The Washington times., 1915-03-12

his home was the only thing in when
she has manifested the slightest in
terest. 80 far as the public Is concerned.
Society never claimed a bit of her
attention and then she became too busy
with the work Of raising her family OF
four children to devote any attention
to outside interests.
The first child. a girl, who was named
Bessie. was born in 1865, two years altcr
the marriage. -
The second child came in 1871, also
girl, who was known as Alta: The thlfd
daughter, Edith, was born in lSI2, ana
the only son, John y. Rockefeller, jr.'
came In 1874. 20
ever there were children who received
a mothers care and attention-h was
this quartet, heirs to one OF the rlchest
I men IN the world.
ing his millions, organizing his army OF
industry and conquerinS the world OF
finance, Mrs Rockefeller simply re-
mained at home. There Is hardly oe-
tail Of the great financier's NE that Is
not public property-except that i'm
portant detail Of his home. NOBODY
knows much about his home lie. That
was Mrs Rockefeller's department. she
made her life absolutely conform to
her husbands. she made, ,her Ideas his
and his Ideas hers. There was never
| a moment when they were separated IN
thought or action. Soon aItor ma I,ar,
! the Baptist faith which had been her
| husbands.
Absolute In the Home.
1t Is said that Mrs. Rockefeller
| greatest pleasure in the wealth that
came to her was In the opportunities
II gave her to maintain her diherent
| homes. She was absolute In the home
and it is believed that her IDEAS alone
were consulted in the development OF
the several magnificent Rocketeiier
| places.
There are five of these great estao-
lishn ents-each of which breathes the
genius of Mrs Rockefeller-each Of
which shows the skill OF her house
wifcly hands. The favorite with her
as with Mr.. Rockefeller, was the CleSe-
land establishment, the first really. big
place they had after. their marriage,
This was in the outskirts OF C!eveiand
when it was first built. But now 1t Is
in the city proper and the property
alone is said to be worth millions.
II is Just the same as 1t was in the
| old days 80 far as wide grounds ana
gardens go. There has never becn a
| foot OF It sold anc there probably never
viii be- 1t was here that Mrs. Rocke-
felier liked to spend her time and from
this house she took her daliy drlNes'
which were her greatest pleasure.
She had the simplest possible tas.e o
in dress and her personal pap naI''s oman Man
Of average circumstances. She abhored
extravaeance In everything and brouSht
up her children with the same IDEAS.
She seldom dressed in anything but
hIack mr. brown and her clothing never
had more ornate trimming than pam
white band or something OF the same
sort. ,,,, uhos,
tnoIDkno and education she devoted sc
much CT her time. were her Greatest
came with the death of the Oldest
pleasure. Her first unhappy momen,
daughter. who had become VIE OF rror
The second daughter married e. Par
malee Prentice and Edith, the younges
daughter. married Harold F. McCo[
the fortunes OF each of her chlldrei
c.ater their marriage Mrs. Rocketelle
took the deepest interest and she spen
) some part Of her year S.na Win eaeh OIL 'ne'
and with her grandchildren. ,
Mrs Rockefeller resented the attitua
of the public toward her husband Sh
| WAS never known to complain IN pupn'
but personal friends heard her eXclair
irnratiently over the criticisms tina
have been leveled at him. In l%
when the tainted money story wa
made public, her resentment was >
great that she was made seriously y
would not live.
Always With Husband.
During the last few years Mrs
Rockefeller was the constant com
, panion OF her husband. Since her chill
dren had married and gone out of tn
r home she regarded 1t as ner duty T.
: devote as much of her time as posstbl
to him. She also felt he needed he
through the trials and tribulations q
n the hands of public opinion.
& There is one newspaper man VIII
e gained the confidence of Mr.. Rocke
: feller on a voyage across the Allan
= tic a few years ago and since then n
has been an annual visitor at tn
Rockefeller home He is authorit
= for the statement that Mrs. Rocke
I feller was the most kindly hostess an
4 most courteous of women.
= He was particularly struck by tn
n absolute dependence OF the great I'm
J. anCier on his wife and OF his apparen
t respect for all her opinions. She dis
I Cussed everything in the home-bu
n she made II plain that she never wish
= ed so appear outside the home in an
i wa whatsoever. Her wishes wCr
r al'-.avs respected.
Hence when the news OF her deaf
20 was flashed throughout the country to
G day, the most important thing to whic
N..gN Al.