New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
MR.. ROCKEFELLER'S LEDGER
THE FIRST HE KEPT AND WHAT WAS
IN 1T.
LESSONS FOR YOUNG MEN FROM ITS ITEMS
SAVING MONEY AND EARLY
PIIILANTHKOPY Y

address an audience came around last nlght III
the parlors of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church.
Mr.. Rockefeller was one OF the speakers at n
social gathering OF the Young Mems Bible
Class Of the church. Much that Mr.. Rockefeller
had To say was extremely interesting. In lay
ing many excellent precepts before his hearers
he brought forth several lessons from the ex-
perenccs Of his early life. BY references to his
first ledger, ne called it, but which was moth
ing more than small paper-covered memo
randum book. Mr. Rockefeller explained how
he managed 10 save money even on a small
salary. The little book contained the first items
Of his receipts and expenditures when he first
began to earn money. and. to judge from the
care with which he handled last night this re-
minder Of his early struggles Mr.. Rockefeller
was in earnest when he intimatcd that 1t would
require "A fairly large fortune to purchase 1t.
The Rev Dr. w II. z. FauIce introduced Mr..
Rockefeller. who spoke in informal conver-
satonal manner. follows:
1t Is not address at all that have to give you
] supposed at first that was 10 meet here COM
have mad little address prepared for them uaugh-
terJ Then when came in here and saw so many many
What sort of students are they%' (Renewed laugh
teri Let me say that II gives me a great deal of
pleasure 10 be- here tonight Although | cannot
make you a speech, have brought with me to-n.ght
Sn wh yGu yTug " If M . Ibe frst IeGser
/ kept. | was trained in business affairs and was
paned now to Keep sds M oGg Ime 9 9f sa
ing In business and earning money and requiring 10
learn its value. is | think. good one. In the first
struggle TO get "A footing-and If you feel ! did
am sorry for you. although would not be without
the memory of that struggle kept my accounts in
this book. and also some memoranda of little Incl
dents that seemed 10 me important IN atter years
! found that book and brought it TO New-York. IL
s more than fory-tWo years since wrote what IL
contains ] call II Ledger \, and now place the
be- lite hcip to some Of you young men If read
one or two extracts from this ledger.
EVIDENCES OF EXTREME ECONOMY.
Mr.. Rockefeller then produced from his
pocket, carefully enveloped in paper wrapping,
the ledger to which reference has been made.
Proceeding he said
When | found this book recently thought it had
no cover because / saw that IT had writing upon
It's back. But I had utilized the cover 20 write
upon In those days was economical. even with
mind remcmbranccs Of the care with which used
to record my little items Of receipts and dsburse-
ments matters think which many OF you young rGz
sious duty to get al the money You can, fairly and
honestly. 10 keep all you can. and to give away an
YOU can, | think that is a problem that you are
all familiar with. have told you before what
pleasure this little book gives me- dare not let
have read it, say that ! did not spell toothbrush
CORRECTLY uaughterl But then, y,, you, know we
have made great progress In our spelling ana ana la 1
suppose some changes have taken place since those
days Renewed iaughtGr) nave nave not t HeeR @ inis Iis
a II
that book from me for all the modern ledgers IN
NewYork, nor for all that they would bring 1t
almost brings tears TO my eyes when read over ef
gratitude that cannot express 1t shows largely
what TsceyG % 9nd what oMa P2a Sa 3ut dms from eG @
tomber o. 1855, uru Januar- l. 1856. received $50
| boarded with and ! saved little money to put
away not ashamed - read IT over 10 you
EARLY CHARITY.
Among other things. find that gave cent
to the Sunday-schoo every Sunday. That is not
a very large sum. is il? But that all the
money / had to give for that particular object. |
was also giving to several other religious objects
and what [ could afford give 1 gave regularly
was taught to do. and It has been pleasure
| had a large Increase in my revenue the next
year. II went up 10 S2j month began to be
capitalist. and had ! regarded myself then the
same way rs we regard capitalists nov ought j,, to
money But we had no trusts or mohopoles tien
G.aughterD paid my own bills and always had
Of saving some. In fact, l am not SO independent
now was then. II is true could not secure
Der / bought mine ther OF jew: Gaughterl
He sold me clothing cheap. clothing such as
buying clothing that could not pay for. I did
noi make any obligations / could not meet. /
li"ed within my means. ana my ADVICE 10 you
Or Faunce has Just told you hat all young men
who come to this church are welcome, and are
never asked to whom they belong or where they
came from But there is just one question would
like to ask. ! would Ike to know how many Of
YOU come from the city. and how many come
personal favor If all those present in the room
who came from the country would raise their rgnt
hands. Fully thrce-quarters of the number ala so)
Now, what story that tells'
STRUGGLES OF COUNTRY BOYS.
To my mind there is something unfortunate in
being born in city You have not had the
struggles in the city that we have had who were
reared in the country. Don't you notice how the
men from tho country keep crowding you out here
YOU who have wealthy fathers2 These young
mon from tho country are turning things around
and are taking your city We men from the coun-
trv are willing to do more work. We were pre-
nared hv our exberience 10 do hard work ! re-
member a little time ago was In the country ana
/ saw a carpenter placing mineral wool under the
roof of a city servants bedroom, 80 that the man
should not feel the heat of summer or hear the
~ tbo time help recalling the experience of my
bovhood when slept under a roof While could
not SEQ the shingles. ! remember could peep
through the cracks in them. II was pretty hot III
the summer up there, tq9 ! can NJ yen Sou, rincc rino
,r r''' having been reared in tho country in that
sturdy practical way. and my heart is sometimes
nmmbrr Of voung fellows in this city whom hap
pen 10 know well
THE EMBARRASSMENT or RICHES.
They are in the embarrassing position that their
fathers have great sums Of money ana those noys
have not ghost Of a chance to compete with you
wbo come from the country and who want to do
something in the world You are in training now
to shortly take the places OF those young men. J
suppose you cannot realize now many eye are upon
vaiI and how great is the Increasing interest that
/. taken In YOU. You may not think tnat when YOU
are lonely ana find fl difficult TO get footing But
il 4. trc that I'm place ike this true interest Is
taken in YOU ard when left the schoolhouse came
into a rlaco similar a. this where associated WIN
propl wnom IL was good 10 know Nothing better
could have happened to me
THE MAN WHO Is REALLY POOR
spoke just now Of the struggle for success. What
IT, success? = it money? Som" OF you have all the
money YOU need to provide for your wants VINO Is
.he poorest man in the world? tell YOU the poor
est man / know OF is the man who has nothing but
money noihing else IN the world upon which to
devote his ambition and thought That is the sort
of man / consider 10 be- the poorest In the world.
Money t. good II you know how 10 Use H.
Now. iet mc leave his htuc word ot counsel Tor