The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-02-10
The WelI-Known Philanthropist and
Editor Passes Away.
LIFE ONE OF USEFULNESS
Probably as Widely Known and Popu ar
as ANY American Citizen and Be
loved by Everybody.

After midnight the patient sank rap
idly, and 1t soon became certain that
the end was very near. At the bedeide
where the beloved journalist and phi
lanthropist passed away were George
G. Thomas and James w. Paul of the
firm of Drexel g. Co., Mr.. and Mrs.
John Drexel, Miss Peterson, a niece of
Mrs. Childs, Miss Stanley, companion
of Mrs. Childs, and Colonel Edward D.
Morrell.
Mr.. Childs' illness began with faint
ing spell, which seized him while in the
office in the Ledger building, January
10. He became unconscious and DIR.
Dacosta was hastily summoned. Re-
storatives were applied, with the re-
suit that in an hour the patient was
able to walk with assistance to his car
rage. He was conveyed home, and
Mrs. Childs, who was at their country
place at Wooton, was summoned. DIR.
Dacosta called in Drs. Leidy and Nor
ris. On the following Sunday night the
physicians reluctantly admitted that
paralysis of the lower limbs had accom-
panied the attack.
There is but little reason to doubt
that the immediate cause of the attack
was overwork and anxiety attendant
upon his efforts to see that the memory
of his lifelong friend, the late A. j.
Drexel, was properly henored. The
day upon which came the attack was
spent by Mr.. Childs in preparing for
the Drexel memorial services held in
the Drexel institute Saturday, January
20, two days after the fatal Thursday.
His enforced absence from the cere-
mony worried him profoundly, and to
this fact was largely due the relapse
which occurred on the night of Jan
uary 21.
Mr., Childs was probably as widely
known as any man in the United States,
and there can be no doubt that ne was
far the best known resident of Phila-
delphia. His popularity in this city was
wonderful. He was a familiar figure
on Chestnut street from the fact that
when in the city he always walked to
and from the Ledger ONCE, and so regu-
lar was he in his habits that If he did
not appear on the street at about the
regular time, people began to inquire
whether he was i'll. To all appearances
Mr.. Childs was a robust man, yet his
constitution was very delicate. He was
of highly nervous temperament, and
with the attack which proved the be-
ginning of his last illness came almost
complete nervous prostration.
Those who knew MIN best, believed
he was never a thoroughly happy or
contented man since the death of his
boon companion and business partner,
Anthony j. Drexel. They were almost
inseparable in their companionship,
and it was a sad blow to have so near a
friend carried off so suddenly. George
w. Childs Drexel, the youngest son OF
the deceased banker, was several years
ago determined upon as the one who
should succeed his father in his interest
in the Ledger. The senior Drexe
owned half interest in the paper, aDd
this interest became the property of TIE
son upon his fathers death. Your s
Drexel had been carefully educated
and trained with this end in view
Shortly after his fathers death hi.
name was placed at the head of the
editorial columns of the Ledger as pub
Usher along with Chllds' as "editor anC
proprietor.
Childs had three homes which he ant
his family occupied at different seasons
of the year. His town house on Wal
nut street is a white marble structure
and is one of the most imposing edifce
on that street of aristocratic homes
His country home at Wooton is sur
rounded by sixty acres of beautiful
grounds. The lawn is said to be tn
most beautiful in this country. Her
: the hospitality which Childs ever de
lighted in had one of it's principal the
; aters. The roll of visitors include
many distinguished strangers. In ad
l dition to his town and country house
u Childs had a handsome cottage at Lon
} Branch, adjoining that of the late A. 4,
Drexel.
n Cinnamon who have registered a
s Spokane will have to do so over agai