The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-09-20
Mr.. Childs and General Grant,

Mr.. Childs and General Grant.
Six months have not yet passed
since MIR, ChiId's volume OF "ReColleC
tons" was made public IN Philadelphia
in response 10 repeated requests OF
friends extending over considerable
period. The interest awakened by the
volume must have pleased its author,
for it was large in extent and it uni
formly evoked words of cordial recog-
milton 1t must also have surprised him
for he could scarcely have known how
numerous are the "troops of friend'
whom his same philanthropy has raised
up. Large wealth has not always been
possessed in this or any country to the
satisfaction of those who must toll large
wealth has not always been acquired
honorably, nor has it been enjoyed
gracefully and humanely. But the
wealth of Mr.. Childs, we may assume
with confidence, has given satisfaction
to most men and woman ofintelllgence
who have been able to observe anv OF
the outward evidences of it, simply
because MIR. Childs has acquired it by
honest industry and foresight, and has
epioved it after the manner Of a wise
and Christian man.
1t is good for all men to read the
story of such a mans life when the
man himself tells it, and it must be
taken as thing to rejoice at that
SO many thousands have improved
the opportunity to learn how Mr.
Childs became opulent, and how,
in becoming opulent, he became more
and more generous. We know net what
the circulation of that volume has now
been, but it has certainly been large,
and the figures promise yet to become
larger. Primarily the interest of the
book was in its author, but readers have
not gone far into it before they have
found a new subject in Gen. Grant
whose friendship with Mr.. Childs has
become part of Grants biography.
About 60 pages of the work were
devoted to General Grant, and Mr.
Childs in now permitting this portion
of the earlier volume to be issued in
separate form, will afford pleasure 10 a
large number of readers, including not
only friends of General Grant and him
self, but that larger circle which seeks
for authentic information on public
topics. His statements in regard to
Grants attitude in the Presidential crisis
of 1876 have Importance as material for
those who will hereafter write the his
tory OF that stirring period. Public
value also attaches to his statements
that affect the third-term discussion
and the share Grant had in the work
that secured Garheld's election. Re
ferring to third term matters, Mr.. Chilsd
afirms distinctly that there Is not a
line of his in existence in which he
expresses any desire to have that nomin
alton.
That Grant was generous of money
we all know, bot when generous man
like Mr.. Childs tell us he was "gener.
Gus to fault and that he often re-
monstrated with him for doing things
he could not afford, the obvious infer,
ence is that Grant was essentially one
ofthe most generous men of his genera
ton. That honors never spoiled Grant,
and that he was human simplicity itself
Mr.. Childs shows in many anecdotes,
the most striking of which are the facts
that. wien ready to start on his tour
around the world, he had not arranged
to take sword along, nor did he poss
ess single uniform in his wardrobe
These omissions we're discovered at MIR
Child's house and speedily corrected
by sending over to Warrington for q
sword and resorting to Wanamaker's
shop for a uniform. Grant was gener,
Gus not only with his money, but witt
his reputation. The latter form of gen.
crosby is a rare thing in human nature
Friends OF Grant thought General Sher
man did him scant justice in his me
moirs, and told him as much. Wher
Grant had read the work himself he tolC
Mr.. Childs he thought full justice
had been done him by General Sher-
man.