The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

fellers evident object i'm publishing
his book is a defense of his character
against the many attacks to which he
has been subjected: though he goes
but very lightly into the events pre-
ceding his retirement from active
business, and simply explains the sue
cess OF his Standard Oil company by
referring to the superior quality OF its
products, and to the business genius OF
the men who were associated with
him, very modestly keeping his own
share in the work far in the back
ground.
He denies the charges of deliberately
running competitors to force them into
the combination, and says in this con-
nection:
1T has been said that I forced the
men who became my partners in the oil
business to join with me. 1 would not
have been so shortsighted. In it were
true that I followed such tactics. ask.
would it have been possible TO make Of
such men lifelong companions? Would
they accept and remain for many years
in positions of the greatest trust, and
finally, could any one have formed OF
such men. if they had been so brow
beaten, group which has for all these
years worked in loyal harmony. with
fair dealing among themselves, as well
and acting with entire unity?"
There is only one particular charge
which is answered at any length. and
that is in regard to the transactions
with the Backus oil company, in which
Rockefeller was accused of taking an
unfair business advantage of the
widow of his old friend. In his ex-
PLANTATION he seems entirely to clear
himself OF any ungenerous conduct in
the matter. and he quotes letters and
affidavits of relatives of the woman
concerned in support OF his position.
The. book reveals pretty thoroughly
the character of the writer. with the
pleasing and unpleasing phases bal
anced about as we'll as in the char
acter of most of us. For throwing
light upon the inner workings of his
mind. the following naive little anec-
dote of his childhood is the best in
the book:
When was or years old
engaged in my first business enter
prise with the assistance of my
mother. ! owned some turkeys and
she presented me with the curds from
the milk to feed them. / took care
of the birds myself and sold them all
in businesslixe fashion. My receipts
were all profit and my records were
kept as carefully as l knew how.
I'VE thoroughly enjoyed this little
business enterprise. and j can still close
my eyes and distinctly see the gentle
and dignifed birds walking quietly
along the brook and through the woods,
cautiously stealing their way to their
nests. To this day I enjoy the sight Of
a flock Of turkeys and never miss an
opportunity of studying them.
The last chapter. in which Mr.. Rookie
feller expounds his ideas on philan-
trust" as he calls 1t. is full of sincerity
and adds much to ones respect for the
writer. and scattered throughout the
"reminiscences are maxins OF business.
of which the following arc worthy Of
note:
THE young man who starts out sim
ply with the idea OF setting rich wont
succeed. You must have a larger am
bition. There is no mystery In business
success"
Don't even think OF temporary or
sharp advantages.
Don't waste your efforts on a thing
which ends in a petty triumph unless
you are satisfied with a life Of petty
success"
Look ahead. Il Is surprising how
many bright businessmen go into i'm
portant undertakings with little or no
study of the controlling conditions they
risk their all upon"
Of the business idea OF philanthropy
Rockefeller says: Surely 1t is wise
to be careful not to duplicate effort and
not TO inaugurate new charities in
fields already covered. but rather to
strengthen and perfect those already
at work" 1t was only in 1890 that he
himself gave up the old haphazard
way of giving.
In little pamphlet showing the
use of unusual meters. entitled '.Ex-
periments" Mary Richey offers some
poor poems on uninteresting subjects.
All of them are difficult to read. and
most OF them quite obscure in mean
ing and meter. (Press of Lack
Brothers, Berkeley. Cali