The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-02
SURPRISES THE BRIToNS
ENGLISH CRITICISM OF RoCkEFEL-
LEp's QUIET STYLE OF LIVING.
Army of snobs Astonfshed mt the sim-
plicity of nm American Fs-
nous for His Wealth

vate citizen, by permitting ordinary peo-
pie to talk with him without being snubbed.
and by eating plain fare, such as would.
In English judgment, be better suited 10
the ordinary stomach. II passeth the Eng
lish understanding.
Stumbling. by the way and its correlative.
being snubbed, are a fine art In England.
To seize any and every occasion TO snub
the man who wears poorer clothes than
you do, and to be snubbed by the man
who wears better. or has higher standing.
is a part Of the education Of the real Eng
lishman- 1t is bred in him, taught him in
the cradle, recorded Of him on the tomb
stone that decorates his simple grave. To
accidentally meet a lord on the highway
or in any other place is. in his estimation.
to be duly and appropriately snubbed.
Without his daily dose Of snubbing the
Englishman would be miserable creature.
indeed. He meets dukes younger broth
er, is snubbed-and thenceforth Is happy.
He writes a letter OF fulsome servility TO
the Queens chamberlain. which is the
nearest he dare approach her Majesty, is
snubbed In reply. and feels happy. He sits
In the twinkling freight OF his own hearth
and tells his children how, when youth,
he was snubbed by Lord So-and-So. and
they look into his face and determine 10
go forth into the world and be snubbed
In turn.
When, therefore man comes here with
SO many millions that he cannot count
them, man who could buy half the king
dom, perhaps, and never miss the money,
end treats them as If they were reai human
beings, there comes over your proper Eng
lishmen a sense Of disappointment.
For several weeks past John ID. Rookie
Teller has been sojourning in this lovely
spot, riding his bicycle. eating at the or
binary table. treating the waiter who serves
him with unaffected directness and kndli-
ness, talking in ordinary tones TO bell boys,
and generally outraging all British precon-
captions about keeping the lower orders In
their place. The Manor House, at which
hostelry the man OF oil and coin is staying.
with his wife, son and daughter. has be-
come an object OF curiosity. People stop
and stare at the windows of the rooms in
which lives a man who could. they say,
''drore a cheque'' for $4,000 600. pay the
national debt, or perform any other mirac.s
wherein money is chief ingredient.
EATS LIKE ANY MAN.
"An' he goes right into the restaurant and
eats jes' like any on u.s." whispers a Jehu
in awe. IAN he don't drink nothing an he
most generally amt got a hapenny in his
pocket. An him with dozens of millions.
It's a wonder, that's wot il is. an gives Il
up
The English newspapers do not approve
of Mr.. Rockefeller. He, in turn. II may be
said. does not approve OF the English pa
pers, asserting that they are chiefly re-
markable for an utter absence OF news.
They, as the ordinary Englishman, are in
capable OF understanding him. HE lives"
says the London News, Just like any
olnary man.. Unrevealed in this is the
English disappointment at a failure TO
snub. for with his wealth Mr.. Rockefeller
should at the very least have a special sun.
moon and set OF stars made to order for
his own exclusive use. Where is his valet?
Has none; nor does he carry the rerinue OF
hunkies without which the encourage OF
an English or Chinese notable is incom-
plete
In thus violating the traditions OF Eng
lish society, Mr.. Rockefeller has accen-
tuated the hostility felt here against VIII
Milne incident took place there was much
Indignation against .'presumptuOus
American millionaire" who dared order a
British naval hero out of doors Hardly
had this feeling had time to subside when
along comes another American with even
more millions than Astor, who wears plain
clothes OF everyday make. lives I'm a suite
or rooms In hotel and puts on absolutely
no airs. Here was Astor putting OF too
many airs. and here, again, is Rockefeller,
VINO doesn't put on enough. How awfully
unreasonable these Yankee miIlionaires are.
Through all this Mr.. Rockefeller goes
along with absolute indifference The COM
ments OF the English papers do not annoy
him, because he does not read the English
papers, he quietly informed a London re-
porter, who asked him about this feature.
Mr.. Rockefeller said he never read the
English papers because they contained no
news" This was a piece OF shocking ef-
frontery, even for en- American multi
millionaire. and the comments Of the press
grew even more severe. Upon the top q
this came dispatch from New York that
Mr.. Rockefeller had given 100000 for an
other settlement house in that metropolis.
Sucn hoeraiity staggered the British, and
Mr.. Rockefeller was reckoned too much"
MILLIONAIRE CAN SWIM
Promenaders on the beach at bennington
assert that Mr.. Rockefeller. when in bath
ing, swims like an expert, which is very
wrong, y know. for millionaire SO val
gar and all that to swim like a member %
the coast guard. who has got to swim for
a living and all that. Indeed, there is some
hidden resentment here that Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter swirns at all. when. with his millions.
for him.
But Mr.. Rockefeller swims every day and
at the same hour. An awe-struck crowd
watches him In wonder and notes that he
has only the same number OF arms and legs
as any ordinary mortal, and that his bath
Ing suit is not a good lit.
Mr.. Rockfeller's shirts collars and era
watts, let IL be here remarked. are another
cause OF public comment. His shirts are
plain white, are his collars. while his
cravats are plain black. This is severe
the gilded youth, and some who are
longer In their youth. when the fiery nature
OF your real EhglisEmans linen is cOnsid
cred. III Is an awful trial 10 sit alongside
man whom you know 10 be worth a mill
lion TO every sovereign you can muster aud
realize that his wardrobe cost but 1.-THE
OF what you paid for your own. and not
only that but to see him eating fare not
nearly as expensive your own. while a.
10 wine he knows IL not. and drinks water
while you modify guar" your dearly
bought chaElpagnei
Then, again, there are your walters and
bell boys. You have been accustomed from
childhood to raise yourself in public esti-
nation by heaping what abuse you had 10
spare on the servants Alongside OF yOu
sits man OF international fame. whose
wealth, benevoence and generosity read
| Ike the tales OF the Arabian Nights And.
would you believe IL. he talks as gently 70
the waiter as IL the latter had a soul X
| Is absolutely revolutionary
On his bicycle rides. moreover. Mr.. Rock
| efeller talks TO the villagers and shows an
| interest in them and their historical REM
iniscences such visitor has ever
| shown before. There Is no cOndescensiOn In
| his manner. nor does he feel any Nor does
he follow the English habit OF giving every
one who answers a question tuppence.
IL is the tuppence habit that keeps your
ordinary English ale house going. three
havnennr hainC for he hon thc - pr