The morning call., 1894-02-03

from that time on his respiration grew
more lsbored and mis- pulse fluttered more
and more -feebly. 1t was then only a
question of watching for the end, for
nothing could be done by the watchers
at his bedside. At precisely three min
utes after 3 o'clock the physician leaned
over the body and looked into the face
silently. George ". ChiIds was dead.
Mr.. Childs' last Illness began with
fainting spell which seized him while in
q his office 10 TIE Ledger building Oh Janu-
AIRY -. He became uncOnsci Gus, aud DR..
Dacosta was hastily summoned. Restofa-
tives were applied. with the result that
in an hour the patient was able to walk
with assistance to his carriage He was
conveyed home. and Mrs. Childs, who was
at her country place in Wooton. was sum-
moned.
DR.. Dacosta called in Drs. Leidy and
Morris. and on the following Sunday night
the physicians reluctantly admitted that
paralysis of the lower limbs accompanied
the attack.
There is but little reason to doubt that
the Immediate cause of the attack was
oyerwork and anxiety attendant upon bis
efforts to see that the memory of his life
long friend, the late A. j. Drexel, was
properly hOnored. The day upon which
the attack came was spent by Mr.. Childs
in preparing for the Drexel memorial SER
vices held IN the Drexel Institute on Sat
urday. January 20. TWO days after the IA
tai Thursday. His own enforced absence
from the ceremony worried him pro-
foundly. and to this fact was largely due
the relapse which occurred on the night of
January q.
Mr.. Childs was probably as widely
known as any man in the United States.
:andthe can be 90 doubt that he was by
far the best-knOwn resident of Philade-
phia. His popularity in this city was
wonderful. He was a familiar figure on
Chestnut street from the fact that when
In the city be always walked to and from
the Ledger office, and so regular was he in
lis habits that if he did not appear on the
street at about the regular time people
began to inquire whether he was i'll.
To all appearances MIR. Chids was a
robust man, yet his constitution was very
delicate. He was of a highly nervous
temperament. and with the attack which
proved the beginning of his last illness
came almost complete nervous prostra-
tion.
: Those who knew him best believed that
he was never thoroughly happy or con-
tented man after the death of his boon
g companion and business partner. Anthony
j. Drexel. They were almost inseparable
in their companionship and it was a sad
blow to have to see his near friend carried
off so suddenly.
George w. Childs Drexel. the youngest
son of the deceased banker. was several
years ago determined upon as the one who
should succeed his father in the interest in
the Ledger The senior Drexel owned a
half interest in the paper and this interest
became the property of the son upon his
fathers death.
Young Drexel had been carefully edu-
Gated and trained with this end in view.
Shortly after his fathers death his name
was placed at the head of the editorial
columns Cf the Ledger as publisher along
with that of Childs as "editor and pro-
prietor."
Childs had three homes which be and
family occupied at different seasons of the
year.
His town house on Walnut street is a
white marble structure, and is one of the
most imposing editices on that street of
aristocratic houses. The country home at
Wooton is surrounded by sixty acres of
beautiful grounds. and the lawn is said
to be the most beautiful in this country,
Here the hospitality which Mr.. Childs
ever delighted in was INDUCED without
sparing, and the roll of visitors included
many distinguished strangers.
In addition TO the town and country
houses Chiids had a handsome cottage at
Long Branch, adjoining that of the late
A. j. Drexel.
After midnight the patient sank rapidly
and 1t soon became certain that the end
was very near. At the bedside where the
beloved journalist and philanthropist
passed away we're George c. Thomas and