The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-19
MR.. RoCKEFELLER's ADDRESS
The Oil NaEnate Talks to Chicago
University students.


CHICAGO. June Batter ten years of
urging John D Rockefeller yesterday
made his first formal speech to the fac
uIcy and students TO the university to
which he has given over 100000. It was
Couvocation Day, and there were 800 per
sons. the majority in caps and gowns.
crowded in d great tent on the campus.
while 300 more, unable to get in. stood
outside
The last tc enter were President Har-
per and Mr. Rockefeller, arm in arm. ana
a shout greeted them The applause was
renewed when DR.. Harper formally intro
duced the founder and Iatron of the uni
versity. M Rockefeller was dressed in
dark froclx coat and vest of rough finish
grey trousers. silk hat and box calf shoes
Mr. Rockefeller is not an orator He
spoke in the same level, distinct tone
throughout. and occasionally turned his
eyes TO the manuscript in his left hand
Slender. gray and bronzed, he was not
impressive, nor was he magnetic.
1t is a great pleasure to me 20 be pres
ent on this occasion" he began Five
years have quickly passed since my last
visit. and l see on every hand the great
work which has been accomplished dur
ing that period-greater by far than our
The extent and magnitude of the work is
not alone measured by what we see Of
new structures and additional lands. to-
gether with new books and apparatus, but
also by the steady and remarkable growth
in the influence which this university ex-
erts- Il has stood, and will stand. for the
best and the highest, for the good of man
and the glory Of God.
I am not here to discuss theological
questions. such as whether Jonah-s reIa-
ton to the whale WIS that of tenant CT
landlord; nor yet the question Of whether
Stephen a DOugIas-aH honor to his
mamory-or President Harper was the
founder of the University Of Chicago. But
Of this I am satisfed-that the University
Of Chicago would not be in existence to-
day had it not been for our president
William Rainey Harper"
Then, addressing himself more directly
to the students, he proceeded:
i trembIe 10 think of the failures that
may come to some Of you who are pos
sessed Of the brightest intellects and cap
able of the greatest accomplishments.
shall expect to see many who are here
present among the slow, methOdical, Dlod-
ding ones, who are not at all distinguish
ed as you are for brilIiancy, go forward
sltions Of the greatest honor and respou-
sibiIity-
Some Of the foes which threaten your
cuccess maynOt be apparent to you until it
is too late. If you are to succeed in life
il viii be because you master yourselves
and if you are to continue masters. and
not slaves. you do not need that I should
say to you here today that you must jeaI-
ousIy guard the approach Of any Zoe to
your WeII-beiug. You viii do well not to
underestimate the strength Of such a foe
How many young man whom / knew in
my sChoOldays went down because Of his
fOuduCSS for Intoxicating drinks No man
has ever had occasion to regret that he
was not addicted to the use of liquor. No
woman has ever had occasion to regret
that she was not instrumental in inftu-
encing young men to use iutoXicants
SO much has been said of late on the
subject Of success that I foTbeaT making
particular suggestions. The chances for
success are better today than ever be
fore Success Is attained by industry, per
severance and pluck coupled with any
amount of hard work and you need not
expect to achieve it in any other way
After the exercises Mr.. and Mrs. Rookie
feller took a train for Williams Bay, Wis
to inspect the YeTkes telescope