The Washington herald., 1907-01-01

room table. and one or two magazines.
with articles referring to the master Of
the house. marked in blue pencil. A
heavy Bible has place in the corner Of
the room.
The reverie Of the writer upon the utter
simplicity Of the life Of the most widely
discussed man in the world was presently
interrupted by Mr. Rockefeller.
simple, Substantial Fare served.
1T is 1 O'Clock, and we are all ready
for lunch, I am sure" he said, and led
the way to a pretty dining-room, where
covers were laid for four on a square
dining table. amply heaped with fruit.
nuts and sweets
A maid brought the dishes from the
kitchen, and handed them TO John %
who served the meal. Mr.. Rockefeller
fingered long over his soup, though he
ate little Of IT, He nibbled at the al
mOnds and salted peanuts. and said OF
them that he had learned Of their nu-
tritiOUs qualities from q gentleman in
California. who ate no meat. and who
lived entirely upon vegetables and fruits.
You want me 10 tell you what I see
in this country IN 1902
NJ. Rockefeller paused for a minute or
So He sat with his hands clasped In
characteristic attitude, and while John"
was heaping the plates with roast veal.
baked squad. French peas. and laying a
delicious salad al each plate. Mr. Rookie
Teller began the remarkable statement
the purport Of which Is quoted above
Things used TO BE- very different in this
country" he said later
The Old system and the New.
Under the old system A Joined interest
with 3 in partnership for mutual benefit
Sometimes those partnerships were agree
able and profitable, but frequently they
did not endure very long
In the old days competition was Sc
we're. and there was much unnecessary
waste Of material and effort.
After a while il became apparent q
those thoughtful business men that th'
best way 20 accomplish an economic sys
tenn Of business was 20 consolidate inter
ests. For years now interests have beer
consolidated and we have our great cor
poratiOns. as "A result.
Some times I look back upon the time.
in Cleveland when / was starting MI
business life / remember that my frs
employer in Cleveland used 10 pay 81 Z
ton for freightage on ore from the Mar
quette country over the Great Lakes Il
Cleveland No one complained aboU
rates at that time.
But later, when I was associated witt
"a party Of gentlemen who had console
dated these interests and We were ship
ping ore over the same route from Mar
quette 70 Cleveland. for S. cents a ton,
was called a wicked monopolist."
Mr. Rockefeller laughed meTrily at thi:
term.
Financiers True as steel.
American corporations have done much
good for the people. L is a serious mis-
take 10 attempt TO tear them down and
return 10 the old idea, which made bust
ness for all Of US such a hard struggle
Failures or newly-established businesses
used to be. if my recollection serves me
correctly, between 90 and 70 per cent
That. has been greatly reduced. Failures
are very few these days
The prosperity that We have been en-
jOying is due 10 the strict economy and
wise judgment Of our business men.
think that the lower section Of New YORK
City the financial district holds some OF
the finest men Of the world. As a class
they are intelligent well educated mel
with fine sense Of honor and integrity
There are exceptions. Of course. but
have found most Of these men q true as
steel.
Ny. sometimes ! lie in bed and think
back or the good men I have been assOCi-
ated with I'm my life, and sometimes ! an
ashamed that l have not said more in
praise Of them. There We're sixty Of US in
the beginning. but now all but four have
gone 20 the other life. Just think Of it,
only four left,
There is Col. Hayne. who is now sixty
seven years old; II. NJ Flagler, now
sevcuty-sevon years old. just ten years
Older than I am. and my brother William
who is sixty-six years old.
'Only four of US left" ne went on. "ant
isn't 10 strange that our business is now
being administered by some Of the meI
who were ut one time our antagonists il
trade? Yes. they fought Us. and tough
Us well. and now they are running Gu
business for us" and he chuckled merriIy
Advice to TOnnE Men.
why. the office boys Of the old day
are now conducting departments of on
business. They have grown up in it an,
they are part Of it.
1T is one OF the greatest sausfactons @
my life that I have succeeded in surround
ing myself with good men.
When, twelve years ago, I left m!
business forever, 7 still had other inter
ests 10 occupy my time. These other in
forests have something 10 do with III
general good Of my countrymen. An,
my days are all too short to attend .
these matters.
My advice 10 a young man at the open
ing Of this new year is 10 go straigh
ahead and do the best you can TO max
"a business for yourself, and keep happ!
and comfortable those who depend upOl
YOU. II you make mistakes remember tina
IL is human 10 err, but try again, and U!
harder.
Above all things, be honest with your
self and with those with whom you deal
II you fail at the end you Will at leas
have a clear conscience. and a clear con
science is a greater comfort and wortl