Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-08-04
TRIBUTE TO MIR. DRExEI.
George w. Childs, His Partner and
Friend, Almost Apotheosizes Him.

Men of thought and conscience at the
beginning of their careers commonly
adopt governing rule by which their
steps are directed, writes George w.
Childs in the Philadelphia Ledger. An
thony ]. Drexel adopted one, and until
death removed him from the busy.
helpful path that he had trod so long
In the world Of business it was his sole
guiding principle in all the important
and multitudinous affairs with which
he had to do. That rule was, Do unto
theirs as you would have others do I'M
to you.
The transactions of the Drexel banks.
especially during the more recent years
OF their activity, We're largely with
sovermnent-national, state, municipal;
with great corporations railroads,
banks and other financial institutions.
as well as with important firms that
came to rely upon the late Mr.. Drexel
as man of unusual sagacity and Of
unqueStiOnable and unQuestioned honor.
If the record Of the operations of
this house were made public it would
be perceived how often the latter had
been the prop and stay of public and
private credit, the sustainer of institu-
tons, corporations, firms and indiyidu-
ais, to whom it gave assistance when
their ruin had been else inevitable.
This record would show as plainly as
anything could do how public-spirited
a man, how sincere friend, how wise
and predetermined a citizen Anthony
j. DreXel was. 1t would show that by
no single act of his life had he taken
advantage of the misfortunes, difficult
ties OF embaTassments of any man or
men, or even corporations, which are
said to have no souls, to enhance his
own fortune. This record would show
that again and again and many times
again the money of his house was
given or its credit pledged to prevent
the financial ruin of those whom ruin
menaced.
AS man Of affairs no one has ever
spoken i'll of Anthony J. Drexel. and
he spoke no ill word of ally one. He
did not drive sharp bargains; he did
not profit by the needs of others: he
did not exact from those in his en-
ploy hard tasks and give them an in
adequate wage. He was in active bust.
ness lenient, liberal creditor, 4 gem
erous employer, considerate of, SYM
pathetic with, every one who worked
with and for him. His pride in the
city of his birth was exceedingly great.
as he so frequently demonstrated by
the active part lie took in all move
ments tending to Philadelpnia's ad.
vatage.
For forty years he was my friend
and companions; for more than Il qua
ter of century he was my partner in
the ownership of the Pubic Ledger.
1t is difficult for me to speak of him at
all; it would be impossible for me to
do so if 1 could not speak of him as
l knew him, as his character was
revealed to me by the expression Of
pure thought, his kindly, earnest sym
pathies, by the daily beauties of his
life which was so fruitful and friend
ly for all human kind, and his brave
old wisdom Of sincerity" for he, at
least, was one man who would not and
could not lie If my affection, esteem
and admiration for him were to COM
bine and conspire to overestimate the
clear grained human worth Of my
friend, they could not, l know, make
him appear a nobler manlier man than
he really was in every relation of life
His life was a sentient example of
noble thought and endeavor; and with
regard to him, whom 1 loved so long
and well, whose friendship I so greatly
priced, whose nobility of character
so honored, and whose memory 1 shah
always revere, he suggests to me the
fine portrait. of one which another
dear friend of mine, the late George
William Curtis, sketched many years
ago. Il Think said Mr.. Curtis, that
to have known one such good man,
one man who, through all the chances
and rubs Of a long life, has carried his
heart in his hand, helps our faith In
God, in ourselves, and in each other
more than many sermons"