The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-28
DIFFICULT TO GET RICH
SAYS JOHN D.

iler. kept switch handy. Once
his mother began to whip him for
an offense he had not committed.
He pleaded innocence. Never
mind said my mother" writes
Mr.. Rockefeller. 1--WE have start
ed in on this whipping, and it will
do for next time
Once John and his brother
William disobeyed by going skat.
ing in the moonlight. They found
IA neighbor drowning and saved his
life by thrusting a pole to him.
This deed of heroism didn't
make any difference to Mrs.
Rockefeller with her stick.
High school and bookkeeping
in commercial college in Cleve-
land made up Rockefeller's educa-
|tion.
81 tramped the streets for days
and weeks, asking merchants If
they didn't want boy; but the
offer of my services met with little
appreciation" he says.
Rockefeller, on Sept. rs, 1855,
got job with the firm of Hewitt
& futile, Cleveland, o. He didn't
ask what the wages would be, but
after three months Mr.. futile
gave him $50, "and it was entire
ly satisfactory"
The salary the next year was
$25 a month, Rockefeller serv-
ing as auditing clerk in the whole
sale produce commission and for
warding business of the firm. The
firm rented houses, and Rookie
Teller had charge of that business,
too. The next year, when the
$4,000 year bookkeeper left
took his work at a.
salary of $500 a year.
The third year the firm offered
500, but he wanted
$500. He didn't get it, SO re-
signed to go into business forl
himself with q young Englishman,
M. B. Clark. Rockefeller had
saved $500. The Englishman had
$4,000. John DIS father lent him
$1,000 at 10 per cent interest, with
the understanding that at 81 the
money should be gift to John.
1--WE at once began to do a large
business, dealing in carload lots
and cargoes of produce"
Mr.. Rockefeller made his first
loan from T. p. Handy OF Cleve-
land, "a sweet and gentle old
man, well known as a high-grade,
beautiful character" The sum
was $4,000.
II held up my head-think of
it. a bank had trusted me for
$4,000. l felt that I was now a
man of Importance in the COM
munity."
The business grew rapidly. Oft
en- Mr.. Rockefeller's father would
lend him money and then sudden
ly demand 1t. Mr.. Rockefeller says
he always paid. He knew that his
father was doing this merely to
test his credit and the strength of
his business.
One time one of the firms
largest consignors wanted to bor-
row money from the firm on cur
rent shipments which had not ar
! rived. Mr.. Rockefeller says he
knew this was wrong and refused
the request. He mentions this as
an example of "how hard it is
to live up to what one knows is
the right business principle"
Rockefeller says he was always
unusually fortunate, when I came
face to face with men, in winning
their friendship"
At Is Rockefeller was elected
trustee of mission church. Once
the pastor said that IL $4,000 was
not raised Immediately the church
would have to close.
Il found myself at the door of
the church as the congregation
came out. As each member came
by ! buttonholed him and got him
to promise to give something to-
ward extinguishing that debt. l
pleaded and urged and almost
threatened"
The money was raised.
Il contributed what could and
my first ambition to earn more
money was aroused by this and
similar undertakings in which /
was constantly engaged"
John d. simply serves these and
other incidents In his business ca
reer to justify the title of his arti-
cle-The Difficult Art of Get
ting"