The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-01-31

In the good old winter time Ihom-
asville streets resemble an animated
aditon of some modern hall of fame,
saws dispatch to the Savannah
Morning News. Men famous in the
world of politics, state craft and IL
nance ride with women who are lead
ers of society in the metropolis OF the
north The names of the great fall
with the freedom of familiarity from
the lips of even the Ethiopian denlzens
of this burg.
Among the recent visitors was ne
whom many regard as the greatest
man in the world, j Ohm d. Rockefeller.
Ida Tarbell might have obtained some
interesting pointers for her history If
she had been here when John D. was.
He arrived one sunny afternoon in the
New York sleeper just like any other
passenger The news of his coming
had been nOised about and gaping
crowd had surrounded the station,
doubtless expecting the platform to
turn to gold at the touch of his Midas
foot. The local newspaper described
him as ga tall, bald-pated gentleman,
whose broad, bent shoulders looked as
if he carried many burdens" Mrs.
], Wyman Jones, a sister of the late
Senator Hanna, and regular winter
resident, objected to this description,
especially the 'bald-pated" part. 1t
seemed to her to smack OF lese
majestic, and she called the rash re-
porter to account. AS yet he has not
been stricken down by a bolt from the
blue, and he still holds his job.
Mr. Rockefeller made his domicile
at the Piney Woods, Thomasvllle's
famous winter hOstelry. He was the
cynosure of attention for all the
guests. The hotel walters say that the
stories of his dyspepsia are greatly
exaggerated, and that he wanted plen-
ty of it, and wanted it good Most of
his meals he had served in his private
apartment, but sometimes he ate in
the main dining room, and it is said
that he used knife and fork, as does
an ordinary mortal.
1t was as easy for camel to crawl
through the optic of bodkin as for
a newspaper man to get past his sec
rotary, but occasionally one would
catch him in the corridor, and then he
would be atfable enough.
He was a regular onlooker at the
weekly germans wherein the hotel
guests and the society people of Thorn
asville dispOrted themselves in the
giddy maizes of the waltz. He was
asked one night, just as he entered the
ball room, how he was feeling. "Fine,
fine" was his reply. II feel like
dancing to the tune of Home, Sweet
Home.' " brownsville people still
hold their breath at the thought of
what might have happened if Holy
john had really danced jig on the
ball room floor. He and Mrs. Rookie
teller occupied seats in certain cor
ner of the ball room. Sometimes he
wore a skull cap, and sometimes he
did not. His head looked like big
egg, and many curious glance wan
dered over toward it and speculated
as to the thoughts under that bare era
Mum. Miss Ethel Davant Memphis
girl, who was among she regular at
tendants at the hops, begged her part
ners not to dance too near that corner
lest she yield to the fascination that
head had for her and go over to rub
it.
MIR. and Mrs. Rockefeller went to
the Baptist church every Sunday morn
ing. 1t was noticed that while they
were here the piety of Thomasville
church goers had marked boom, and
every pew was crowded. When the
collection was counted two crisp new
$50 bills were always found in the bas-
ket, and the janitor of the church said
''Nobuddy but dem Rockyfellers would
be fool enough to put dat much in. d"
They were always followed to and
from the church by an embarrassing
retinue of little niggers.