MR. ROCKEFELLER’S WHIM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1029, 21 November 1912, Page 4

MR. ROCKEFELLER’S WHIM.

MODERN CALIPH OF BAGDAD. Mr John D. Rockefeller, the richest and perhaps the most abused man in the world, has taken up the whim ol the renowned Caliph of Bagdad, Harun-al-Rascbid. Mr Rockefeller has devoted the greater part of the present summer to visiting the haunts of the poor incognito, to find out what the world really thinks of the billionaire founder of the Standard Oil Trust. Since June ist he has been living at his palatial summer home just outside of Cleveland, Ohio, where the genii of fortune first whispered the magic word of “combination’ in his ear. And every day when the weather has been fine, he has paid a visit in bis motor car to some one of the small towns and villages within a radius of fifty miles from his home, where be mingles with the people, and makes friends with the children.

So far, the identity of this super-king in the financial world has not even been suspected by the farmers, villagers, and children, among whom he has found disinterested friendship and the first real happiness of his eventful life. It is true his portrait has been frequently and widely pub lished in the newspapers, but with the grey wig which he now wears, and in his straw hat and modest suit of grey serge, he looks just like a thousand other men of his age, while his democratic manner, genial smile, and kindly ways are so foreign to the popular conception of the great trust billionaire that the simple country folk have failed to recognise him. Very few people in Cleveland know Mr Rockefeller by sight. He rarely attends a social function, and the congregation where he attends church on Sunday is a small one. Even his occasional visit to his offices in the financial district are always made in a closed motor car to avoid attention. He always pays a visit to the village store, which sells everything from a tooth-pick to a farm waggon, and makes a few purchases of candy, which he distributes among the children who are invariably to be found on its front steps. The richest man in the world is fond of children, and he probably gets as much pleasure out of giving candy to these youngster, who are of his identity, as he does in giving millions to some educational institution. Occasionally be takes two or three of the older children for a short ride in his car, and if they want to ride fast he tells his chauffeur to take his orders from his guests. He delights in telling them about his grandchildren, of whom he is very proud, and iu parting he sometimes makes them a small present. But he never tells them that they have been riding with John D, Rockefeller. He prefers to speak of himself as ; ‘an old gentleman from the city,” and that is as far as be will go in satisfying the curiosity of his chance acquaintances. Mr Rockeleller also likes to visit the poorer quarters ot Cleveland, and to wander around asking all sorts of questions, and it he happens to encounter a particularly interesting person or a talkative child he suggests a ride iu his motor car. It is his special delight to ask these chance acquaintances what they think about corporations in general, and Standard Oil in particular. Naturally this practice has resulted in many amusing experiences.