The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-22
A RICH MANS WOES.
How Mr.. George W. CItilds Is Badgered by
Beggars.

Philadelphia Record.
Mr.. Childs's private secretary say Us that as 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 dv-
erage $50, 900 q day. One afternoon, while a.
friend waited outside to get an interview with
him, a woman, a 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 500 miles to beg a small loan. Some
want to be educated at his expense. Quite IL
number Of young women have been sent to Eu-
rope through him to study music, but none of
them have ever reached public distinction. Not
a flew 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 she has
heard much of Mr.. Childs's generosity, writes an
introduction of herself to him and adds:
1 come in the simplicity of a little child to ask you
to please make me a present of a Scotch eolly shep-
herd pup of the male sex. l reside in Indiana, and
highly appreciate anything that comes from dear
Pennsylvania, especially a present. l would be
greatly obliged to you indeed for your kindness.
Should you grant my petition l will name it after you.
Very respectfully yours, 5. G. A
Another applicant writes:
I wish to ask a considerable favor. II is the loan of
800, to help me with my education. lam an orphan,
and have no brothers nor sisters.
Son weakness Mr.. Childs has is q fondness
for clocks. He has thirteen in his private Office;
some are valuable for their historic associations,
some because of their exquisite workmanship,
and some because Of the rare value of their
cases-one, in particular, made of lapis lazuH
being worth its weight in geld. Altogether, in
his three residences and at his office, he has fifty
clocks, worth $50, 900. 1t is not strange, there
fore, that he should get appeals from all over
the world to buy old clocks. A few days since a
woman called on him to induce him to buy q
clock for $25, 900. She did not know what he
could do with it, but thought he ought to pre-
sent it to the government.
A man in England wrote a note asking for
money to send his three sons to school. Appeals
for money to pay off the mortgage on the farm
are a daily occurrence. Here is a specimen brick:
PocoMoKE, March 1. 1884.
My Dear Mr.. C~hilds-There is a mortgage of So, 600
on our farm. 1t is held by a cruel man who is oppress-
ing US. and threatens to sell our farm over our heads
if we don't pay the interest. Won't you buy the
mortgagel know that if you held it you would not
be hard on us. If you will do this. [ and my little
children will pray for you night and day. What greater
consolation and satisfaction can you have than to
know some one is always praying for you. Answer
Immediately, Respectfully yours, j. w. L.
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 received no
answer. What does this meanF'
Occasionally, when Mr.. Cbilds goes out Of
town for two or three days, he is greeted on his
return by beggars, who say: why, | have called
here three times thus far without seeing you"
Church fair committees and designing men
stumble over each other in their professions to
and from his office. Suppliants for his money
chase him to his summer retreat 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 p~estered want to be.