Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-19
GEORGE W. CHILDS.


no AocAm0 H-roprAetor Oh the Ledger.
Philadelphia Press.I
The career of a man like George W.
Childs is full of interesting lessons in
perseverance and industry. Born In
Baltimore, in 1929, of parents in the
middle walk of life, he received q COM
mon school education and entered the
United States Navy when only thirteen
years of age, where he remained for if-
teen months. Even in that compare
lively short space of time he gained a
full knowledge of order and discipline
which have since marked his conduct OF
affairs. This term of hardy service also
had its effect in aiding his physical de-
velopment and permanently benefitting
his, health.
In 1874 he came to Philadelphia, as
he thought it afforded better opportu-
nifty and broader field for business than
his native city did. Although depending
entirely upon himself, young Childs.
then only fifteen years old, soon man.
aged to obtain employment in the store
of bookseller named Thomson, at
Sixth and Arch streets. Here he worked
early and late, applying himself to bust
ness In manner very unusual to boys OF
bis age.
He once mentioned to the writer OF
this sketch that he took but little inter
est in the customary sports of lads in
his neighborhood. and found more en-
joyment in acquiring thorough knowl-
edge of business. In this he succeeded
80 well that his employer soon recog-
nized his value and entrusted him with
work requiring rare Judgment and tact.
He was selected to attend the book auct
tions to make purchases, and by the
time he was sixteen years of age he reg
ularly attended the great trade sales, in
New York and Boston, where he pur-
chased whole editions at time. At
eighteen years of age he had saved up
few hundred dollars, and with this linn
tied capital, aided by his experience, he
resolved to set up in business for him.
self. He obtained small room in the
building then occupied by the Public
Ledger, at Third and Chestnut streets,
and began business.
Here he worked hard and success at
tended his efforts. He soon gained an
extensive acquaintance among publish
ers, and was recognized as young man
of great business talent and sagacity. So
favorable reputation was not without
its advantages, and by the time he was
twenty-one he was offered partnership
in the publishing house of r. E. Peter
son & Co. He accepted it and the firm
was changed to Childs & Peterson. Both
partners went to work with will, and
as they possessed good Judgment their
business increased rapidly.
Mr.. Peterson compiled work from
numerous sources, entitled Familiar
Science" in which much valuable
information was set forth in an in
teresting manner. Mr.. Childs, with
great energy, pushed the sale of the
book to two hundred thousand copies,
and had it placed on the list of studies
in many schools where it is still retained.
The next venture of the firm was with .
handsome edition of Dr. Elisha Kent
Kane's "Arctic Explorations, which was
largely advertised and had an enormous
sale. The number of copies sold can be
imagined when it is stated that the firm
paid DIR. Kane nearly $40, ZOO as royalty.
Shortly after this the civil war broke
out, and the sufferings of Southern
loyalists excited much attention, the
most notable case being that by Parson
L
terson took advantage of the sensation,
and issued a description of the cruelties
prasxiced in the South, written by Par
son Brownlow. Before the book ap-
peared Mr.. Childs had so skillfully ad-
vertised it that public curiosity was ex-
cited, and it sold tremendously. Fifty
thousand copies were disposed of in a
short time, and Mr. ChiIds handed over
to the Southern parson $4,000. This
was the only work of a sensational char
acter ever published by the firm, but the
interest manifested in it made it an ex-
ception to Mr. Child's customary rule.
Among the other successful books
published by the firm, many of them
through his advice, were Allibone's
Dictionary of Authors" Bouvier's
claw Dictionary" and Institutes of
American Law" sharswood's BLACK
stone" Fletcher's Brazil" and Loss
ing's Illustrated History of the Civil
War"
All the while this firm was prospering,
Mr.. Childs had one object in view.
Nearly ten years before, he said to q
friend in his little office at Third and
Chestnut streets :: 81 If I live l will be-
come the owner of the Public Ledqer." 4"
He was only a boy at the time, but the
remark was not uttered in boyish boast
nor as jest. 1t was said with the
utmost sincerity, and with a positive
conviction that the words would be
verified some day. The gentleman to
whom he spoke, the late DR.. r. Shelton
Mackenzie, was deeply impressed at the
time, and years afterwards recalled them
In letter to Mr.. Childs. When he did
30 the prohecy had come true, and
George William Childs had become pro-
prietor Of the most widely-read news
paper in Philadelphia, the Public
Ledger. The purchase was made in
1854