Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-08
GEORGE ". CHILDS DEAD
His Death Occurred Early
Saturday Morning.
CHANGE FOR THE WORSE
Science and Skill Could Not
i@ Save His Life.
He Sank Rapidly and Passed Away at
3.O1 Saturday Morning-Those Who
We're at His Bedside ut the Time
Sketch of His Useful and Honorable
Career.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Feb. 3.-George w.
Childs. proprietor of the Public Ledger,
died this morning ut 3.0l o'clock at his
residence at the southeast corner of
Twenty-second and Walnut streets, from
the effects of a stroke of paralysis, slis-
tained by him on the 18Th of January.
Shortly before 10 o'clock last night, Mr.
Childs' respiration became embarrassed
and his pulse began to flag. His physi-
clans recognized the signs oil approaching
dissolution and although everything THAI
medical science and skill could do to pro-
long lite, was done. Mr.. Childs sank
rapidly and at 3.0l o'clock the generous
heart that beat so kindly for his fellow
men was stilled in death.
Except his wife, Mr.. Childs had no i'm
mediate family, but there was gathered ut
his house at the time of his death George
Q: Thomas aud James w. Paul, of the firm
of Drekel IL Co.; Miss Peterson, Mrs.
Childs niece; Miss Stanley, Mrs. Childs
compnnion; Mr.. and Mrs. John Drexel,
the son and daughter-in-law of the late A.
]. Drexel, and Colonel L. DeV. Morrell.
husband of the youngest daughter of the
late Frank Drexel.
In the death of Mr.. Childs, Philadelphia
loses one Of the citizens of which the city
was most proud, and the country at large
one of its best known private citizens.
From his early boyhood Mr.. Childs' life
was such that it can stand as a model and
example to all men for what a noble man
hood and an honest upright conscientious
life should be.
SKETCH OF HIS USEFUL LIFE.
George Williams Childs first saw the
light in Baltimore, Md, May 18th 1879.
His early education was obtained in the
private schools Of his native city, and ut
the age of IA years he removed to Phla-
delphia. Soon afterward he became
clerk III book store, and after service
of four years he opened small store of his
own in the old Ledger Building at Third
and Chestnut streets.
In due time Mr.. Childs became a pub.
lisherof books, and at the age of q was the
head Of the firm OF Childs Il Peterson. He
was successful as publisher, and many
works of intrinsic excellence-among them
DIR. Allioone's Dictionary Of English and
American Authors"-were given to the
public.
In 1863 he retired from the firm, and on
December 3D., 1854, became the proprietor
Of the Public Ledger. When MIR. Childs
became owner of the paper it was unre-
lnuneratiye and its circulation was small,
but soon after it sprang suddenly into
public favor and became the most profit.
able papet in Philadelphia.
.Mr, Childs always made liberal use of
his wealth for benevolent purposes. At his
own a*Perse he caused stained glass
window TO be placed in Westminster
Abbey, in commemoration of the poets
William Cowper and George Herbert, and
he also caused monument to be placed
over the hitherto unmarked grave of Leigh
lsunt in Mensal Green. He rendered a
similar service to the memory of Edgar
Allan Poe, and was the largest subscriber
to the fund collected in this country by
General Wilson and in England by Samuel
Z. Hall, for the purpose OF placing a
memorial window for the poet Thomas
Moore i'll the Church of Bromham, where
he and "Hessie' are buried.
In 1865 Mr., Childs gave to the Philadel.
phia Typographical Society the Printers
Cemetery, Woodland, with liberal sum,
the interest of which is to be expended in
keeping the grounds i'll order. He also,
with the late A, j. Drexel, built the Home
for Union Printers, at Colorado Springs,
Colorado.
Mr.. Childs was always regarded as
model employer, and commanded the re-
spect and love of all in Lis service. His
wife is a granddaughter of Judge John
Bouvier. Her mother, the wife of Charles
J. Peterson, the publisher, wrote treatises
on astronomy that were praised by Sir
John Herschel and Lord Rose.