Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-05

firm got out Parson Brownlow's book
selling 80, 600 copies In advance. This was
another remarkable success. which wa.
followed by others not far behind
In 1864 Mr.. Childs purchased The Pub
lie Ledger. The war, by greatly increas
ing the cost OF labor and material, chiefly
white paper, had made it impossible tt
continue, save at loss, the publication
Of The Ledger as penny paper. 1t hat
been sold at a cent ever since it was
started in 1885, and Messrs. Swain &
Abel, then the proprietors, thought they
had lost over 100000 by keeping the rate
at II cents week, were averse to d
change.
Mr.. Childs had good business judg-
ment, but it required something more
than Judgment TO pay $4,000 for IL piece
of property losing that amount annually
1t 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
medium of communication between en-
ployers and employed, between buyers
and sellers, landlords and tenants, be-
reaved families and their friends, ana
the first loss of patronage was soon re-
gained, and from then till now The
Ledger has grown in prosperity.
OF Mr.. Childs' charities, even those
which are known are too numerous
to catalogue. But doubtless the
unknown charities surpassed those
which We're m1nifest. He gave away a
fortune every year One who once saw
private record of his charities has said
that, though the period covered was only
one mon.h, the total given was S2s, 900.
His treatment of his employees showed
the character of the man. He not only
paid the top price for editorial and repor-
torial work, but he pensioned them when
superannuated. He insured their lives
for the benefit of their families. He fur
nished them with physicians and medi.
cine when ill., He made a present OF
money to each ut Christmas, proportioned
in amount to their positions and length
of service with the paper He gave them
vacations in the summer without loss OF
pay. He sent many of them on excursions
to Europe and California, and in many
other ways looked after their comfort and
their welfare.
He was the patron saint of the printers.
In 1876; delegation of his printers went
to him with the announcement that they
were willing to have their wages reduced
from 45 cents thousand ems to 10 cents,
which had become the union rate. Mr..
Childs, however. replied that he saw 40
reason why he should reduce their wages.
He received the same price as formerly
for his advertisements, The Public Ledger
sold for the same price: in short, his bush
ness was prosperous and he saw 10 good
reason why his employees should not share
in his prosperity. He was satisfied il
they were. The result was that for years
Mr. Childs paid over $4,000 year moa,
than the union rate required, or more
than he need have paid. This, too, is an
expression of his philanthropy disguised
by him as profit sharing. Bat it is not
only to his employees that Mr.. Childs was
charitable The needy and deserving of
Philadelphia found in him their surest
and best friend.
As host Mr. Childs had worldwide
reputation, and the manner in which he
entertained noted visitors TO his country
at his house in Philadelphia, at Wooten
and Long Branch--for he had three of
them a city, country and seashore resi-
dence-added lustre and fame to American
hospitality. He put memorial window
III estmlhster aopey, a FOUNTAIN Ill
honor OF shakespeare III otratiord-o,i-
avon, ana gave slo'ooV 10 tne printers III
ana OF Iund ior memoriai puiiaihg
In 1913 there was movement mace 10
bring MI Chiids name forward ior .ne
presidency puV ne peremptoriiy oeciihed
10 permit ms iriehas 10 90 so. o'hef less
important oflces nave beeh often sng-
gested Tor him' nu, he Always seemed 10
prefer TO manage Inc Puoiic Ledger.
A Contemporary Opinion.
The Record says: Philadelphia mas lost
her most famous citizen. The best known
private citizen of all Ameri ca, indeed, is