The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-05-19
ASTORIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
ROCKEFELLER START.


Before the Bible class of his son, John d. Rocke-
feer, the wealthest man in the United States few
DAYS ago recounted some passages from his earliest
history to excite the emulation of his young hearers
Without seeking to draw any morals from the story,
which shows some slight evidences of senihty, it is
worth while noticing some features about it which
do not exactly correspond with the customary stories
been given from time to time.
For example, it appears by the story of Mr..
Rockefeller that when he prepared to enter into
business for himself which he did while still in his
teens be was possessed of capital from his personal
saving of some $780, His parents had supported
him and permitted him to retain to his own use all
of his earnings, which, in poorer families, would be
impounded into the common fund. Further than
this, his father advanced to him sum sufficient to
make up his share of the money put into the bust
ness partnership to $4,000 Still further he dscloses
that this capital proving insufficient to the demands
of growing business he borrowed much larger
sums
Instead of making his way up by his nnaded
thrift and industry it is apparent that Mr. Rockefe
Ter came of weltodo parents who were able to start
him off in business before he was Of age with cap
tai equal to that of the average business man of ma
ture years, at that period in the early Sos He was
abnormally successful in business and had abnormal
business instinct it is true and his further successes
certainly jutifed the faith which his father had in
his business ability and sagacty but the point to be
remembered is that he was given long start in life
by others.
Mr. Carnegies story tells itself along similar
lines He too, exhibited thrift and industry in his
youthful days. Unlike Mr.. Rockefeller his parents
were unable to assist him with capital but when he
about to embark in business for himself his own
savings amounted to but small fraction of the
money needed, and he borrowed his capital from
persons who took an interest in the bright and hard
working lad and were glad to help him along. Like
Rockefeller, Carnegie made good use out of the bor
rOwed many which gave him his start in life and be-
came very wealthy man. Each, however, owed
hs real starts in business life and thus the founda
ton of his fortune, to financial aid extended to him
by others at very early age in life, while other boys
were still under parental discipline and without
command of their own time 1t must be remembered
tfat the custom in that day was for the boy under
Fl years of age to account to his parents for all of
bis earnings and that coming of age had signif-
eance then that it lacks now
In short neither Rockefeller nor Carnegie was
S'sef-made" man. Both secured their starts in life
through the money Of other people, not with capital
which they had accumulated by their own thrift and
industry. Their real capital was the reputation
which they had acquired for business sagacty which
induced others to back them in their undertakings
Thus they were enabled very young to take positions
which they might have struggled for years before
obtaining through their own unaided resources It
is worth while to keep these matters straight when