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

sisters are those of their father. The
m1llionaire's recreations in life are
driving fast horses, swimming and
skating. Both the girls are good horse
women, sit capital seat in the park
and handle the whip over 4 pair OF
ponies on pleasant days
They We're taught TO swim when
they were scarcely old enough TO talk
At their fathers magnificent summer
home at Forest Hill, four miles from
Cleveland, is large artificial lake, and
all the members of the family spend
an hour or two in the water here
every day in summer.
A high iron railing, and behind that
still higher fence painted green, sur
round the grounds of the Rockefeller
mansion in New York. Nearly all OF
the space which some millionaireS
would have given UP to lawns or hot
houses or fountains the Standard Oil
magnate has converted into q skating
pond. Three or four inches below the
surface of the ground is board fleor-
ing with lead in the seams of the
Just as soon as the thermometer gets
down to business, about this time Of
year. As soon as there is good coat
ing of ice the entire Rockefeller fami-
ly put their skates on and get out into
the air TO enjoy themselves They
skate every afternoon and evening in
cold weather, the pond being lighted
by electricity after nightfall
1t is one mans business all winter
just TO attend to this skating pond,
which is used only by the Rockefeller
family and their friends. Skates are
provided for all who come. Chris, the
attendant who has charge of the skat-
ing house, has fifty or sixty pairs Of
skates in pigeon holes, numbered &C
Cording to their size, and guests at
the Rockefeller mansion are always
invited to join in the millionaire's
pastime
The Rockefeller girls sleep on the
east side of the third floor of the
New York residence There are two
dreSSing-roo finished in mahogany
and antique oak adjoining the large
bedroom, which contains two single
beds. The dressing-rooms serve as
boudoirs for the young women. Each
has her writing desk and dressing
table ornamented with few expensive
toilet articles and photographs of per
sonal friends. There are costly rugs
on the floor and the ceilings are beauti-
fully decorated. but there are no soft
divanS or fashionable triffes like those
commonly supposed to litter up an
heiresS' own particular room. Neither
of the boudOirs is furnished with any
special color. One waiting maid suf-
fees for the two sisters and her duties
are not Onerous. Both tire girls dress
their own hair.
Neither of the sisters ever had Il cat
nor a canary bird for Il pet, but Miss
Bernard dog, who answers to the
name Of Laddie. She has an occasion
nj rOmp with him on the grounds OF
the residence, and once in 4 great
while takes him out on the street for
a walk. At such times Laddie be-
HAYES with great decorum holding
in immense respect Tiny whip which
his mistress carries.
Mrs. Rockefeller, the mother of the
girls. is a slight, little woman with
very black hair, whose whole life has
been devoted to her children and to
her household. She was Laura NJ
Spellman when she married the Ueve-
land bookkeeper in the days before
oil was discovered. Tier sister, Miss
Spellman, has lived with the family
for some years. Mrs. Rockefeller is a
bright woman intellectually, and while
experimenting the education of her
children has studied and read much
herself. She never figures in the Sc
ciety newspapers or in great social
events of this city Or Cleveland, her
home. She has never had taste for
society. The inmates of St Luke's
hospital, opposite the Rockefeller resi-
dence, know Mrs. Rockefeller better
than the people Of Fifth avenue, Tive
or three times a week she visits the
institution. carries flowers and delica-
cies there to the poor and sick, and la
olAeI ways uioo W pihhS ouhoihhu
into the lives Of the unfortunate. She
has been giving money away in chart
ty all her life. This is characters
tic of the family.
While John D. Rockefeller draws
his check for two or three millions
for a university, and 100000 to this
college or that Baptist institution, and
the daughters share their allowances
with needy girls whom they have met
at school or in their charitable walks.
Mrs. Rockefeller supports whole fami-
lies. Her private account books-she
keeps track of all the household ex-
penses-include a veritable pension
roll