Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1904-12-21
VICTIM OF 0VERW0RK
Side Lights on the Character of
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
EVER AN INDBFATIGABLE ToILER

Earned His First Money When SIX
Years Old and at Thirty-one. with
worldwide Power and Wealth. Is
, Compelled to Take vncntion-His
Interest In Religious work.
John d. Rockefeller. lr.. thirtypne
years old and the wealthiest man OF
bis age in the world. mas succumDed TO
overwork. says the New York Herald.
! The strain or ceaseless industry in con.
nection with some OF the most exten-
sive financial enterprises in existence.
bis devotion TO religious affairs and the
vast responsibility resting on him In
various ways have at last told on him.
and lie will spend u vacation abroad of
two or three months.
When he reluctantly announced this
fact TO his Bible class of the Fifth Av-
enue Baptist church, in New York
there was unanimous expression of re-
gret, but little surprise Every one who
heard him had been wondering how he
had contrived so long to sustain him
self under the tremendous weight
which he has been carrying for years,
but there was rejoicing when the intel
ligence was conveyed that his health
was not seriously threatened and that
lie was merely tired"
Always an interchangeable worker. Mr..
Rockefeller has been disposed to ignore
his physical welfare in favor of his
ideals. Only a few Sundays ago.
speaking of what he considered the
four best things in life. he put charac-
ter first, friendship second, health third
and success last.
There is no doubt that this tempo
rary breakdown has been caused by u
devotion TO activity unequaled by the
ordinary struggler for the merest
weekly pittance.
Apart from his vast individual for
tune, he is a director in the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western railroad, the
National City bank, the "billion dollar
steel corporation, the American Lin
seed company. the Colorado Fuel and
Iron company, the Federal Mining and
Smelling company, the Missouri Pa
cific Railroad company, the Standard
Oil company, president Of the Ameri
can Postal and Newspaper Tube com
pany and a trustee of the University
Of Chicago. not TO mention half dozen
other smaller corporations.
young Rockefeller. as his fathers sue
cessor, the elder having virtually sur
rendered all his interests to his son.
can control something like a thousand
millions of dollars. e sun---ilu1ii u ia
decade or two VIII I6ruTaI1y S4-!slls
to an extent unheard of in history. es-
peclally as it is not unusual for
Rockefeller investment TO turn out
profit Of 40 per cent
They declare he could corner the
worlds wheat supply and bring an In
ternational war to an end; could buy
and close the greatest banks in the
United States and thus precipitate a
panic; could ruin thousands by increas-
ing the price Of the commodity which
lie absolutely controls
Precision is the keynote of his char
acter He is pale, of medium height,
rather thick set, weak eyed and spec
tacled and always clad in plain black
clothes. He does not smoke and never
tasted wine When he was married
to Abby G. Aldrich, daughter Of Sena-
tor Aldrich, ON oct. o, 1901, all liquors
were left off the menu Mt his request
Arising summer and winter no later
than half past o'clock. he is at his
Office by Q, works there until in the |
afternoon and then goes TO a Broad |
street cafe for luncheon. The meal !
never costs him more than 80 cents. !
After luncheon he goes back to the
home at 10 West Fifty-fourth street |
New York. opposite that of his father.
He may take little walk in the |
park or up Fifth avenue, or IL his wife
happens TO be entertaining guests he |
will play the violin, his fayorite instru- |
ment, or turn the music while she
plays the piano. Dinner is always |
very plain, and Mr.. Rockefeller is usu
ally in bed by 10 o'clock.
The theory Of life Of this busy young |
man is work. the necessity OF religion |
and the Righteousness OF money max
ing. He earned his first money when
he was six years old
His father, who then lived in Cleve
land, offered the boy a penny for ev-
cry fence post he could find on the es
tate that was not in perfect condition.
The boy hustled for two hours. found
a dozen and presented a bill.
The religious side Of young Mr..
Rockefeller is perhaps the most inter
csting His Bible class contains more
than 80 members. and everybody is
welcome to join it. Going there on a
Sunday morning, YOU are met at the
door by half dozen smiling young
men. who usher you 10 seat without
a question.
Mr. Rockefeller enters a few minutes
later, and after the first hymn has been
and sung he arises. delivers
a short prayer and then gives the les
son OF the dHv He uses no notes and