The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-02-06

o Mr.. Childs' last illness dated from
Thursday, January IS, when he moved in
It from his residence near Bryn Mawr. On
e ing to leave his office in the Ledger build
ing he was seized with what was pro-
nounced an attack of vertigo.
g His associates were much alarmed by
! the apparent seriousness of his illness and
: summoned his family physician, PROBES
: sor j. NJ. ia Costa, who shortly after
: ward accompanied him home in car
J riage. Late that night he was reported
somewhat better and hopes were enter
tanned that nothing serious would come of
it. The next day he was reported as
steadily improving, but on Sunday, the
2lst, unfavorable symptoms set in. On
the day following he was easier, but Drs.
Da Costa, Joseph Leidy and Henry Nor
: ris issued a bulletin Tuesday evening,
January %, announcing that. Mr.. Childs'
attack of vertigo had been followed by pa
ralysls. He was stronger on the two fol-
lowing days, but on January 26 the doc
tors reported: "Mr Childs has not i'm
proved, and his condition has become a
serious one" By this time hope Of his
recovery had been practically abandoned,
and there was no marked improvement in
his condition thereafter, though there
was no apprehension of immediate
death until late Friday night, when his
condition suddenly became much worse
and it was soon seen that he was dying
His unconscious condition continued
until the last.
Mr.. Childs' earliest days were spent in
Baltimore. He was born in 1929 and was
therefore 65 years of age. He is known
to have early association with the mer-
chant sailing service, then almost as rigid
as the navy, and he made several trips to
foreign ports when a boy so that his
early discipline and experiences were
much the same as that other and success
full Philadelphia, Stephen Girard. He
was ambitious and was constantly talking
about going to edo something" There
is lady living in Baltimore who remem-
beers being present when, as quite lad, he
bace farewell to his associates and said he
was going to Philadelphia to make his
fortune" Greatly interested in books
and newspapers, even at this time in Bal |
tImore he supplied the daily papers and |
other reading matter to the ship captains
about starting on voyages, and others
about the wharves, and was industrious
and thrifty. 1t was several years before
he left Baltimore that the Baltimore Sun
was started as penny newspaper in con-
nection with a similar enterprise, the |
Ledger, in Philadelphia, under the man.
agement of Swain, Abel & Simmons,
three practical printers of small capital.
Mr.. Abel had charge of the Sun in Balti-
more, but the firm interest was IN both
papers, and so continued for a consider
able period. In this way it happened that
young Childs, boy of Is, got from Tay-
lor's news stand in Baltimore and sold
regularly not only the Sun, but the Ledger,
which he afterwards was to control
When he went to Philadelphia he Sc
cured a place in Thompson's news and
book store, and was sent to make pur-
chases at the book auctions in Boston and
New York. For those DAYS the shipping
interest was prominent, and there was a
great demand for books on sailing vessels,
especially those carrying passengers,
which often had Libraries. Mr.. Childs be-
came familiar with the popular taste and
also came in contact with authors and
publishers. When about 81 years of age
he became partner in the publishing
house of r. E. Peterson & Co., the firm
name being changed to Childs & Peter
son.
During this period Mr.. Childs married
the daughter of his partner, Dr. Peterson,
and enlisted the interest of A. ]. Drexel,
who became his warm friend through life.
At this time the Public Ledger, con-
Quoted by Swain, Abel & Simmons, was
the popular penny newspaper of Philadel-
phia. Although firmly established, it
had ceased to be profitable, the civil war
having caused general rise of prices, es
pecally in paper, and the owners of the
Ledger could not agree upon the measures
necessary to meet the new conditions.
They therefore determined to sell the
property, and after several negotiations
had failed they offered it to Mr. Childs,
who, with the support of Mr.. Drexel, be-
came the purchaser at the little more than
nominal price, for such a property, of
100000. He brought to the establish
hn
ment which was all that it required to be-
come again source of unfailing and in
creasing profit. He Immediately raised
the price to two cents, making the circula-
ton profit instead of loss, and by in
creasing and systematizing the rates of ad-
vertising and enlarging the facilities of
the office. put the Ledger at once upon a
paying basis.
His place and personality were unique,
and his name will long be gratefully re-
membered. Mr.. Chllds leaves no chill
dren, only widow, and with his death
according to the terms of Mr. Drexel's will,
his interest in the Ledger will cease. |
George W. Childs Drexel succeeds to the
interest in the Ledger, and Mrs. Chllds re-
ceives a sum, independent of any bequest
sufficient to support her in luxury for life,
having also large personal estate al
ready.
In many of the churches of the various
denominations on Sunday the death of
George w. Childs was feelingly referred /
to by the officiating clergymen and his
passing away was pronounced a public
loss and bereavement.
The funeral of Mr. Childs will take
place this afternoon from St. James Pro-
testant Episcopal Church, of which Mr..
Childs was vestryman for many years
The lnterment will be private.
The employees of every department of
the Public Ledger met in the composing
room of the paper Sunday afternoon to
take appropriate action upon Mr. Childs'
death. Resolutions were unanimously 4
adopted expressing the sense of loss felt
by the employees of the Ledger in Mr.
Childs' death. 1t was also decided that
the Ledger employees attend the funeral in
body.