust and
Schaeffer tiles Of divers colors geometrically ar
ranged, half dozen gorgeous clocks ranging age
from rs to 400 years. copies of the Milton and other
famous Shields statuettes OF Savonaroa and Picarde
di Donatl, floral patterns Of different designs. deep
cornices deliberately painted and gilded. heavy en-
bossed paper limitations Of Flemish leather. oracle
vases. jars of closonne enamel colossal suit
OF antique French armor, ebony furniture; ebony
cabinet. inlaid with various colored woods and
enamel; fine specimens of ceramic ware. massive
malachite and lapis-azuli clocks and inkstands and
,P and ado tha
making it at once bizarre and beautiful. cosey and
costly. elegant and attractive. Here Mr. Childs
ceives callers and here tho Telegram correspondent
found him, ohoery faced bright and afable. and as
ready to talk the most exactnR might desire. IN
reply to o question. Mr.. Childs said =
II bought the Ledger in 1864 1t was losing money
hand fist, but had faith in 1t and secured 1t.
The first thing did to double tho price. then
let 1t be distinctly understood that would print no
questionable advertisements"
"Did you mako any changesY'
"Ob yes. One said to me. Il hear you havo
bought tho Ledger. Do you intend making any
changesY Yes. said l. I shall discharge you first
of all. because you poor. miserable drunkard.
He astonished but presently said. Ifyou,l give
me chance I'll never touch another DROP Said !,
If you that I'll double your salary and did.
To-day that man owns houses and lands in the city
and is universally respected.
BENEVOLENT MAN.
II have always gone on the principle of helping
others as went along. number Of my people are
worth from SIS 900 to 100000. started building
associations for them and they have been of the
greatest benefit"
"Havo you never had any embarrassments?"
sNever. have worked hard for end and have
secured 1t. What could man wish that cannot
havea There is nothing in the gift Of the people.
in Tho oif Of Graz
when he was President, at home abroad. that was
not at my disposal II had cared for it,
'You have met many distinguished peope?
Eyes. probably than any other American.
and know them all WELL"
"For instance?"
swell. among my guests. friends and correspond
ents the Emperor Of Brazil. the Duke of Buck
ingham Lords Dufferin. Rosebery. Houghton Iches-
ter. Caithness and Dunraven Sir Stafford Northcote.
Lady Franklin. Dean Stanley. Canon Kingsley.
Charles Dickens. wilkie Collins. ]. A. Froude, Pro-
lessor Tyndall, Professor Price, Goldwin Smith,
Admiral Lord Clarence Pagot. Sir Philip Cunlife
Owen. Sir Herbert Sanford. Charles Kean. Marquis
NJ. Rochambeau. John Walter NJ. p. (of the London
Tp.es) Sir Charles Reed. Sir John Rose. Sir Edward
Thornton, Henry w. Longfellow. Oliver Wendell
Holiness George Bancroft. Henry Ward Beecher.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Elisha X. Kane, Edmund
Quincy. Chief Justice Waite. George Peabody; Gen.
erals Grant. Sherman, Meade and Sheridan; H. Fish;
z. c. Winthrop. Henry Wilson. William M. Evarts.
Alexander II. Stephens s. j. Tilden. Charlotte Cush
man. Washington Irving. w. II. Prescott Nathaniel
Hawthorne. Edward Everett. Thomas II. Benton. w.
II. Seward William c. Bryant Horace Greeley. 7.
Weed, Peter Cooper. G. p. Il. James, George s. HILL
lard, FitzGreone Halleck. Jared Sparks. Thomas
Hughes. NJ. p; John L. Motley and DR.. Francis
Liebor."
ron THE PUBLIC TENKFrr.
"were you In any way instrumental in securing
Paramount Park to the cityr'
"Oh, yes. The land about to be sold. and
gentlemen who was DESTROYS that the city should
have 1t camo to consult with about it. said,
III you will furnish half the money will tho other
half. and IL tho city doesn't wish IL hold it,
! mentioned it to Mr.. Droxol. who said he would
furnish o quarter. so my friend had to find but
quarter and furnished the rest"
.And how about the Centennial"
81 was one of the first to subscribe $4,000 toward
IL and my services to tho British Department were
Acknowledged in letter from the Duke Of Rich
npnd in 1871"
you say you Like to help other people. Mr..
CiildsY.
IL do, indeed; it's half the pleasure of life once
loaned my namo for 100000 to my old friend and
brother publisher. George p. Putnam. Of New York.
He mover forgot tho favor and. what's better. he
never forgot me. II coin money like magician l
lilo to spend it like OF heart. 1t afforded mo
incnso satisfaction to that tract OF land for
otr great park. 1t eavo me immense pleasure to
push the 100000 subscription for the family of
General Meade. Although. as you see. know and
an known to dukes and oarls. princes and million
Mares. am quite sure find great satisfaction and
m'nta comfort in providing literally for the mon in
m. employ and tho bootblacks and nowsboys in tho
stnot."
LIBRARY.
How many valuable books have your
About 5000 leading standard works. on every
subject. elegantly bound. Among my treasures are
an original sermon written by the Rev. Cotton
Mahor and copy of Leigh Eunt with an auto
gra,h inscription to Charles Dickens; Hoods