The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-04


coughing spell and strangled TO death
before medical aid can be given. For
that reason DIR. ChappeH. his ply
stefan, is In almost constant attend
ance.
AiImcnt Began in 1908.
His ailment began In 1905. AT
that time he was afraid 1t was malig-
nant No physician in this country
could tell him his trouble, so he de-
cided to go abroad to consult spe-
clalists He expected to be away
about two months. His throat was
so bad. however. that he was compel
led TO remain away more than year.
Mr. Rockefeller went to France
first, and diseased parts Of his throat
were cut out and examined. He was
much depressed. but after several re-
ports from the specialists that his
case was not malignant he felt re-
lieved. In his letters Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter referred often to his trouble.
In one letter he said that he had
10 deny himself a visit to Vesuvius,
because Of the dust, which would in
jure his throat. In another he re-
ferred with much feeling to the death
of one of his friends In New York. and
said: Or. Armitage used to say that
when man passed fifty he wants TO
cultivate young friends, or he will soon
find himself alone In the world"
Writing of His Home.
Mr.. ckefelier was continually
writing OF home and OF his desire to
get back to America. Austria he
called the most beautiful country ne
had seen Ssproad. and most like dear
old America"
In another letter he refers to tho
L.. -.
a wish that he was home to eat with
them. On a trip TO Rome ne was
almost frozen on the mountains, had
rain in the valleys, lightning for ten
miles of the trip, and finished in the
worst hall storm he had ever seen.
so" he added, our entrance into
Rome was anything but triumphal.
But / d go back TO America In any
kind of weather. IL my doctors would
let me-
While away Mr. Rockefeller heard
that the little son of his coachmsn
was Ill with appendicitis. In one
letter he wrote. '1 cabled yesterday
to have little Johnnie taken to Rock
wood Hall. Living over the stable is
no place for anyone in that condition.
I know he will be we'll cared for at
the house, and l sincerely hope for
his speedy recovery" Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter threw open his big country seat
for the little fellow. and had the
best doctors and nurses to care for
him. The boy recovered.
He Pays High Wages.
He employs about 1875 men at
lockwood Hall, and he pays high
wages. His men are to him like one
big family, He knows them all by
their first name. and they are faith
full lot Some OF them have been with
him twenty-one years
Back in 1906 Mr.. Rockefeller felt
the high cost OF living. In one OF his
letters home ne wrote: The cost Of
living Is gong up. I have ordered
of my men this spring TO meet the
conditions"
In his letters he always gave the
number OF miles travelled. the time
each trip took, the condition OF the
roads, the trees, the lawns and the
forests Nothing escaped him. or
France he said:
lone cannot remain in France
-vs'ftfsoals Nearing }6sSnsta II, sru aaSitsy.
The French know haw to make
hings beautiful and to make beau
tifui things pay
In another letter he wrote:
Likes Unconventional life.
LIZ never thought would get accus-
toned to this unconventional life,
and here after nine mnoths living In
many different countries, and sleep
ing in nine'y-tour beds / am begin
nirg to enjoy IT,"
Mr.. Rockefeller was keen on au-
tomobiles. He had two abroad, and
compared one with the other, the
amount Of gasoline used and the
number Of tires worn out. Of chauf-
feurs. he wrote; They are a bad lot -
Fe was q happy man when, after
'Nirtee" roonths, ne was allowed to