The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-04-17
RICH MEMS WOES.
How Those Who Have Plenty to Give
Are Bothered by Those Who
Have Plenty TO Get.

Are bOt0ereu ny 4HOSc w no
Have Plenty TO Get.
Before jaw Gould started south on
his yachting trip he told a friend that
if he gave away dime for every dollar
that was asked of him by beggars he
would not have a cent left within two
wears. So it is with Vanderbilt, who,
though in possession of an income of
per cent. upon fortune of $203, 0O0,-
900, is constantly besieged by begging
letter-writers. Nine-tenths of his mail
is made up of these missives. To the
fugitive criminal every bush is an Off
Ger; so to the Cresus of New York ey-
cry new caller is beggar Gould and
Vanderbilt, being immensely rich, are,
therefore, big targets for the impecu-
NOUS. But there is another man who,
while not quite so rich. is VIGOROUSLY
free with his gifts, and consequently
receives more begging letters than any
rich man in America. Reference is
made to Mr. George w. Childs, of the
Philadelphia Ledger. His income from
the Ledger is said to be over $1,000
day. 1t is private mint that ranks
next to the New York Herald, and he
has other sources of income as well.
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 pension
ed off his financial editor. Though
worth $780, 900, this gentleman was re-
ieved from active work, but was con-
tinued on the salary roll just as if he
had been an impecunious reporter.
A Record man met Mr.. Childs yes
terday morning at the corner of Sixth
and Chestnut streets, just as the pub
Usher had finished five mile walk
with Banker Drexel. These two friends
are like Damon and Pythias. Mr..
Childs walks out over the Schuylkill
every morning to meet Mr.. Drexel,
and together they ramble down Chest
nut street to their offices. The banker
goes on to his counting house, where
he handles more capital than the
thirty-three national banks of Philadel-
phia would have if they pooled all their
dollars into one pot. MIR. Childs turns
in at Sixth street to look over his morn
ing mail and to dispose of his callers.
There were five women and two cleri-
cal 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 a beggar at distance of ten
yards.
Mr.. Childs' private secretary says
that as many as two hundred begging
letters are received in one day, and
that the total of the applications for
money made to the Ledger publisher by
letter often averages $4,000 day.
One afternoon, while a friend waited
outside to get an interview with him,
woman, perfect stranger. went in to
ask if Mr.. Childs wouldn't pay off her
debts, amounting to $4,000. Folks will
come from a distance of five hundred
miles to beg 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 courses
of study that will enable them to enter
the ministry or other profession.
A young lady in Indiana, who says
erosity, writes an introduction of her.
self to him and adds:
81 come in the simplicity of a little child to
ask you TO please make me present of
Scotch coly shepherd pup of the male sex.
/ reside in Indiana, and highly appreciate
mia. especially present. / would be greatly
obliged to you indeed for your kindness.
Should you grant my petition L will name fl
IS. G. A
Another applicant writes:
81 wish to ask considerable favor. 1t is
the loan of 500 to help me with my educa-
ton. am an orphan, and have no brothers
nor sisters"
One weakness Mr. Childs has is
fondness for clocks. He has thirteen
in his private office; some valuable for
their historic associations, some be-
cause OF their exquisite workmanship,
and some because of the rare value of
their cases-one, in particular, made
of lapis lazuli, being worth its weight
in gold. Altogether, in his three resi-
dences and at his private office, he has
fifty clocks, worth $4,000. 1t is not
strange, therefore, that he should get
appeals from all over the world to buy
old clocks A few days since woman
called on him to induce him to buy
clock for $25, 600. She did not know
what he could do with it, but thought
he ought to present it to the govern
ment.
A man in England wrote note ask
ing for money to send his three sons to
school. Appeals for money to pay off
the mortgage on the farm are daily
occurrence. Here is a specimen brick:
"Pocomoke, April l, 1ss4-My Dear Mr..
ChlldS. There is a mort of S3 WM
farm. 1t is held by a cruel man who is op-
pressing us and threatens to sell our farm
over our heads If we don't pay the interest.
Won't you buy the mortgage2 ] know il you
held it you would not be hard on US. If you
will do this and my children viii pray for
you night and day. What greater consola-
know someone is always praying for you?
Answer Immediately. Respectfully yours,
If after two letters have been sent no
answer has been received, the beggars
will impudently write:
Il have written twice to you and have re-
ceived no answer. What does this mean?"
Occasionally when Mr. Childs goes
out of town for two or three days, he is
greeted on his return by beggars, who
say: "Why, l have called here three
times thus far without seeing YOU"
Church fair committees and design
ing men stumble over each other in
their professions to and from his office
Suppliants for his money chase to his
summer retreated at Long Branch;
they call at his country residence; they
besiege his white marble palace in the
city. Every rich man is pestered the
same way, and all who are not pestered
want to be. -Philqdeiphid Record.