The record-union., 1894-02-03
GEORGE WILLIAM CHILDS.
The Editor and Philanthropist
Joins the Silent Majority.
He PASSED AWAY AT AN EARLY
HOUR THIS MORNING.
His Death Due to Paralysis, the Re-
suit of Overwork and Grief Over
the Demise of His Life Long Friend
and Companion, A. j. DreXel-
Sketch of the Deceased EDITORS
Lile-His Many Charitable Deeds.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoS.

Childs. editor of the Public Ledger, died
at his residence in this city at 3:03 o'clock
this Saturday morning. After midnight
the patient sank rapidly, and it soon be-
came certain that the end was very near.
At the bedside where the beloved jour
nalist and philanthropist passed away
were George G. Thomas and James w.
Paul of the firm of Drexel Il Co., Mr.. and
Mrs. John Drexel, Miss Peterson, a
niece of Mrs. Childs; Miss Stanley, COM
panion to Mrs. Childs, and Colonel Ed
ward de Morrell.
Mr.. Childs' last illness began with a
fainting spell which seized him while in
his office in the Ledger building on Janu-
ary 10Th. He became unconscious, and
DIR. Da Costa was hastily summoned and
restoratives applied, with the result
that in an hour the patient was able
to walk with assistance to his carri
age. He was conveyed home, and Mrs.
Chllds, who was at her country place in
Wooton, was summoned. DR.. Da Costa
called in Drs. Leidy and Morris. On the
following Sunday night the physicians
reluctantly admitted that paralysis OF
There is but little reason to doubt that
the immediate cause of the attack was
oVerwork and anxiety attendant upon
his efforts that the memory OF his lie
long friend, the late A. j. DreXel, should
be properly honored. The day upon
which came the attack was spent by Mr..
Childs in preparing for the DreXel me-
mortal services held in the Drexel Insti-
tute on Saturday, January Goth, two days
of tor al fHhIIrGHaU
absence from the ceremony worried him
profoundly, and to this fact was largely
due the relapse which occurred on the
night of January 2lst.
Mr.. Chids was probably as widely
known as any man in the y United States,
and there can be no doubt he was far the
best known resident of Philadelphia.
His popularity in this city was wonder
full. He was familiar figure on Chestnut
street, from the fact that when in the city
he always walked to and from the Ledger
office, and so regular 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 Childs was robust
man, yet his constitution was very deli
cate. He was of highly nervous tenn
perament, and with the attack, which
proved the beginning of his last illness,
came almost nervous prostration.
Those who knew best believed he was
never thoroughly happy or contented
man since the death OF his boon compan-
ion and business partner, Anthony j.
Drexel. They were almost inseparable in
companionship, and it was sad blow to
have to see a near 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 in
terest in the Ledger. The senior Drexel
owned a half-interest in the paper, and
this interest became the property of his
son upon his fathers death. Young
DreXel had been carefully educated
and trained with this end in view.
Shortly after his fathers death his
name placed at the head of the editorial
columns of the Ledger as publisher, along
with Childs as Editor and Proprietor"
MIR. Childs had three homes which he
and his family occupied at different sea-
sons of the year. His town house on
Walnut street is a white marble struct-
ure, and is one of the most imposing edi-
fees on that street of aristocratic homes.
His country home at WootOn is sur
rounded by sixty acres of beautiful
grounds. The lawns are said TO be the
most beautiful in this country. Here the
hospitality which Childs ever delighted
in had one of its principal theaters. The
roll of visitors included many distin-
guished strangers. In addition to his
town and country houses, Childs had a
handsome cottage at Long Branch, adj
joining that of the late A. j. Drexel.
TGeorge William Childs was born in
Baltimore May II, 1929. He had his edu-
cation in the common schools of that city,
but at IA removed to Philadelphia, and
soon after entered a bookstore as clerk,
where he served four years. He then
opened store of his own in the old
Ledqer building, Third and Chestnut
streets. Quite soon thereafter he essayed
publishing, and when he was but q was
head of the firm OF Childs IL Peterson,
publishers. His publication ventures
were successful from the beginning.
owing to his economy, discretion and his
remarkable foresight. From his presses
first came the celebrated work, "Alli-
bones Dictionary OF English and Ameri-
can Authors" The firm issued many
valuable works, and always bent its ener-
gies to issuance of clean literature only.
In 1863 he retired from the firm, and
December 3, 1864, he became proprietor of
The Pu6Ec Ledger, one of the most
famous of American newspapers. He re-
tained its ownership to his death. From
an unremunerative, feeble sheet he
brought it up to high standard and
made it moneymaking institution and
the source of his great wealth. His large
means he used mostly for benevolent
purposes. He was the first American to
put memorial window in Westminster
Abbey. 1t was in memory OF the poets
Cowper and Herbert. He also erected a
monument to the memory of Leigh Hunt
and one over the grave of the poet Poe.
He was chief in the fund for the memo
rial in honor of Tom Moore. He gave with
wonderful liberalty to all kinds of be-
nevolent and charitable works and laid
the foundation OF several. The more be
gave the more he seemed to make. In
1868 he gave the Typographical So
ciety of Philadelphia a large sum
to try and maintain in order forever
Woodlands Cemetery. With A. j. Drexel
he Jointly contributed TO the founding
and aid of educational and art institutes.
In connection with Mr.. Drexel he also
gave money to the union printers of the
United States to aid them to build the
Union Printers Home at Colorado
Springs. Col. He was present at the ded-
lcation of that institution May 18th, two
years ago, and came thence to California,
where he attended the session OF the Ma
tional Editorial Association. and was the
reel pient of many honors in this State.
He was always at peace with his hun
dreds of employees; among them he had
his warmest friends and companions.
With money, advice and other aids, he
made them the most envied employees in
the Union. He was man OF gentlest
disposition, kindly to a fault, humane and
forbearing as are but the few, and yet he
was exact in business, farseeing in yen-
ture and as financial and business man
ager rare example. He was one Of the