Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-01-25

MISS Alta Rotketeller would have
$50 ZOO, 600 if her father. John ID.
Rockefeller. should die tomorrow. So
would Miss Edith Rockefeller. So
would Mrs. Charles Strong-but that
doesn't matter so much, for she is
married and disposed of. She is one
of the three richest heireSSeS in the
world, but the other two, her sisters,
are vastly more interesting to the
average man-to the average single
man. at least. Alta is twenty-foul
years old. Edith is twenty-five. Meth
er of them is engaged, though it is
thought Harold Mccormick, of Chi
cage, is sweet on Edith. and it is
understood she likes him pretty well.
If it should be match Chicago will
have captured S70,0OO.00O of the S1O5,-
100000 belonging to the three daugh-
tiers, for Mrs. Strong is the wife of
the professor of psychology in the
University of Chicago.
Alta is about five feet three inches
tall, with a plump figure, hands and
feet that are not too small and pleas
ant features. She has light hair of
rather an uncertain tint, inclined to
be golden and at the same time Sug-
costing auburn. Edith is a little taller
tf;an her sister. and, though younger
in years, looks and acts a bit more
matronly. Although the girls have
never been in what is called society,
they have had the opportunity of meet
ing many distinguished men, including
clergymen and learned college presi-
dents and professors. in their father
house, and they have acquired Il polish
and ease in conversation and carri-
age which would fit them for any DO
sition In life which they chose to, as
sumo
Their desires are SO fC Y, their tastes
so modest and the whole course of
their life has been so free from osten-
tatiOn that their enormous wealth.
alone has called public attention to
an existence which would otherwise
have been Known to only q small cir
Gle of acquaintance and dependents,
They are not members of the four
hundred in New York, their home;
though they would be cordially well
coined there. The ''SwelT' milliners
and couturiereS do not know them, be-
cause they wear only the plainest
gowns, which are generally fashioned
b. a seamstress who does her work in
their house. Worth or Felix has never
lad an order for a gorgeous party
di ess from any of the women of the
Rockefeller party because, they do
nor attend balls or swell functions of
any kind. It is doubtful whether any
of the daughters ever learned to dance,
unless Mrs. Strong, the eldest was
given instruction in that art during
her college course at Vassar.
The Rockefeller sisters have not
even box at the opera, although they
are proficient musicians and thorough
ly devoted to music. When they at
tend the opera it is in the quiet corner
of some friends box or in modest
crcI estra chairs. They are never seen
a: the theater, but they miss no con
cert; of merit, and they attend a large
portion Of the entertainments given
at Carnegie music hall during the sea-
son.
The lives of these two interesting
though not beautiful young women
have been devoted to self-cultlrre at
home. Their education has been and
is still closely supervised by their
mother, who was a school teacher IN
Cleveland, Ohio, when John D. Rookie
Teller, then bookkeeper on a small
sal@ry. married her. Miss Alta spent
some time at Mrs. Life's seminary a.
Rye. n. Y, and Edith is now taking
a special advanced course at Ogontz
seminary, near Philadelphia. Mrs.
Strong is the only one of the sisters
Who went to Vassar.
Alta and Edith are accomplished
musicians and 1inguists. Edith is an
omnivOrOus reader and both are well
acquainted with modern literature and
the standard English authors Alta
his paid special attention to her
French studies, and Edith prefers Ger
man. The younger sister has stu lied
the Japanese language, too, and ar
one time was ambitious to go to that
country as Baptist missionary. Alta
is fine pianist, while her sister has
devoted herself to the violin and 'ceIlo.
The father is an exceptionally good
ana teur on the violin.
tt ere is a routine in the daily life
Of the wealthy Rockefellers which
tn, children have been accustomed
to since their infancy Breakfast Is
served promptly at 7:3O O'clock. After
that come family prayers and the
father reads chapter from the Bible.
Then, while Mrs Rockefeller begins to
busy herself in the ordering of her
household, the girls enter upon routine
Of studies and duties which includes
an hour with the French teacher, an
hour with the musician, then an hour
for practice, an hour with the Ger
man teacher, an hour for correspond
ence, an hour or two for calls and
visits Of charity, and so on. One day
is very much like another in the
Rockefeller household. This Is the
sort Of life which these wonderfully
wealthy American girls have always
lived.
There are four pianos and a large
organ in the Rockefeller house at 4
West Fifty-fourth street. After din
ner the family sit together in one of
the large reception rooms and play
classic music. John D. Rockefeller is
the first violin Of this millionaire Or