The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-12
MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD.
Tales of His UnbOunded Honor
and Generosity.
THE PRINTERS PATRON SAINT.
Expressions of Coincidence Presented
and Adopted to Be Forwarded
to His Widow.

over three hundred printers, members
OF the typographical unions Of San Fran
cisco. Oakland and neighboring districts,
accompanied by their wives and friends,
assembled yesterday afternoon in Laurel
Hall, OFsrrell street, to do honor to the
memory Of the late George William Childs.
editor and phlanthropist.
George William Childs, who earned for
himself the title. half humorous. half
earnest, of Washington. and who was
invariably referred to yesterday afternoon
as George Washington Childs, was dear to
the hearts of all printers, who deemed him
their patron saint. and as editor of the
Philadelphia Ledger and patron Of the
Childs-Drexel Home for Union Printers he
left behind him a name for broadness of
mind and generosity. Such accordingly
was the common feeling among those who
crept through the drilling rain 10 be pres
ent at the memorial service.
A little draping about the hall denoted
the solemnity Of the occasion. Miles l..
Farland, president OF the San Francisco
Typographical Union. occupied the chair,
while on either side of h IN sat Charles A.
Murdoch. president of the San Francisco
TyDotheia; A. J. Read, president of the
Oakland Typographical Union; j. L.
Holmes, president of the State Typograph-
ical Federation, and j. ii. Barry. editor of
the San Francisco Star.
Professor Martin Schultz ushered in the
visitors with an organ prelude, after which
President Farland stated the object for
which the meeting was called. A quartet
followed. In which Martin Schultz. Miss
Lena Roberts and Messrs. Wood and Dun
can took part.
A. j. Read then spoke of the dead man
'as an employer and a workman" The
speaker dwelt upon tie love hat printers,
far and wide, felt for the subirct of his
discourse. Mr.. Childs had never been
politician. but he had been faithful
workman, Studying the comforts of the
little devil equally with that Of the editor"
and who alone held out when all other
employers had reduced the scale OF print
ers' charges. The strife between capital
and labor had no charms fcr him.
Mr.. Murdoch spoke of Chlds ''as a citi-
zen and business man." He told how
ChIlds had been thrown on The world at u
years of age, began business at is, started
as publisher at 81 aud al 80 had Dur
chased a 1 aper which was steadily sinking
$4,000 a week, making a success Of it where
others had failed by dOu bling its price and
raising the rates of advertisement II was
not done by beating down the wages of his
men.
Miss Xena Roberts rendered pleasingly
a contraito solo, Never Again." after
which ]. Z. Holmes talked OF the decea ed
las Teacher" The speaker told of
Childs' useful life. showering generosity
upon the needy, not upon stained window 8
and ostentatious edifices. and in his death
passed peacefully away, "like one W no
wraps the drapery OF his couch about
him and lies down 10 pleasant dreams"
j. H. Barry. in speaking of Childs "As
a Friend and Companion" told a few
quaint instances of Childs' grand SIM
- IA han aekad hat of oil thipuo
he preferred, his answer was, Doing
good to Others" he was simple and un-
affected, not a genius. but man with
great business capacity and Intelligence,
and "the world was better that he lived"
The quartet sang once mole. and then
MI. McGlynn was called upon TO read Ger
tain expressions OF feeling on behalf OF
the executive committee. The following
was read:
Americas ideal man is dead. Wherever meh
congregase within the cOniues OF this brOad
nation sound of lamentation is beard arising
from people who, individually and as whole.
feel that hey have lost a dearly beloved friend
and brother. George w. ChIlds has passed
away, departed 10 that bourne situate beyond
the ken of man. We bow to a decree the wisdom
OF which we may not QUESTION, but a saddened
heart is not an Inspiration TO eloqueDce. We
shall attempt no euloey, no epitaph. George
w. Child> needs none. His LIES work was too
great 100 bright. 10 be painted by words of ours.
His true monument will not be OF stone or
marble, out composed of good deeds and ce-
men ed by he love and reverence of the Amer
lean people. IL will endure and grow brighter
and more beautiful as years roll by-au inspira-
lion to the hopeful, beacon 10 The weary and
iantiBg, perpetual rebuke 10 the cynic:
There will be orators 10 sing his praises, gifted
pens to describe his achievements, but our
hearts and eyes tHrn 10 that truly bereaved
on the much loved and loving mOurner In her
distant philadelphia home, who loses at one
stroke her hero, her husband and her lover.
On. when the heart is full and bitter woe
crowds I'D for utterance, when each passing
moment, every recurring thought, gives ADDED
poignancv TO grief, how pallry must seem The
most sincere words OF sympathy, how faint
and insufficient tie regrets OF Others. In this
hour of desolaton we will best testify our
sympathy by leaving the bereayed one 10 seek
In sacred privacy that consolation TO be gained
from and given by the all-wise ruler who
doeih ali things well. May he temper the
storm and sOothe the heart as he only can.
And in the days TO come IL may afford the life.
long belpmeet ofe our friend aud brother a
sweet sorrow, slight consolation TO know that
hers was. loss felt alike by friend and
stranger. her prayers echoed from thousands
of hearts, and her hero revered and honored by
a nation. In such hope we dedicate these lew
halting thoughts TO Mrs. George w. Childs.
This was unanimously adopted IS the
feeling of the meeting. and copy ordered
TO be forwarded to Mrs. Cbilds. The meet
ing was then dismissed.