Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-09-11
royalty ENTERTAINED
BY JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER
The Press HumOrists Permitted in the Sacred
Precincts Of Forest Hill
An Unprecedented Act On the Part Of the Richest Man
in All the World

Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 1T is hard
to steal away enough time to write a
letter. The local committee here in
sists on giving an entertainment of
some cort, every few minutes. But I
feel that Tribune readers will enjoy
reading that John D. Rockefeller did
something unprecedented in the annals
of Cleveland. He threw open the
gates and doors of his Forest Hill resi-
dence to the American Press Humor-
ists-welcomed them with his own
hand and voice, and visited with them
for two hours, during which time he
laughed and joked as merrily as the
lightest hearted of them. Cleveland
people tell me it is the only time in
history he has permitted a procession
of automobiles to pass through his
splendid grounds. And that he should
not only do this, but greet the visitors
personally and escort them through
his grounds was nothing less than
marvellous! But he did it, and the
wonder is growing yet.
He is not as he has been pictured.
He is not spare, dyspeptic looking
man. AS he walked over from the
golf links where our autos stopped,
and shook hands with every mamber
OF the party, he looked vigorous and
healthy. He is of medium height, and
his weight, I should say, between $50
and 200. His frame is sustained on
good, stout pair of legs. He is smooth
shaver, and his complexion is good
for his years, which are IS. He wears
wig, just adopted, and which adds to
his appearance remarkably. His step
is spry and light, and his voice re-
markably smooth, melodious and
pleasant
How much sincerity there was in
the apparent warmth of his greeting l
will not attempt to say. 1t is enough
that he bestowed on us the outward
and visable manifestations of hospital
ity.
Mayor Tom Johnson of Cleveland
led our procession in his new $4,000
French auto. Mrs. Foley and I were
In the second car. We had wound
about the splendid roads in the $50
acres of grass and shade that sur
round Rockefeller's home At last We
passed his home, which Is on
picturesque knoll, and in five minutes
had haulted at the golf grounds. Mr..
Rockefeller had been playing golf with
DR.. Biggar, Cleveland physician, who
is Mr.. Rockefeller's personal attend
ant. He dropped his golf clubs and
approached us, removing his hat and
displaying his new gray wig. which
has been the occasion of much COM
ment, and which is not good fit. In
propria persona. he is bald as brick
bat. The wig improves his appear
ance. makes him look younger, and he
has done we'll to adopt 1t.
So there he stood, bareheaded, in
the center of a handsome green, SUI
by magnificent oak trees, and
greeted each member of the party.
Il am very glad to see you" he said to
US. and shook hands cordially. 1t was
a oncession-coming from the richest
man in the world and the most power
full of the financial giants. He smiled
"a pleasant smile and waited till we
had all alighted. Then he led the way
to a great hedge of SNOWFALL bushes,
chattering all the way like happy
boy. "Cut some off for the ladies" he
said, and with his own hands he cut
on large bunch and presented them
to Mrs. Foley with bow. Needless to
say we shall treasure them with much
interest," as a benefaction of senti-
mental, rather than actual value.
Passing from the SNOWFALL hedge |
he took us to- an oak tree that his
gardeners have estimated to be $50
years old. He took an almost childish
pride In it. From that he led the
way to the center Of splendid green,
where he posed for a photograph in
the center of a group of men, whose
average annual salary comes In to