The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-06-02
The Human Side OF John D. Rockefeller
LeNesW Weekly

q one Sunday morning, less than a
Aear ago, rather tall, gray-haired
snan with unusually square, but slight
lA,.stooped, shoulders rather dapper
- too-walked into the Euclid ave-
- BAPTIST church in Cleveland. The |
#sunshine outside was hot and binding |
|Tt was early summer. AS ne stepped
.through the portals of the church into
|the semi-darkness, he hesitated and De-
gan to pull off his gloves uncertainty.
He stood just inside the door, his neat
straw hat under his arm, a sort Oh /
iouerulous air of expectancy on his race
|C,burch-goers were crowding in about
him. but none gave him more than a
passing glance. From the top of ms
polished shoes to the highest hair on
his very gray head he was sp1ck ana
span. Although he was at least Sixty
years old, the lines of his figure, MS
firm position on his feet, his round
smooth face and his healthy smile in
dicated that he was not of the long,
black. sober frock-coat which sat his
shoulders so well, but rather Of the
more youthful .'pepper-and-salt trou-
sers which he wore.
There was just a hint of affectatIon
about the manner with which ne
slipped out of his gloves and threw
them up into breast-pocket. He stood
uncertainty in the corridor, watching
the church-goers hurrying into the au-
ditorium. The organ was playing q
professional. The ushers at the door
were eagerly making welcome each
stranger who was coming in. One OF
the ushers, a man who apparently
knew every one who had been in the
e.n,arch before, noticed the dapper-look-
.inI Individual and stepped over to
greet him.
.ewhy are you hesitating. my friend %
he said. with smile of welcome.
.Come right in. We have g. seat for
every one, you know" His eyes mao
taken in every detail of the strangers
costume at a glance. The latter might
have been a broker, a promoter, or
professional man.
The gentleman hesitated and then
smiled as two more ushers came up.
He said. quietly: ST think I'd like TO
see the richest man in the world. Where
can sit so that can see him at SER
vice?'
They took him to the seat behind the
famous pew where John D. Rockefel-
Ter sits each Sunday that he is at MS
Cleveland home, Forest Hill. But no
Rockefeller came. Several hundred
other strangers were disappointed, but
the gray-haired man didn't seem TO
care. He enjoyed the service appar-
entity.
The reason he did not see Mr.. Rookie
Teller that morning was because he had
no Iooking-glass. He himself was Mr..
Rockefeller. plus his new gray wig. In
spite of it's awkward position upon his
head placed by an inexperienced hand.
it had fooled the entire congregation.
After the service he went into LII.
Eaton's study, where there IS large
glass over a CRATE fire. In the entire
congregation only three or four people
had recognized him. Now, as ne STOOD
before the mirror, two of these were
with him He was looking silently a.
the wig as it sat upon his head. FL
nally he took it off carefully. snoothed
it carefully and placed 1t upon the
mantel carefully.
"That thing has lost for me pretty
nearly every acquaintance I nave II
the world" he remarked, almost testl-
Nv. .'I think it was a bad investment
don't your
Rut he put it back on his head, as
devoid of hair as the golf balls ne
knocks about every summer morning
He had to- MY wife wants me to wear
it. I suppose I ought to- he remark
ed. Since then, though, he mas cultl'
waited his false hair until it mas tn'
appearance of having grown upon ms
head. and he is happy. As he plays
golf. does stunts on his bicycle OF
the links, his wig is always with him.
And he does stunts on his bicycle