The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-03

than ju.gn.c. l., p. y 1 5000 for a piece
of property losing that amount annually
lit required pluck. The owner at the end
of the first week doubled the price and
advanced the advertising rate. There
was a considerable falling off of adver-
tisements, but the paper had become a
medium OF communication between en-
ployers and employed, between buyers
and SELLERS landlords and tenants, be-
reaved families and their friends, and
the first loss OF patronage was soon re-
gained, and from then till now The
Ledger has grown In prosperity. It paid
Mr.. Childs at the time of his death more
than $1,000 day clear profit.
OF Mr.. Childs' charities, even those
which are known are too numerous
to catalogue. But doubtless the
unknown charities surpassed those
which were manifest. He gave away a
fortune every year. One who once saw a
private record of his charities has said
that, though the period covered was only
one mon.h. the total given was $2s, 900.
Mr. Childs' private sanctum in the
Philadelphia Ledger Office was at once a
reception room and gathering place for
ourios and objects OF art from every part
of the globe. The walls are almost en-
tirely covered with the portraits of the
editors friends, while the cabinets and
tables are loaded with relics.
An ivory miniature of Washington, set
In gold, has lock of his hair i'm the back
OF the locket under glass. Tom Moore's
college gown hangs on a chair, faded.
rusty garner in which it is said the poet
graduated. and his harp, Is inches in
height, painted green and eilded, stands
under glass cover on the table.
There are japanese carvings of bamboo
wood and Cloisonne, royal Worcester
china, Sevres china, Moorish repousse
silver gilt pitcher 200 years old. an ex-
quisite little silver jewel casket which be-
longed TO Sir Walter Raleigh. carved
japanese stone VERY rare), a Buddhist
hanging lamp and some relics Of the
Greedy expedition. General Grants pic.
ture hangs above Mr.. Childs' desk, and
the tall Dutch clock presented by Mrs.
Grant marks the passing hours.
Mr. Childs' residence Is in keeping with
so splendid an Office. The library is par
ticularly rich i'm rare books, original let
,ers from all the presidents of the United
States, and many other distinguished per-
ronages. There are also the original
copies OF Millions Paradise Lost" and
Dickens "Our Mutual Friend" which
probably set the printers into frenzy of
bewilderment.
Lord Byron's writing desk is another in
teresting relic, as well ms the BLACK Book
of Taymouth" in rich binding of black
calf, with the tooling in clear gold. The
shelves Of the library are filed with pres
entation copies of books from leading au-
thors of England and America, each one
containing the autograph of the donor.
In 1883 there was q movement made TO
bring Mr. Childs' name forward for the
presidency. but he peremptorily declined
TO permit his friends to do 80. Other less
important offices have been often sug-
gested for him, but he always seemed TO
prefer to manage The Public Ledger.
One of Mr.. Childs' hobbies was the cul-
tivation of distinguished people, but
while he aspired to be intimate with those
in power he took equal pride in the friend
ship of those whose fame brought with IL
no substantial influence.
The arrangements for the funeral are in
the hands of James Nj. Paul, jr. II the
wishes of Mrs. Childs prevail the cere-
monies will be private.
Friends of the dead man are urging,
however, that obsequies should be public.
1t is believed that the remains of Mr..
Chids will be placed in the Drexel Mau-
soleum in Woodland cemetery, beside
those of his lifelong friend and business
partner, A. j. Drexel.