The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-26
How Those Who Have are Both.
cred by Those Who Haven't

Before Jay Could started South on his
yachting trip he told friend that if he
gave away a dime fer every dollar that
was asked Of him by bcggars he would
not have cent left within two years 50
it IS with Vanderbilt, who, though iu
possession Of an income of per cent
upon fortune of S203, 600, 900, is con
stantIy besjeged by begging lettterwri-
ters Nine-tenths of his mail IS made up
of these missives. To the fugitive crim-
inal every bush is an officer so to the
Cresus of New York every new caller
is beggar. Gould and Vanderbilt, be-
ing immensely rich. are, therefore, big
is another man who, while not quite so
rich, Is notoriously free with his gifts, and
consequently receives more begging let
ters than any rich man in America. Ret
erence is made to Mr.. George W. Childs,
of the Philadelphia Ledger His income
from the Ledgcr IS said to be over
thousand dollars a day. 1t is a private
mint that ranks next to the New \ ork
Herald and he has other sources of in
come 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
pensioned off his financial editor. Though
worth $400, 900, this gentleman was
relieved from active work, but was con-
tinued on the salary roll just as if he had
been an lmpecunlous reporter
| A Record pan met Mr.. Childs yester-
day morning just as the publisher had
! finished a five mile walk with Banker
Drexel. These two friends are like Da~
mon and PytlliuS. Mr.. Childs walks out
over the Schuylkill every morning to
meet DR.. Drexel, and together they am :
bic down to their offices. The banker
goes on to his county house, where he
handles more capital than the thirty
three national banks OF Philadelphia
would have if they pooled all their dol
lars into one pot. Mr.. Childs turns in at
Sixth street to look over his morning mail
aud to dispose of his callers. There were
five women and two children and two
clerical-cut men waiting tC see him on
this particular morning. Six of the seven
wanted money, and the lads who tend the
door had sized up every one OF them.
These youngsters are trained up to a study
of visitors, and they can scent a beggar
at distance of ten yards.
Mr.. ChldS' PRIV ate secretary says that
as many as 200 begging letters are receiv-
ed in one day, and that the total of the
applications for money made to the LeC!g-
er publisher by letter often average $50,
900 day. One afternoon, while friend
waited outside to get an interview with
him, a woman, perfect stranger, went
in to ask If Mr.. Childs wouldn't pay off
her debts, amounting to $1,000. Folks
will come from distance of 500 miles
TO beg a small loan. Some want to be
educated at his expense. Quite num-
Der 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..
Chiids 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' gener-
erosity, writes an intro luction of herself
to him and adds
| come in the simplicity of little child
to ask you to please make me present
of Scotch colly shepherd pup Of the
male sex. | reside in Indiana and high
y appreciate anything that comes from
dear Pennsylvania, especially present.
would be greatly obliged to you indeed
for your kindness. Should you grant my
petition | will name it after you.
Very respectfully yours,
S. G.. A.
Another applicant writes:
| wish to ask a considerable favor. 1t
is the loan of 500, to help me with my
education. am an orphan, and have
no brothers nor sisters.
One weakness Mr. Childs has is fond
ness for clocks. He has thirteen IN his
private Office; some 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 lazull,
being worth its weight IN gold. Alto
gether in hi. three residences and at his
Office he has fifty clocks, worth $50, 600
1t Is not stran-e Therefore, that he should
get apreals from oil over the world to
buy old cocks \ few DAYS since wo-
man called on him to induce him 70 buy a
clock for $4,000. She did not know
what he could do with it, but thought he