The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-14
HE TELLS HIS OWN STORY.
George W. Childs' Accornt Of HIS Life and
Success.

George W. Childs' Account OF Hts Life and
Success.
The history of George w. Childs'
life as told by him in newspaper ar
ticle published about two years ago
will be found exceedingly interesting
at this time:
began to support myself when I
was twelve years old, and I have never
been dependent on others since then.
had bad some schooling, but not
much; I never went to college, not be-
cause I did not think a college career
might not be good thing for those
who could afford it, and could make a
good use of it, but because I did not
feel that it was SO important for me as
to oe earning my own living. When
I left home to come to Philadelphia
one of my relatives said that I would
soon have enough of that, and would
be coming hack again.
But I made up my mind that I
would never go back-I would succeed.
I had health, the power of applying
myself, and, I suppose, a fair amount
of brains. ] came to Philadelphia with
s3 in my pocket. I found board and
lodgings for 81 50, and then l got a place
as office boy for So. That gave me a
surplus of so cents week. 1 did not
merely do the work that I was abso-
lutely required to do, but I did all L
could, and put my heart into it. !
wanted my employer to feel that I was
! more useful to him than he expected
me to be.
I was not afraid to clean and sweep
and perform what might be: considered
by some young gentlemen nowadays
as menial work, and therefore beneath
them. I did not think it beneath me
then, and I should not now. If It
were necessary 1 would sweep out my
Office to-day; and often carry bundles.
But the other day youth came to me
tv see if I could fnd some employment
for him. His father had died, and bis
mother could not support him. I
looked at him, and saw that he had on
very nice clothes and kid gloves. I
asked him if he would like to wheel a
wheelbarrow.
He seemed,surprised, and answered
that he didn't think he would like
that. Then I asked him if he would
object to carrying bundles. Well, he
wasn't anxious to carry bundles either.
He was like many young men, who
talk about wanting to work, but when
it comes to the point they want to dc
only kid-glove sort of work. I must
! say I don't, have much sympathy with
that sort of feeling. Men are all broth
ers, and what is worthy of one is moi
un nworthy of any one. The Bible says
it is what cometh out the mouth thai
defleth man. It is not work, bu
character, that can be discreditable.
But a man can be industrious, anC
yet hisindustry may not achieve muct
valuable result. You must not onl,
work, bat you must order your worE
with intelligence. You must be pepar
ing the way for what you intend TO be
come as we'll as to do what lies to you
hand. While I was working as erranc
and office boy I improved such oppor
tunity as had to read books and at
tend book sales, 80 as 20 learn the mar
ket value of books and anything els
that might be useful to me hereafter.
It was my aim always to be in po
sition where I could use my best tai
nts to the best advantage. 1 fixed N.
ambition high, so that, even if di'
not :ealize the highest, might at leas
always be tending upward. A maj
should not only use all his faculties
, but be constantly developing them 8
, that he can do more. Ifyou jump at
> thing with your whole heart and mind
though you may not be exceptionally
able, it is wonderful how much 20
: may. accomplish.
But if you are half-hearted you wi
fail. You must not yield to the temp
l tation to relax your efforts and turn o.
/ and amuse yourself. When was youn
I lived near a theatre, and many of th
actors knew me, and I might have gon
t in any time and witnessed the pc
l formance without having to pay for i
Other boys, acquaintances Of min'
used to do it, and I would like to hav
t done it. But thought it over, an
: made up my mind that I would not.
] never did. This self-deuial, if it may t
( called that, did not make me morose {
t unhappy. On the contrary [ was a
l ways cheerful. I took an interest
my work, and took pleasure in doing
well, and in the feeling that was ge
ting on and in way to become SOM
thing. And that sort of pleasure i
after all, more real and lasting than
to be got from going to theatre whe
one might be doing something useful
0 AS time went on kept bettering N
i position, and when I had an Office
0 the Public Ledger building believe
f said to myself that some time 1 wi
/ own that paper. Atany rate, I directe
8 my work 10 such way that, when tt
= time came that was able to buy it,
4 was also able to manage it right.
e There is little use in procuring valu;
= ble property unless you have traine
e yourself to use it in proper name
e The changes that I made in the Ledg'
l.. at first had the effect of decreasing II
e circulation; but before long, it increase