The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-02-05
DEATH or Nit. cnInps.
Tho Famous Philadelphia Editor mn
philnhthroplst Passes Awny-skctch +,


Philanthropiss passos Awny-sketch OF
His Career.
PnlLApnLrIuA, Feb. A. George W.
Childs, editor and proprietor OF tho
Public Ledger, died Mt his home, TwOn.
ty.sccond md Walnut streets, ut SOL
o'clock Saturday morning.
Alto o'clock Friday night his rospir.
alton became embarrassed aud tho ply.
HiclOns ut tho bedside saw that tho ond
was close at hand, At midnight tho
patient's pulse was tagging and no sank
gradually but steadily until death came
TO put an ond to tho long struggle for
lie. Mrs. Childs and Drs. Da Costa,
Leldy and Mills were In tho Bick room
ut tho end.
MI. Chi!ds snlorcd no pain and his
ond was peaceful. lilo had been uncon.
scious for tho last three days except at
intervals. Tho change for tho WORT be.
came manifest about $3.50 Friday even.
ing. lila pulse faltcred md no grow
rapidly worse. Ihon IT was nppnronl
that tho end was ncnr and thHt his
death was only question OF q few
houra. Mr.. Childs' lower limbs were
not paralyzcd MS has been stated. Tho
stroke only affecting his right side, hc
having lost tho use OF both his right
arm and log. Mr.. Childa during his lust
hours lay like child asleep and when
no grow so much worse about midnight,
every attempt was mado to rouse him
but without avail.
George " lillian Childs was born in
Baltimore in 1920 When IL yearu old
ho entered tho navy, wherc no served
for 10 months. In 1914 he settled down
In Philadelphia to earn living. lie
began as ''boy" in book atotc kept by
Mr., Thompson ut Sixth and Arch
streets. ..l..
Young Chills showed remarkable
energy; and not only learned tho busl-
mesa thoroughly in short time, but
carried on good deal OF hard study be.
sides. Having saved fcw hundred
dollars he set up in business for himself
when he was1s, and succeeded so well
that at tue end OF two years ho was TAX
on into partnership by r L. Peterson,
the firm namo soon becoming Childs 4
Petcrsons.
In 1860 Mr.. Childs formed a partner.
ship with J. i. Lippincott, and their
concern published some OF tho beat
known books Of tho day. Three years
later h6 bought tho Publishers Circular
the name OF which no changed to the
american Literary Gazette and Publishers
Circular Tho american Almanac
| soon became his property also, and was
known after that as tho National al.
manac."
1t had always been Mr.. Childs' am
bition to own tho Philadelphia Public
Ledger, and in 1854 his hopes were real.
lied. He bought tho paper and imme-
diatcly tookcompleto charge OF it, which
ho held ever since.
When Mr.. Childs bought the Ledqer it
was a penny journal. The price OF pa
por had risen very much by reason Of
the war. and tho Ledger was losing mo.
ney. Contrary to tho advice OF his
friends Mr.. Childs at once doubled
the price OF his publica:ionand increased
tho advertising rates. Profits at
once fell of, but by slight concessions
Mr.. Childs soon had his paper on a pay-
ing footing and its prosperity became
greater each year.
By 1866 tho building on the corner of
Third and Chestnut streets had been
outgrown, and tho next year tho Ledqe.
moved into the building which it has
occupied ever since. The history of the
paper has been uneventiul since it went
into its new home. Tho Lcllqer has
becn successful even beyond all expecta.
tions. -=
Mr.. Childs' generosity, which has
been shown SO many times TO the out
side world, was directed especially
toward those in his employ. Socially
Mr.. Childs has always been prominent,
and it was at his home that on MAY 0.
1876, when the Centennial Exposition
opened, there gathered some OF the
most distinguished guests this country
has over entertained.