Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-02-10

age OF 81 was at the head OF the Arm OF Childs
& Peterson Even at that early day Mr. Childs'
ambitions and incliuations were well formed.
He had decided to be u newspaper publisher,
and II } related that soon after he engaged IN
business in the Ledger building he stated
that some day he intended to be the proprietor
OF the paper. But meanwhile he achieved con.
siderable success in the publishing business
many of the works issued by Childs & Peterson
being of intrinsic excellence, among them be.
Ing DIR Allrone's Dictionary OF English and
American Authors" Other standard works
were brought out In profusion
In 1853 Mr.. Chlds retired from the rm and
the following years witnessed the consumma,
ton OF hts cherished ambition-he was the
owner OF the Philadelphia Public Ledger
True when he acquired control OF the property
the Ledger unremunerative; but soon
after his energy, his enterprise and his
determination 10 make It succeed won him
abundant success The Ledger sprang sud,
denly into public favor and has continued &c
this day the most profitable newspaper in
Philadelphia, and, indeed, one OF the best
paytag IN the United States.
Al his own expense Mr.. Childs caused a
stained glass window to be placed in West.
minister Abbey in commemoraron OF the
poets william Cowper and George Herbert,
and he also caused a monument to be placed
over the hitherto unmarked grave OF Leigh
Hunt in Kensal Green. He rendered similar
service TO lhe memory OF Edgar Allan Poe and
was the largest subscriber to the fund col
lected In this country by Gen. Wilson
anu in England by Samuel C. Hall foi
the purpose of placing q memorial window
Tor the poet Thomas Moore in the church in
Bromham. whcrc Moore and Bessie" are in
serred. In 1893 he gave 10 the Philadelphi
Typographical society the printers cemetery,
Woodlands, with a liberal sum, the in,eres- on
which is 10 be expended in keeping the grounds
in order.
MT Childs took an especial interest in ths
printers and nowhere will his death be more
deeply deplored than in the composing rooms.
1t well that he should provide resting
place for the printer after death, but he did
better-nade provisions for such OF them as
became unequal to the struggle for life. In
company with the late A j. Drexel. OF Phila.
delpha, he endowed the Printers home al
Colorado Springs, Col. They gave $40 900 to
start the fund and the Typographical union
made up the remainder by assessments, pro-
viding for the maintenance OF the home In like
manner.
The holiday season was the most delightful
portion of the year to HIM, for IL then he
had the greatest opportunity for giving. Hla
employees always received Christmas gift OF
from 40 to $500 in their pay envelopes Christ.
mas week
Mr. Childs attri buted his success TO the fac,
that he always attended TO his own business
and never interfered with others He had two
proverbs which were the guiding rules Of his
conduct One do your best: let go the
rest The other was: What can't be cured
must be endured" Another secret OF his
success was the care he gave his men. Those
who worked honestly and faithfully for him al
ways received more than their stipulated sal
aries. He always gave them every encourage
ment to make them successful. He watched
their personal habits. II they were not in
clined to save he tempted them to become
economical by making good investments
for them, that they were obliged to save II
order to carry on :he investment. AS rule
all OF the employees OF the Ledger who have
families live in houses OF their own bough
and paid for by Mr.. Childs, who in return, hai
only received back the principal advanced
He insured the lives of all the principal mel
or his paper and laid the premiums himself
Some OF the leading men in his ofice hay,
such insurance upon their lives to the amour
of a., 600 This kind proprietor watched NOR,
carefully after the interests OF those under
him than the average man looks after himself
He paid them all good wages: ne lodges
them in the most luxurious OF quar-
ters: he never made an override
mand upon their attention; he insure
their lives for their families: he bought then
homes and established them, and when the
were broken down with the steady grind O
their daily work he sent them of for u vacG
tion with their families and paid the expense
OF these families as well US their own, Whe
they became old and brolk en- down in his serN
ice he retired them upon full pay.
No man in the United State In an unofficia
capacity ever had wider or a more intimat
acquaintance with great men than Mr. Childs
His friendship for Gen. Grant was most nots
BILE, particularly when the general met wit
the reverses which FASTENED his death.
Mr.. Chds' private office in the Ledger builC
ing was little less than museum, the exhibit
being mcmentos OF the many great men in II
eruture, art, statecratt and war who esteeme
him US friend or benefactor. 1t was grei
blow TO the owner when tre destroyed tn
Ledger office, and with 1t most OF these trea
ures. and the whole country sympathiged viii