Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-07-30
George w. Childs.
Anecdotes Of his Generosity to his
Employees and Others.

is certainly the most generous ana
whOlesouled edtorand owner of 4 news.
paper in the world. No worthy journ-
alist or journeyman printer when IN
need eyer applied TO him and was refus-
ed. A year or two ago Mr.. Childs saw
that one of his old editors was worn
out, and his work lacked the polish that
had always characterized it. He called
him into his sanctum one morning and
said
'You have worked fol me forty years.
You have always done your work hon
estly and acceptably. am now going
to retire you at full salary. Take your
wife and children, 60 into the country
and enjoy yourself. Come or send to
the office every Saturday and draw your
salary. Hereafter your time, as we'll as
your salary, is your own
The old editor overwhelmed Mr..
Childs with thanks, and departed. On
the succeeding Saturday he went to the
counting-room and the cashier refused
to pay him his salary.
WATT he said, 'and I'll go and see
Mr.. Childs about it,
He went to Childs, and Childs told
him to pay the man for a weeks Ser
vices.
But he is no longer on the paper,
the cashier suggested.
sThat makes no difference Mr..
ChiJds remarked, pay him his salary as
long as he lives
But, Mr.. Childs,' broke in the CASH
ier, do you know this man is worth o.
yer three hundred thousand dollars p
Il hope he is,' Mr.. Childs responded,
1t speaks well for him. The fact that
he is worth that money is no reason
why l should not pay him his salary af-
ter his forty years of faithful service.
If he had squandered his money i'll rum
or dissipation you would have said that
it would be all right to retire him on
salary because he had no money. His
prudence and thrift deserves at least an
equal reward. Pay .him his salary as
long as he lives, and say no more about
| it.
The old editor died three months af-
terward leaving four hundred thousand
dollars to his wife and children, but his
salary was paid up to the day of his
death.
| Another instance Of Mr.. Child s
kindness to his employees is shown in
the case Of a man who was employed
on the Ledger when Mr.. Childs first
bought it. He was good workman,
but noted drunkard. When Mr..
Childs assumed control he went to him
and said, Mr.. Childs, are you going to
keep me on the paper at my present sal
ary p
what are you getting p Mr.. Childs
asked.
Fifteen dollars week. the man re-
piled.
Il will double it on one condition, his
employer said; shat is, that you shall
never drink another drop of rum as
long as you are in my employment
The man accepted the proposition.
he afterward became a well-known
temperance lecturer in Philadelphia,
although he complained bitterly when
advertised as reformed drunkard.
Childs kept his eye on him, and he also
has just been retired on salary. When
ever he desires to do any special work
for the Ledger, he is at perfect liberty
to do so. Meantime he draws his sal
ary regularly and his bills of expense
are never questioned. He, also, is said
to be worth between three and four
hundred thousand dollars.
Another instance of Mr.. Childs' be-
nevolence was shown in the case OF
Colonel John w. Forney. AS the twi-
light of life approached Forney became
very poor. His good heart had been
strained to the utmost tension by pre-
tended friends, and he was barely able
to make a living. One day he met
Childs.
Il am getting DID, the colonel said,
'and owe a good deal of money to per-
sons not able to loose it. If you could
aid me in paying my debts, it would
make the latter part of my life compar-
atively happy
Go home and find out how much you
owe,' Childs replied, 's.nd let me know
J in the morning.
The next day Forney reported that
he owed about twenty-five hundred dol
lars. Childs sat down to write a check
for the money, when Forney said
'Childs, you might as well make it
FIVE thousand while you are about it.
The good natured editor filled out the
check for SIS 900 and passed it to For
ney. Within week the colonel wrote
him letter, saying that he had no idea
how happy the receipt of the money
had made him.
Il do not now,' he wrote, 'owe cent
to anybody In the world, and l am
twenty-five hundred dollars ahead
The colonel, with prehensile friend
ship, had accepted the generous mans
check, as a gift, and not dis a loan.
Not long afterWard the colonel died.