The morning call., 1892-05-21
GEORGE WILLIAM CHILDs.

San Francisco is now entertaining
stranger who is far more worthy Of esteem
and admiration than many of the dis
tinguished visitors" upon whom we lavish
our hospitality. He Is one whose whole
career may he studied for example and
guidance and who has signalized each Of his
later years by some deed which has at
tracted the respect and affection OF good
people ali over the world. He has made his
name q household word on two continents.
He has pursued for nearly 80 years call
ing which exposes its followers TO calumny
and iIl-will and which is probably the most
ungrateful of all calIings. yet be has reached
a ripe age without having encountered
SANDER or made an enemy.
George William Childs had been for IA
years a successful bOok-publisher when, at
the age Of 35, he became proprietor of the
Philadelphia Ledger. II was not a success
full paper, and it was published in a city
where good journals had existed for many
years He brought the whole energies OF
powerful mind to bear on the problem of
modern journalism and lie solved it so thor
oughly that other Journalists beheld his
success with amaZement. This result was
accomplished by a steady adherence to
Of lis paper so that it should be exhaustive
in its sphere. He determined that every
one, whatever his calling, whatever his
taste, should find what he wanted in the
Ledqer He pei formed no feats Of sensa-
tional enterprise; he won few beats; he
did not care about scoops" but he gave
the news, and all the news, provided it was
true news. He INDUCED in no controversies
l. Ii Il Fwoa m
political opponents. BE charged no wind
mills and trampled no one who was de-
fenseess. His editorial articles were calm,
sound, judieiOus, broad, enlightened. They
were expressed IN terse English clear as
crystal, pointed as a rapier. La comparison
with the flabby wordiness OF his rivals his
honest talk to his people was refreshing.
Every one felt that this man intended to
tell the truth as it was given to him to see it.
He won his reward. The Ledger became
the great exchange where every one adyer-
tised his wants and his wares II, in cat
aclysm Of nature, Philadelphia were over
whelmed and lay buried for thousand
years and one single copy ef the Ledger sur
viEed. 1t would be possible to reconstruct
from the journal the city as it had lourished.
with lfelke pictures Of the manner of men
who bad been its inhabitants.
Success brought fortune in iis train, and
in the expenditure Of that fortune Mr..
Chiids established indisputa5le claims to
the gratitude Of mankind. But for bin il
is doubtful whether General Grant would
ever have been able 10 travel around the
world, and the delightful account of his
journey would never have seen the light.
1t is to this American that Stratiord-on-
Avon owes its memorial fountain to Shakes
peare; that the poet Cowper owes his
stained glass window in Westminster
Abbey; that Thomas Moore owes the tomb
under which his remains lie at rest. To the
men Of bis own craft-the printers-he has,
out Of his vast means, given a cemetery at
Philadelphia and donated handsome sum
toward the establishment of home for the
aged in Colorado. He is always giving to sue
cor the afflicted. to enlighten the ignor-
ant. TO protect the oppressed. His mind is
constantly revolving schemes OF wise and
discreet beney0lence.
It is a privilege for San FrancIscans to
meet this good man; they should esteem it
an honor to take his hand, for his life
teaches them what they may do and what
they should avoid. Mr.. Childs was not
born in the purple. He had no advantages
OF wealth or powerful connection. He had
not even acollegiate education, nor have his
friends ever claimed that be was a genius.
He possesses just two things-a clear head
and a large heart. By the things he has
done, by the fame he has attained and by
the universal love and affection with which
he is regarded he has shown how far these
two may carry a man.