Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-04-10
RICH MEMS WOES.

Some of the fortunes of Wealth-HOw
Those Vino Have Plenty to Give Are
Bothered by Those Who Have Plenty to
Get.
Philadelphia Record.
Before Jay Gould started south on his
Yachting trip he told friend that if he
gave away a dime for every dollar that
was asked OF him by beggars he would
not have a cent left within two years. So
it is with Vanderbilt, who, though in
possession ofan income of 6 per cent upon
a fortune of $203, 100000, is constantly be-
seiged by begging letter writer's. Nine
tenths of his mail is made up of these
missives. To the fugitive criminal every
bush is an ofiser; so to the Croesus of
New York every new caller Ia beggar.
Gould and Vanderbilt, being immensely
rich, are, therefore big targets for the inn
pecunious. But there is another man,
who, while not quite so rich, is notorious
ly 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 P7aiLadeL-
phiG LEDGER. His income from The Ledger
is said to be over ST. 900 day. 1t is pri-
vate mint that ranks next to The NeI0
York Herald, and he has other sources OF
income as well. Nearly all 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 100000, this gentleman was re-
lieved 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 yesterday
morning at the corner OfSixth and Chest
nut streets, just as the publisher had
finished fve-mile walk with Banker
Drexel. These two friends are like Da
mon and Pythias. Mr.. Childs walks out
! over the Schuylkill every morning tt
meet Mr.. Drexel, and together they am
BILE down Chestnut street to their Offices
The banker goes on to his counting
house, where he handles more capita
than the thirty-three national banks O
Philadelphia would have if they pooled
all their dollars into one pot. Mr.. Childf
turns in at Sixth street to look over hi
morning mail and to dispose of his callers
There were five women and two clerical
cut men waiting to see him on this par
ticular morning. Six Of the seven want
ed money, and the lads who tend thu
door had sized them up, every one O
them. These youngsters are trained q
to study of visitors, and they can seen
a beggar at a distance of ten yards.
Mr. ChiIds private secretary says tina
as many as two hundred begging letter
are received in one day, and that tn
total of the applications for money mad
to The Ledger publisher by letter oftel
averages $50, 900 day. One afternoon
while friend waited outside to get Al
interview with him, woman, perfeC
tstranger, went in to ask if Mr.. Child
wouldn't pay off her debts, amounting t
$4,000. Folks will come from a distanc
of five hundred miles to beg small loaI
Some want to be educated at hisexpenst
Quite number of young women hav
been sent to Europe through him to stud
music, but none of them have ever reach
ed public distinction. Not a few of tn
beggars say they are ambitious, and wan
Mr.. Childs to pay for courses of stud
that viii enable them to enter the minis
, try or other profession.
| A young lady in Indiana, who say