The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-05
DEATH oE ME- CAlnS.

DEATH OF MR.. CHllDS,
1t has been said many times of
George W, Childs that no was typical
American, The assertion is too illtttr'
ing TO the American character which.
in its typical representations. fails to
approximate the benoYolencs, the phil
snthropy and tho lsrse-hoArtel con-
servatism Of the creator OF the Phila-
delphia Ledger IL is not IN essential
ly American characteristic 20 do good
Tor the pure love Of doing il to utilize
the fortune which prosperity bestows
IN articles ot h9neyolence aud generoS-
ity rather than in schemes Of solt'en-
richmeut. to maintain an unrnth d
calm in the midst OF sesthing and
trothing competition; sui TO base an
uuwavering confidence on the not al
wsys perCeptible triumph Of cSnlor
honesty and strict regard for those
things that are morally best. TnerJ
are Americans who exhibit these traits,
tut they are not typical Americans,
they are. rather, exceptional AmerI-
cans in whom virtue pays It's retaliA
tory respects 70 the y!cs that is so
steadily in evidence
Mr. Childs then, was an exceptional
American He was exceptional first
Of all, in tho opportunity which he
seemed to tis into as il destiny were at
work in the upbuildius OF his chavac-
ter, The quiet. moral home life Of the
most domestic OF our great cities had
never had whatcln fairly be- cIllsl a
representative newspaper until Mr.
Childs. almost by chance as it seems
from the viewpoint ot today. took hold
of the Public Ledger and made OF it
the monument that It iS In the next
place. Mr. Cui.ds was exceptional in
the appaysn; ease with which success
came 70 him There have been
men who. TO all outward appearances,
have striveu teu.foli as hard he; and
who, upon smaller scales. have emu
lated all his yiv.u4 - -: they have gone
down 10 the battle, beaten if not hu-
inflated, while M Childs, with what
looked like the sheer bgoyancy of
chance, hai gone high and still higher
On the swelling tide Of complete pros
perity It's quite possible that we
should attribute this serenity Of vic
tory as much to the sunuinsss Of na-
,ure which did not let the world know
Of its cares and struggles AMI trials, as
to any other cause. 1t somethiug,sven
I in an age Of turmoil and doubt, to feel
assured that in one conspicuous in
stance. goodness won a more perfect
material and earthly recompsnse than
any that we can say has yet rewarded
the undsssrying seeker after wealth
and fame Nor does it detract from
the consolation to assert. without eyi-
dencs In proof. that his recompense
was the blind award Of luck
No man can be accused OF lacking in
individual strength. discretion and
mental equipoiss who shall offr, as
evidence Of his deserving. the creation
of journal which for thirty years has
been received into the homes OF Phila.
delphia upon a footing Of trust and
reverence accorded to few printed
things apart from the Bible. the fam
lily cook book and ths plrlor album. II
4. was ia soms respects an accident
which gave Mr.. Chills the ownership
Of the Ledger, 1t was not accident
which made his control Of it mast
erly triumph OF fine discretion, un-
tagging and patient conservatism and
an inlultiVs insight into the habits and
manners Of bis great newspaper con.
stituency. Ths ability to direct an en-
terpriss 40 difficult. e1acting, delicate
and careful as Ia involved in the sue
cessiul conduct Of a large family
newspaper includes wsll.nigh all the
qualifications for temporal success IF,
in addition 10 all these; AMI II, ~ va
riaiions In his great capacity for BEN
evidence. Mr. Childs occasionally dis.
played little foibles and crotchets-
such. for instance, as his fondness for
public mention. his passion for enter
tanning DISTINGUISHED guests, hi, pre-
diloction for rare china and quaint
clocks-vho does no. feel that these are
picturesque and not unpleasant foils to
the central portrait Of great and true
man, bsnignsnt. kindly, helpful and
generous; very prince in the nobility
which ia conditioned upon real worth?