New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-21
GEORGE w. CHILDS.
AN AMERICAN ALTRUIST.

result of my experience is the greatest pleasure
in life ! should say. doing good 10 others -No' "
strikingly original remark perhaps. Dut seemingly
the most difficult thing in the world Is 10 De
prosperous and generous at the same time Dur-
ing the war ! asked a very rich man 70 CON
tribute some money to a certain rebei fnnd lie
shook his head. 'Chlds.' he said, l cant give
you anything I have worked too hard Tor my
money That is just it, Being generous grows
on one just as being mean does Inc disposition
to give and to be kind TO others should ne IN
culcated and fostered in children. IL seems 70
me that is the way to improve the world and
make happy the people who are in it, These
are presnant words. simple they appear. But
though Mr. Childs is certainly right in the belief
that being generous grows on one Just as being
mean does. what gives the determining impulse
10 the character-what impels il TO the side 1t Is
10 hold for lifc-is, we venture to assert, the
innate disposition. Now. the character OF Mr.
Cbds is peculiar and exceptional in this respect:
that he unites a strong commercial mOney-maklng
aptitude with set of qualities rarely found Ill
association with the trading instinct, and not gen.
orally supposed to be natural Developments or ac-
cessories of that instinct The men who TO
marked ability for and lively interest in money
making Join a still more marked disposition TO
do GOOD with their money. and to beneh' others.
are so few that roll of their names from the
dawn of history until the present day would
nrobaby not extend beyond the dimensions OF a
modest pamphlet.
On such roll however the name OF Mr. George
w. Childs. must be assurcdly placed, and III no
secondary rank For if there is any man in the
world of today or in the world of the past, who
better or more beautifully exemplifies and Illus
trates the ideal altruisic life, we know not where
IN find that man. 1t is not upon his gifts of large
and general import and significance that his
memory will rest. These are less significant than
the relations of the man to his fellows. in the
daily and intimate affiliations of employer and
employe and in the crucial test OF all for rIch
men-his attitude toward and connection WIN
the cause of labor generally. 1t is neither desr-
able nor necessary 10 draw large differences from
isolated facts No solution of the social and
LABOR problems IS perhaps bound up IN the eh-
ample set by Mr. Childs. II is rather standing
demonstration that some at least of the gospei
doctrines and principles are capable OF pracucS'l
and continuous application; and that such applca-
ton Of gospel doctrines and principles need not
in the least degree relax the energies OF industry
demoralize the recipients of bounty, or create
any tendency toward socialism as commonly under
stood, or anarchy.
Professor Richard T. Ely contributes TO this
w Childs in his Relations 10 his Employees
In the course of this authoritative TESTIMONIAL 'D'
writer SAYS: Il studying the labor question
i'm Richmond Virginia. few years ago. when
hannened to mention the name of Mr.. ChIlds 10
the president of the local organization OF COM
positors Oh, sir said he. as his lace DrSHt-
ened with loving gratitude. If all employers
were like Mr. George W. Chids there would be
no labor question Think what this implies
At dinner given IN honor of Mr. Cblids one oil the
employes of The Ledger said My recollection
of the gentleman who is being honored by this
banquet dates back 10 boyhood. TO use quoted
expression, Mr.. Chids is AN Israelitc without
guile" The thing in him that is plainest to me
is that there is less of evil in him than in any man
/ ever knew. No can say that he went TO
him with a tale of sorrow and went away empty
handed. He overlooks our shortcomings in =" The
Ledger" office and many of us have done that
which might be cause for dismissal from other
establishments But we are all there, still at
xorl, because he could not frame his lips TO say
tho word that would cause our departure. But
nc Professor Ely observes 1t occurs frequently
that an industrial leader makes himself an oplec'
Of love and admiration TO his own employees,
although even this does not happen 50 OFTEN a.
one could desire. Mr. Childs, however. has done
far more than this. lie has made himself be-
loved by an entire craft-namely, that to which
tho most of those employed upon his great news
papcr. The Public Ledger belong, the com
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the United States. The
reader may travel south to Texas. north to Mlnhe-
sofa. east to Maine, west 10 the shores OF the
Pacific. and wherever he mentions the name oil
Mr. Childs he touches warm spot III the heart
Of the compositor.' In concluding his paper
Professor Ely SAYS: Philanthropy is Of two
sorts-positive and preventive. POSITIVE phiaI-
,bronv tries 10 mitigate or remedy evils. 1t
builds hospitals for the sick and relieves paupers.
This is all well in It's way but
there is a far higher kind of phi
lanthropy. though it attracts less attention
II is preventive 1t looks ahead and takes meas
ures TO lessen the need of almshouses and hos
pitals The philanthropy of model employer l.
of this latter sort. He pays good wages ana dc
serves TO rank higher than capitalist who cut
WAGES and who contributes largely 10 ordinary
charitable institutions. lie helps men 10 III
themselves and lifts them TO higher plane o
thought and life. This is the philanthropy o
Mr. George W. Cbilds. 1t is not merely rational
sane. thoughtful, reflective; it is permeated p'
that warm humanity that feeling OF fellowship
which doubles the value Of his beneiacuons, AM
nj the same time renders their effects STIMULATING
instead of relaxing IL is the deep ana rea
sympathy characierizng all his liberal acuon
that dflerentiates them from the mere open
bandedness which derives more from indiilerenc
than interest.
In the Recoections" we see Mr. Chlids a
1hc kindly and popular host, and the enthusiast
collector of autographs, original manuscript
clocks and ivory carvings 1t Is TO be hoieo
bo,rcvcr that all who enter his doors seem I
como away with a feeling beyond mere gratltud
for polite and friendly treatment. Ills guest
learn to love him, and from the ends OF the earl
they correspond aiiectionatcly with HIM. In
fitness of his sympathy and the absolute disiI
,eres,edness of his attitude render him the natt
raj confidant and friend of the most contras'e
natures. lie is evcrybodys friend, ana assured
NOT his own enemy. the old adaee has !
Many men have dispensed even more splendi
Hospitality Many men have Kept open nous
Few men have been able to attach 10 'heih Il
NJ nix