The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-03
CAREER OF A GREAT MAN.
Mr.. ChiIds's Early Struggles and SUBJ


sequent Success I'm Life.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2-Like Frank
lin, Philadelphia's greatest printer and
publisher, George William Childs. was not
a native of the city in which his life was
passed and which he honored by making
1t his home. Like Franklin's life also. his
life is record Of successful industry which
raised a poor and at one time friendless
boy TO the heights of honor and af1luence.
OF Franklin it was said that the prophesy
was fulfilleds "Seest thou man diligent in
his business. He shall stand before kings"
OF Childs the same truth is borne home,
but with an added honor. To his diligence
in business was added the kindliest heart
that ever beat In human bosom, and this
it was that gave him pre-eminence in the
minds Of those who knew him, over the
rulers of men and the rest Of mankind, as
not merely a deservedly successful citizen.
but also as a most worthy recipient OF the
favors OF Providence.
In Baltimore, on May u. 1899. Mr.. Childs
was born and in that city he gained his
early education James Parton, the his
torian, says OF him: "He has told his
friends that in his tenth year, when school
was dismissed for the summer, he took the
place OF errand boy in a book store and
spent the vacation in hard work. This was
not romantic, but IL was highly honoraoie
10 n little fellow to be willing thus 10 Work
for the treasures that boys desire. Al
thirteen he entered the United States navy
and spent fifteen months in the service an
experience and discipline not without gooo
results upon his health and character"
Mr. Childs came to Philadelphia from BAL
timore when but fourteen years OLD. he
was nearly penniess and knew put one
family in the city. Within a few days after
his arrival this family removed, ana mus
he was left entirely alone and friendless'
&c errand bow in a book store at a weekly
salary OF $3. He has recorded In ms heco-
lections'' that when first at work In Pnila-
delDhia 1 would get up very early IN TIE
morning. go down to the store and wash
the pavement and put things in order peIors
breakfast and in the winter ,n tlie S,or woui1 IN
the same spirit, when books were poet-1
at night by auction, / would, early tne neNt
morning, go for them with a wneeipssrroN,
habit OF doing things directly and IN s orusr
Such an errand boy was surely deslneo 70
rise and IL was not long before ne Was
cierk and right-har,d man, attending the
evening auctions and rapidly Decouiillls -
miliar with books and their value. NsNet-
theless his salary remained very shEAh. ~
the end of three years service II only
amounted to s. a week. From THIS l-aI en-atl
sum, however. eked out with fortunate Nen-
tures in book buying on his own acSouhI
the lad managed TO save money ana auOptso
as his early motto, Industry Iednpefai'cs
and Frugality."
HE BEGINS BUSINESS.
In his seventeenth year he began at
tending the great semi-annual book sales
I'm New York and Boston, and here formed
many friendships among the publishers OF
those cities. He mentions especially IN MS
"Recollections" the Harpers, Lippincotts'
Putnams. Ticknors. Fields. Appletons' Lit
tie. and Browns. At eighteen he had saved
up sufficient capital to enter into business
on his own account. and set up a very
modest book store in the Ledger building,
then at the corner OF Third and Chestnut
streets The venture was a very uhSer ,aln
one, for his capital was very small ne ntoa
no outside influence and returns were SLOW
I'm coming I'm. Nevertheless ne began 10
make money almost from the start: MS ac-
Quaintance with the value o! Do1As, puD-
fishers and authors and his skill In buying
and selling standing him In good stead
In lS49, before he had reached MS legal
majority, he entered the publishing nrm
of r. r. Peterson 4 Co, the nrfn name name be-
Peterson. Robert Evans Peterson, who
later became Mr. Cnilds Iatncr-ln-laW,
was like Mr.. Childs "A bookseller one or
the first books which the nfin puphshed
the copyright OF which they paid the eN-
plorer $4,000 In one year. Inc lhcepuon or
the work was due 20 Mr. Childs. who pre-
vailed on DR.. Kane 70 make the book
popular narrative instead OF the selenJhc
essay he had at first Intended 10 print
Mr.. Childs was master or the art or
advertising, and he cOntrived not only TO
advertise DR. Kane anu MS D0ok al over
great success 10 exploit the subsequent pub
lications OF the firm. Thus Parson Brown
lows book was advertised 50 extensively
that 5000 copies were subscribed for Ia