The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-08
ROCKEFELLER, At 70
EXPECTS TO REACH
CENTURY MARK
Worlds Richest Man, Having Sub
dued All in Business, Is Conquer
ing Age With Same Caution,
Energy and Silence.
An Intimate Description of the Great
Oil King at Three Score
and Ten.

NII~' Va Juay CIV udl
sort OF man is John d. Rockefeller
at ~ years OF age? Has nature
wrought the same changes In the
mind or the richest man in the world
that have been wrought III his body?
Can we speak OF his age as physical
age, mental age. OF both?
Today, his SEVENTEEN birthday,
Rockefeller is the living answer. He
has sublime faith today that his physi-
clan. DIR. II. f. Biggar, told the truth
when he said Rockefeller would live
TO be 100 years old
Age showed itself on him today at
his Forest Hill home. TO be sure, buC
II was the age OF little more than fun
and not the age we call ven-
cradle.
For the past five years Rockefeller.
1t has been said. was getting old"
At the time he faced court in the
Chicago Standard Oil trial three years
ago he seemed feeble. even scared.
But today. at tire score and ten.
Rockefeller is younger than he was
three years ago
The face OF Rockefeller at 20, once
seen. never could be forgotten. His
skin Is sunburned to the point or
sallowness. but IT, is the nut-brown
tan OF health.
Eyes Betray Nothing.
Usually expressionless, Rockefeller's
face crinkles like parchment when he
speaks. though his eyes betray MOTH
ing. When he Is serious in talking
his mouth, always drawn down into a
kind OF half-sad smile. shows the
same wrinkles that are displayed
when Rockefeller Is In a good humor.
His nose bridges the void between
his twinkling light-blue eyes and the
half-wan mouth. Above ais eyes tow
ers a forehead that shows great per-
ceptive power rather than great meE-
tally.
Kockefeller's forehead is crinkled
with the same innumerable tiny wrink-
les as his face and were he TO elevate
his spare eyebrows 1t would show
wrinkles too.
But Rockefeller at 20, quick to
gauge the mood of others, never be-
trays by facial expression what his
own mind is telling him. But his eyes
often reveal that which his mind Is
intent upon-especially when he feels
enjoyment.
has the Gaze OF routn.
For Rockefeller has the gaze Of
youth. He may be talking To you
about the weather or the new-blown
water. lilies on his lake at Forest Hill,
or golf, or the robin he say yesterday,
all in a CHEEKY voice and then you SEE
that his eyes are not the eyes or an
old man.
They constantly rove over his COM
panions. up and down. back and forth.
but never losing the power OF human
inquiry.
And he doesn't use his eyes watch
Ing things when there are persons
about
AT times when he grows earnest his
voice will break and quaver. rise % Z
higher pitch, but always De subdued.
AT other times when he gives al or
der to domestic or speaks or tribe
easily To be dismissed, his voice be-
comes stronger, more peremptory
His words fall from the lips OF an old
man who shows he has been used TO
giving orders from which there could
be no appeal.
When he stands erect mis- head Is
bent forward, but ii is not from
body stopped with the weight OF 40
years The neck. rather than the
shoulders. is inclined IL Is only the
effect on a mans body OF MIND cen
stantly attentive to what is before
him-forgetful OF what he has passed
through.
That is the one reason why ne Is
so young at 70-he has learned &C. for
get.
Handclasp Not Unyielding.
Rockefeller's handclasp is firm, but
not unyielding. As you grasp MS
hand you do not eXperiece any recep-
tive mental change from the second
before YOU shook hands with him. Il
is not clammy hand but hand that
feels it's way Extended IN greeting,
IL is not pushed forward by his arm
The hands seems to lead the arm TO
a position where il is within reach.
Hesitation is expressed in this way,
but Il is the hesitation OF habitual calls
ton. not the falter that comes 10 NEST
men 20 years old.
Neither is the gait OF Rockefeller
that OF man of 10. From his Shout.
ders down his body is as straight as
an Indians and there Is something OF
the Indian suggested by his low voice,
his seductive manner OF speech, the
intense earnestness OF attitude com
bined with "a face devoid OF emotion.
Having conquered all in business.
Rockefeller AT 20 years Is conquering
age today with the same caution. the
same economy OF resources. the same
energy. the same silence.