The morning call., 1894-02-03
GEORGE W. Guilds.
He Was One of the Greatest of the
Friends of Man

tlmore on May II, 1929, and was educated
IN private schools in that city. He went
20 Philadelphia nearly fifty years ago.
when mere lad of IA. taking with him
nothing but fertile brain and undaunted
courage. lie sought employment as shop
bAy In bookstore, and after four years of
service. during which his integrity and
efficacy were thoroughly tested and ap-
proved, be determined to start out for
himself. With the firm purpose to sue
ceed he opened small bookstore in the
old Ledger building at Third and Chest
nut streets. Philadelphia. While steadily
pursuing his way in this humble business
he conceived the idea to advance his we'll
being by every possible means. and finally
determined TO encompass the dream of his
ambition by becoming the proprietor of
the Public Ledger, one of the most -four
ishing publications of the times in the
United States. That the Institution was
one af the most influential in the country,
and that the means TO purchase IL was yet
unearned, daunted not the ambition of this
persevering young man. He had placed
his mark, and he early developed that con-
tidence, boldness and perseverance that
have always been the strong characteris-
IICs III Ills eV6ntlul career.
In due time Mr.. Childs became pub
Usher of books. and it was only few
years when he was at the head of the lead
ing book-pubiishiDg firm OF Childs & Peter
son. The ex ellence of the work got
out by the firm and the carefulness of the
character of books issued attracted gen.
eral attention TO the firm, and they soon
advanced TO the front rank among the
bookhouses of the United States. AS an
illustration of the success that some of
their publications attained the edition of
'Kane's Arctic Explorations" book got
out in unsurpassed style, reached such
a large sale that the firm was enabled to
pay the author the sum of $4,000.
While M. Chlds was rapidly advancing
on the road to becoming the Napoleon of
book publishers in this country, an oppor-
tunity came by which be suddenly real
lied the crowning ambition of his early
life, the fondly anticipated elimination of
his business hopes. On Decem ber 8 1864,
be became by purchase the proprietor OF
the Public Ledger of Philadelphia. For
some years this newspaper had, through
the death of one of the proprietOrs and the
detection of its ablest editors, gradually
lost its prestige, and an opportunity was
presented to Mr.. Childs to purchase il,
which he eagerly grasped. No ordinary
intrepidity and self-reliance were re-
Quired to prompt the purchase. But
the pilot who now seized the helm
was possessed Of cOnsummate sagacity
and skill. He was thorough judge of
the indispensable conditions of success.
His experience gained as a book pub blisher
easily detected the public taste. and be
catered 80 TIE requirements OF an enter
prising community. He infused new blood
through every department of the paper,
and reorganiZed all its methods of bus-
ness. Under his skillful guidance the
Public Ledger rapidly advanced in popular
favor. 1t assumed an exceptionally high
tone in all of its departments. Every i'm
proper feature in advertisements or in
news was vigorously excluded from its
columns; a spirit of almost judicial fair
ness was made 10 breathe throughout its
reports and opinions of men and things;
whatever weight is due to dignity, inde-
pendence, impartiality and wise and con-
siderate estimate of social and political
topics was impaired to Its editorials, and
no expenditure, however lavish. was with
held in enhancing It's value as trust
worthy and salutary fireside visitor. The
forecast of Mr.. Childs was pre-emiaently
successful. The Public Ledger ultima ately
reached daily circulation of 100000
co pies.
Childs became one of the greatest men
of Philadelphia. He was the personal
friend OF General Grant, and his social
position was always a brilliant one.
At his beautiful home be even entertained
royalty. the Emperor and Empress of
Brazil having been his guests during the
Centennial year (1S76). He was always
deservedly popular with the most eminent
writer's. statesmen and professional men
of the age, and held in the bonds of firm
friendship the leading public men of two
continents.
Pre-eminently was he loyal to the well
fare of his adopted city. Every large en-
terprise, every feature proposed for the
benefit of the inhabitants of Philadelphia
the city of the workingmen's homes-met
his active cooperation. and bis ready purse
was literally drawn upon to lead the sub
scriptions for works of publie-spirited
character. Fairmount Park, the Zoologi-
cal Gardens, the Pennsylvania Museum
and the School of Industrial Arts were
fostered and encouraged by his helping
MAUI duu Ioduy WOTuS Oh COMMUNICATION.
In quiet, unostentatious way, Mr..
Childs was always a benefactor of bis
race. and so large was his charity that
even himself knew not its wide extent.
During the annual session of the 1nterna-
rional Typographical Union. held in Pitts
burg, Pa, in 1856. Mr.. Childs and Mr..
Anthony J. Drexel, the Philadelphia
millionaire banker, each presented the
union with their checks FOR $1,000. The
gifts were absolute and without conditions
The printers afterward decided that the
money sbolld be used as basis for what
is known as the Childs-Drexel fund, for
the purpose Of building home for dis
abled and superannuated printers. Out of
these subscriptions grew the beautiful
Childs-Drexel Home for Union Prin ters at
Colorado Springs, one of the most noble
benefactiops ever conceived by .nan.
Among the many acts of disinterested
liberality for which Mr.. Chids has been
noted is the monument over the formerly
unmarked grave of Leigh Hunt, in Kensal
Green, England, the stained-glass memoir
ial window in Westminster Abbey, in