Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-14
WHEELER NAY WED MRS. cIIILDs.
Reported Engagement OF Hero u"
Widow Of Famous PhiIndcIphtan.

/
PHILADELPHIA. PA, March i3.-Phil-
| adelphia has been rarely stirred as 1t was
stirred by a report from Washington that
| the widow of George w. Childs was TO
marry General Joseph Wheeler.
Although there is much 10 confirm the
| report, many are inclined TO doubt Its au-
| thenticity. This not alone applies to the
circles i'm which Mr. Childs and his wife
at one time moved but to ali classes
| among whom his name was almost
| household word Mr. Childs died five
years ago but the memory Of his many
charitable acts, his kindly nature, and
withal. his sweet simplicity AS a man has
been kept alive.
The story from Washington said:
Upon the announcement of the retire
ment Of General Joseph Wheeler from the
volunteer service OF the army comes a
much more surprising and interesting
piece Of news. II is nothing less than an
authentic statement that Mrs. George w.
Childs. widow OF the former publisher OF
the Philadelphia Ledger. has promised
her hand to General Wheeler.
PREPARED TO MAKE TT PUBLIC.
"The contracting parties. II is reported
had arranged to make public announce
ment Of their engagement Immediately
after Easter Sunday. by which time tho
hero OF two wars will have been muster
ed out Of the volunteer service of the
United States.
80 much interest is attached to the
movements of General Wheeler. through
the efforts made 10 declare his seat in
Congress vacant in consequence OF his
holding a commission I'm the army, that
1t has been found impossible TO keep I'm
secrecy the attachment existing between
Mrs. Childs and himself General Wheel
er has been paying marked attention to
Mrs. Clara Childs ever since his return
from the Spanish-American war In Cuba,
where he won additional laurels for his
bravery and unfailing cheerfulness. during
the critical days before the assault upon
San Juan"
Mrs. Chids has been visiting this city
the last week, the guest Of Mr.. and Mrs.
J. Thompson Spencer. She left for her
Washington home at ) o'clock Saturday
afternoon, having changed her mind re-
garding her proposed visit TO New York.
Mr.. Spencer was seen Saturday night.
however. and asked about the reported
enga cement.
Mrs. Childs left for Washington late
Saturday afternoon" he said. NO formal
announcement Of the engagement was
made by her. consequently l can
neither affirm nor deny it, During her
stay here she discussed General Wheeler
repeatedly, and | know that she thinks
a great deal of him"
Mr. George c. Thomas, while he had
no positive assurance regarding the truth
of the dispatch. nevertheless said that
he believed it TO be true
FRIEND BELIEVES THE REPORT.
one of Mrs. Chlds's most intimate
al no no al Of 40
truth of the report.
while | think the announcement Of
the coming marriage is somewhat prema-
ture." he said, cit is, nevertheless, a fact.
Among a select few the engagement has
been known for several days. Mrs. Childs
did not announce it generally, but 1t was
that the marriage would take
place shortly after Easter. Mrs. Childs
appeared TO be very fond of talking about
General Wheeler. whom she admires very
much. You can unhesitatingly state that
the engagement is a fact"
Mrs. Chlds has experienced five years
Of widowhoOd, and during that time she
has affectionatoly guarded the literary.
historical. artistic, and bric-a-brac collec-
tons Of her husband, whose fame was
world wide as a book publisher. as pub
Usher of the Philadelphia Public Ledger,
as "A philanthropist and as an enter |
tainer Of notable personages. He built |
Wootton, a magnificent country place |
near Bryn Mawr. After her husbands |
death Mrs. Chlds had built for her use a
handsome residence in Washington, where |
some of the statesmen OF the country |
have enjoyed her hospitality.
MRS. CHILDS'S PARENTS.
Mrs. Childs's parents were Robert Evans |
Peterson and Hannah May Bowler Peter
son. Mr.. Peterson became famous as a |
member OF the publishing firm Of Chids
& Peterson. Mrs. Peterson was daugh-
ter OF the distinguished Judge Bowler,
and she was the author Of a notable work
entitled Familiar Astronomy"