The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-07-27
JOHN D, ROCKEFELLER
AND THE REPORTER.
From Miss TarbeI's Character Study
OF John D. Rockefeller in the
August MCClures.

DOulI ~ lbOIhtltIltl ~ WY ii't'D'
about his speeches one Of the pleas
ATTEST tales we have Of him Is from a
Young reporter who had occasion to
report one Of his Sunday school talks
once It gives II side Of Mr. Rockefeller
which few people see
"One Saturday in June, 1898, the re-
porter relates "the Cleveland afternoon
papers said that John Rockefeller would
speak the next day Children's Sunday
in the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church
Being n cub reporter on the Plain
Dealer at the time, ! was held by the
city editor to be "A fit person to send out
on an early Sunday morning assignment
to Sunday school
The church was filed when ! got
there. But an usher whom knew put
me on an empty bench right in front OF
the pulpit looked for Mr.. Rockefeller,
but | could nj find him. He was n on
the platform. The people sang the
minister prayed, and the little folks
gave Rotations. After while the
pastor said the children would now
listen to their beloved superintendent.
A man who sat in pew near the front
stepped forward, stood directly in from,
of me and began TO speak. | took from
my pocket tablet, and being able to
.hyrthan1 10 10 tho
address verbatim. Mr. Rockefeller saw
what was doing He spoke az any
inexperienced speaker does nervously.
His nervousness was betrayed by slowly
uttered sentences some of which were
repeated, and 10y short quick steps. He
talked for few moments only simply
expressing pleasure at being among old
friends and with the children. think
everybody was satisfied and pleased with
what he said When he had finished he
dropped into place by my side.
Presently he leaned over and whispered
to me Win you wait n moment after
the service should like to see you.
AT the close of the services he greeted
few friends and then took me into a
committee room He asked me whether
| was n reporter, what paper | WAS on,
aud whether had his remarks verbatim
Then he reasoned with me in this man.
ner Now you know, am not an ex-
perienced speaker | have done little
of that sort of thing suppose my
address was not very good 1t wasn't
an address just little talk wish
you would say little about it, And
don't print that speech in full please.
Mercy. no Make it simple, short Fix
/ it up Aud he laughed and laughed
Then he took hold of my arm and be
haved like a good fellow said that
hid no desire 10 write nonsense about
him and hadn't told him that my
city editor woulnt print u silly yarn
about hia slender abilities as speaker
if wrote il and knew he wouldn't.
! said that had taken his speech in
shorthand simply because could. be.
couse got fun ont of exercising my
skill and that was true.
SO went to the office and wrote up
n quiet account Of the meeting | fixed
mp the speech did not however. es.
cape the sin of putting into my story the
/ fact that saw him put a twenty dollar
/ bin on the contribution plate That
was because | was cub | think
Mr. Rockefeller was much annoyed
when he saw me make notes after the
deacon passed the plate to him aud me
on the bench
Two months atera suburban electric
car upon which VIA u passenger
stopped couple Of miles from Forest
Hin Mr. Rockrfelcrs East Cleveland
home Mr. Rockefeller and his son
came aboard aud took seats behind M
Just as young Mr. Rockefeller told the
conductor TO stop AT Forest Hin some