The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-05-09
BEGGING LETTERS.
Philadelphia Record.


Philadelphia Record.
Before Jay Gould started South on his
yachting trip he told q friend that If he gave
away dime for every dollar that was asked
Of him by beggas, he would not have cent
LEFT within two years. So it Is with Wander.
bilt, who, though in possession Of al income
of six per cent. upon fortune of $20S ,000,-
900, Ii constantly besieged by begging lstt,r-
writers. Nine-tenths of his mail Is made up
ofthese missives. To the fugitive criminal
every bush 10 an officer; so TO the Crgsus Of
New York every new caller Is . beggsr.
Gould and Vanderbilt, being immensely
rich, are, therefore, big targets for the imps-
cunions. But there Ia another man who,
while not quite so rich, is notoriously free
with his gifts, and consequently receives
more begging letters than any rich man in
America. Reference is made to George W.
Childs of the Philadelphia Ledger. His in
come from the Ledger Is said to be over ST.
900 day. 1t 10 private mint that ranks
next to the New York Herald, and be has
other sources Of income as we'll. Nearly all
of this goes out in charity. Mr.. Childs has
no children save his newspaper boys, for
whom he provides with lavish hand. He
recently pensioned of his financial editor.
Though worth $4,000 this gentleman wa,
relieved from active work, but was continued
on the salary roll just as II he had been an
impecunious reporter.
A Record man met Mr.. Childs yesterday
morning at the corner of Sixth and Chestnut
streets, just a. the publisher had finished
FIVE mile walk with Banker Drexel. These
two friends are like Damon and Pythiss.
Mr.. Childs walks out over the Schuylklll
every morning to meet Mr.. Drexel aud to-
gether they anble down Chestnut street to
their Offices. The banker goes on to his
counting house, where he handles more cap
ital than the 33 national banks Of Philsde'-
phis would have If they pooled oil their dol
lars Into one pot. Mr.. Childs turns in at
Sixth street to look over his morning mail
and to dispose OF his callers. There were
five women and two clerical cut men waiting
to see him on this particular morning. Six
of the seven wanted money, and the lads
who tend the door had sized them up, every
one of them. These youngsters are trained
up to study of visitors and they can scent
besgar at . distance of 10 yards.
Mr.. Childs private secretary says that Is
many as 200 begging letters are received in
one day and that the total Of the applications
for money made to the Ledger publisher by
letter often average $1,000 day. One af-
ternoon, while friend waited outside to get
an interview with him, q woman, perfect
stranger, went into ask If Mr.. Childs would
not pay of her debts, amounting to 5000.
Folks will come distance Of 500 miles to
beg a small loan. Some want to be educated
at his expense. Quite number Of young
women have been sent to Europe through
him to study music but none Of them have
ever reached public distinction. Not few
of the beggars say they are ambitious and
want Mr.. Childs to pay for course Of study
that will enable them TO enter the ministry
or other profession.
A young lady in Indiana, who say she has
heard much Of Mr.. Childs' generosity, writes
an introduction Of herself TO him and then
adds:
81 come In the simplicity of little child
to ask you to please make me present Of =
Scotch colly shepherd pup Of the male sex. I
reside In Indiana and highly appreciate any
thing that comes from dear Pennsylvania,
especially q present. / would be greatly
obliged to you indeed for your kindness.
Should you grant my petition will name 1t
after you. Very respectfully, s. G. A."
Another applicant writes
81 wish to ask a considerable favor. 1t Is
the loan Of 500 TO help me with my educa-
tion. am an orphan and have no brothers
nor sisters"
One weakness Mr.. Childs has IL . fondness
for clocks. He has 13 in his private Office,
some valuable for their historic assoeiations,
some because of their exquisite workman
ship, and some because of the rare value Of
their csses-one, In particular, made Of lapis
lazuli, being worth Its weight in gold. Al.
together, In his three residences and At bis
private Office, he has 30 clocks, worth $780,
900. 1t Is not strange, therefore, that he
should get appeals from oil over the world
to buy old clocks. A few days since .
woman called on him to induce him to buy
clock for $4,000. She did not know what
be could do with 1t, but thought he ought to
present it to the Government.
A man In England wrote note asking for
money TO send his three sons to school. Ap-
peals for money to pay off the mortgage on
the farm are daily occurrence. Here is q
specimen brick: ........ ~
.. PocoMoKE, March /, 1884.
My Dear Mr.. Chiids: There 10 . mort
gage Of s., 900 on our farm. 1t 10 held by =
cruel man who is depressing us and threat
ems to sell our farm over our heads II We
don't pay interest. Won't you buy the mort
gsge9 know that If you held 1t you wsuld
not be hard on US. If you will do this / and
my children will pray for you night and day.
What greater consolation and satisfaction
can you have than to know some one is al
ways praying for you ? Answer Immediately
Respectfully yours, j. w. l."
II after two letters have been sent no an,
swer has been received, the beggars will i'm.
pudently write: .....r. $780,, =
81 have written twice to you and have 70.
ceived no answer. What does this mean ?'
/ Occasionally when NJ. Chiids goes out Of
town for two or three days, he is greeted on
his return by beggars, who say:
"Why, I have called here three times thus
far without seeing you."
Church fair committees and designing men
stumble over each other In their professions
70 and from his Office. suppliants for his
money chase him to his summer retreat ii
Long Branch; they call at his country resi-.
dence; they besiege his white marble palace
in the city. Every rich man Is pestsred the
same way, and all who are not pestsred wan,
10 be.
Sarge nt's Successor.
PHILADELPHIA, April 25.-Col. u. Rich
ards Muckle OF the Ledger Ii mentioned -
L Avxar rsu M;nfssor ~ Rar1iu He nayn that