The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-02-09
A GOOD MAN GONE.
Death in Philadelphia of George
w. Childs.
The Famous Journalist and PhiIanthro
pist succumbs to an Attack of
Paralysis-Account of His
Career and Work.
HE WAS A MAN BELOVED.


PHILADELPHIA, Feb. Sc. w. Childs,
this morning at 3:01 o'clock at his resi-
dence at the southeast corner Of
Twenty-second and Walnut streets
from the effects of stroke of paralysis
sustained by him January is.
Mr.. Childs' last illness began with a
fainting spell which seized him while
he was in his office in the Ledger
building at 5 o'clock on the afternoon
of Friday, January 10, as he was
putting on his overcoat preparatory to
going to his home at Twenty second
and Walnut streets He was alone at
the time, and when an attendant who
heard him fall reached him he
was totally unconscious. DIR. Da-
costa, his family physician, was hastily
summoned and restoratives were ap-
piled, with the result that in an hour
the patient was able to walk with the
assistance of two strong men to his
carriage. He was conveyed to his city
home and Mrs. Childs, who was at the
country place in Wooton, was sum-
poned. DIR. Dacosta called in
Drs. Leidy and Morris, and these
three issued statement that Mr.
Childs' illness was nothing more than
an attack of vertigo, arising from in
digestion, from which he would soon
recover. On the following Sunday
night, however. the physicians reluc-
tantly admitted that paralysis of the
lower limbs accompanied the attack,
| which was second attack of apoplexy.
George William Childs was born in Balti-
more Md, May Il, 1879 He was educated at
private SCHOOLS In his native city, and when IA
years old removed to Philadelphia. Soon
afterward he became clerk in a book store and
after service of four years there opened
small store of his own in the old Ledger
building at Third and Chestnut streets. In due
time he became publisher OF books and ~ the
age OF 81 was at the head of the firm of Childs
g. Peterson. Even at that early day Mr.. Childs'
ambitions and inclinatons were well formed.
He had decided to be newspaper publisher,
and IL is related that soon after he engaged in
business in the Ledger building he stated
that some day he intended TO be the proprietor
of the paper. But meanwhile he achieved con-
siderable success in the publishing business
many OF the works issued by Childs Peterson
being of intrinsic excellence. among them be-
ing DIR. AlliIone's Dictionary of English and
were brought out in profusion.
In 1868 Mr.. Childs retired from the firm and
the following years witnessed the consumma-
tion OF his cherished ambition-he was the
owner of the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
True. when he acquired control OF the property
the Ledger was unremunerative; but soon
after his energJ, his enterprise and his
determination 10 make it succeed won him
abundant success The Ledger sprang sud-
denly into public favor and has continued to
this day the most profitable newspaper in
Philadelphia, and, indeed, one OF the best
paying in the United States.
At his own expense Mr.. Childs caused a
stained glass window to be placed in West
minister Abbey in commemoration OF the
poets, William Cowper and George Herbert,
and he also caused q monument to be placed
over the hitherto unmarked grave of Leigh
Hunt in Kensal Green. He rendered 4 similar
service to lhe memory OF Edgar Allan Poe and
was the largest subscriber to the fund COL
lected in this country by Gen Wilson
and in England by Samuel c. Hall for
the purpose of placing a memorial window
for the poet Thomas Moore in the church in
Bromham. where Moore and Bessie" are in
TERED. In 1868 he gave 10 the Philadelphia
Typographical socie'y The printers cemetery,
Woodlands, with a liberal sum. the interest on
which is To be expended in keeping the grounds
In order
i.
printers, and nowhere will his death be moro
deeply deplored than in the composing rooms.
II was well that he should provide u resting
place for the printer after death, but he did
tetier-inade provisions for such of them as
became unequal to the struggle for life In
company with the late A j. Drexel. OF Phila-
deIphia, he endowed the Printers home at
Colorado Springs Col. They gave $4,000 to
start the fund and the Typographical union
made up the remainder by assessments, pro-
viding for the maintenance of the home IN like
manner.
The holiday season was the most delightful
portion of the year to him. for il was then ne
had the greatest opportunity for giving. HIS
employees always received Christmas gift OF
from $40 to 500 in their pay envelopes Christ
mas week.
Mr. Childs a:tri buted his success TO the fact
that he always attended to his own business
and never interfered with others. He had two
proverbs which were the guiding rules OF his
conduct One was: DO your best: let go the
rest" The other was: What can't be cured
must be endured" Another secret OF his
success was the care he gave his men. Those
who worked honestly and faithfully for him al
ways received more than their stipulated SAL
aries He always gave them every encourage
ment to make them successful He watched
their personal habits. II they were not in
clined to save he tempted them 10 become
for them. so that they were obliged to save in
order to carry on the investment AS rule
all OF the employees of the Ledger who have
families live in houses OF their own bought
and paid for by Mr.. Chids, who. in return, has
only received back the principal advanced
He insured the lives of all the principal men
OF his paper and paid the premiums himself
Some of the leading men in his Office have
such insurance upon their lives to the amount
of s25, 600. This kind proprietor watched more
carefully after the interests Of those under
him than the average man looks after himself
He paid them all good wages; ne lodged
them in the most luxurious OF quar-
tiers: he never made an override
mand rpon their attention; he insured
their lives for their families: ne bought them
homes and established them. and when they
were broken down with the steady grind of
their daily work he sent them OF for vaca-
tion with their families and paid the expenses
Of these families as well as their OWE. When
they became old and broken down in his serv-
ice he retired them upon full pay.
Mr.. Chids' private Office in the Ledger build
ing was little less than Z museum. the exhibits
being memen;os of the many great men N lit
erature, art, statecraft and war who esteemed
him as friend or benefactor II was a grea:
blow TO the owner when tire destroyed the
ures, anc the whole country S. mpathiz viii
him.