The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-21
Tho George Washington Childs Spoon.

GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND: We congratu-
late you from the bottom OF our heart upon
the unsolicited honor and beautiful tribute
just rendered by tho people Of Philadelphia
to their most eminent and generally beloved
fellow townsman.
Other men have had monuments reared to
their greatness or goodness while they still
lived, though rarely. Shafts Of marble. OF
granite, and Of bronze commemorate tho
achievements Of hundreds OF persons hardly
worthy to hold your broad-brimmcd straw
ha. while you wipe the bushes from your
brow. No cannon embedded halt way to its
breech. no towering and ostentatious
column, no mural tablet or stiltcd
efflgy on pedestal shall preserve for future
generations Of Philadelphians your charac-
teristic fame. You will go down the CEN
turtles stirring sweetness In the innocuous
cup or freghted with strawberries and
cream, or conveying frozen refreshment to
the eager lips of innocent love, or catching
drop by drop the paregoric destined for the
assuagement OF infantile misery. This is as
it should be; the mission is akin to tho
simple benevolence OF your heart; and We
are overioycd to learn from the columns OF
your own almost always truthful journal
how satisfactory is the monument. both in
design and execution:
"Artisticaily the GxosoE ". CHILps spoon may be
said 10 be for Is pcturosausly designed
skfully stamped. The teaspoon Is ornamental at the
end Of the handle with low relief bust OF Mr.
CHLps which may be considered excellent when tho
great difficulty Of successfully cutting die 10 known
From the bust ribbon winds carelelsly to tho bowl.
forming the handle and bearing those words GEORGE
W. CHILpS Public Ledger Phiade phia-
vsts ofoeso we'll known for tho treasures 1t tains
and for the celebrities who have been entertained
thsrs-is given In the bowl 10 In low relief also and
gives excellent idea of this famous apartment The
orange spoon is ornamented with handle similar to
the other but because of the peculiar formation OF the
bowl. tho once Wow had to be omitted
The legend is adequate. The three words,
GEORGE WASHINGTON CH1LDs, mean vol
umes. They bring up to tho memory the
whole story OF lifetime, frightened by
commercial success, gilded by aristocratic
associations, and ennobled by useful and
philanthropic deeds. That spoonbowl holds
Dukes and Duchesses, Marquises and poets,
newsboys and Emperors. Tho bust at the
head Of the handle Is the likeness OF the only
American who ever declined tho highest
office in the gift OF the people because he
would rather be happy than be President.
But this leads us to say that with the
eliminating honor OF your lifetime come new
responsibilities. You must live up to your
spoon. No spot or stain must rest upon its
polished convexity just ut present. MS we
are sorry to remind you upon so fclicitous
an occasion. you are engaged In the gener-
GUS but immoral and unpatriotc task OF
shielding and bolstering the reputation Of
an exposed humbug, discredited fellow
citizen, an unworthy friend. It is mis-
guided enterprise. You are imposed upon.
Your charitable impulses. 30 often active for
the good Of the unfortunate, are playing you
false for once.
JOHN WANAMAKER's name and yours arc
sometimes put in the same category by
superficial observers in Philadelphia, with no
sense OF individual differences. The names
are no more to be classed together than
those OF URIAH HEEP and the Brothers
CHEERYBLE. He Is pewter gilt and You are
genuine metal.S Your heart Is as open as
the honest sunshine. and his Is stocked with
cant and hypocrisy and guile. He has no
claim upon your consideration. or even
your federation In his present plight. For
your own sake. GEORGE WASHINGTON
CHILDs, pick your beautiful new spoon out
OF the wanamaker.
Great and good friend, good-byl