Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1918-01-23
kETCH OF ROBERT
SOMERS BROOKINCS
';tal Personality Of Well
Known Philanthropist

IN 2 series, Men Who are Win
no the War;" published in Les
Is Weekly, there appears in the
|sne of January 5th, a sketch of
ebert Somers Brookings, one of
,rle Sans big purchasing
Eprts, well-known on the Delmar-
neninsula. Mr.. 5rookings is
q donor Of the Brookings Fund,
sum set aside to assist boys in
ming a higher education and of
|bich a number boys from Cecil
ountv. doing work at Delaware
Olege, are enjoying the benefits.
Mitchell is at present trying to
range a visit from DR.. Brook
es when he may address the stu
Pnts of the College.
William H. Crawford, author of
Leslie article, gives us a vivid
cture of the fine personality of
man, whose life affords an in
bring story for everyone. He
Us in part:
Robert Somers Bookings is
hartman of the committee under
IL General Industries Board for
e purchase of finished products.
has the confidence of the Ma
Cnal Council of Defense, Of the
!, abinet and is very close to the
resident. Through his hands will
lss the purchasing of all finished
Implies needed by our army and
hwy in the carrying on of this
ar. Mr.. Brookings comes to his
SIX fully prepared for this diff
bit work, having had vast expert
Rco Il purchasing for one of the
rgest mercantile houses in Am
ca, dealing in supplies that the
Lvernment will need, having been
y member of the firm of Samuel
suples Wooden Ware Company
II many years. Mr.. Bookings,
bw at the head of a large force,
working night and day to aid the
|pvernment in securing the right
+oducts for use in the war at the
ght prices.
It was with considerable difficult
that prevailed upon Mr.. Brook,
gS to talk about himself. He is
eatly interested in philanthro,
", especially along educational
hes, and my story would be much
niger if | were writing of Mr.
bookings from that viewpoint
very few minutes his converse,
IN would drift back to the sub.
+ nearest his heart. | quote
pm his own remarks:
"My father was DR.. Richard
bookings of Cecil County, Mary.
bid. He graduated at the Mary.
I'D Medical College of Baltimore
d practiced his profession in
at county. The country at that
ne was sparsely settled both with
Ople and physicians so that
Tiers practice covered a terri
by twenty miles from his home
was often obliged in distant
Fritory, and his old saddle-bags
still among my treasured pos
ssions.
Father died when | was three
ars old, leaving mother with sew
al children and very little money
trough careful management
Pther succeeded in giving us
lrly good education. | was. pre-
rlng to enter college at seven
en- when mother died, and | wa!
en- obliged to earn a living.
clded that there was a bette,
ID for a young man out West
; selected St. Louis as the plac,
begin. arrived there with yer,
tie money, but was fortunate il
most Immediately securing a pc
Ion with the growing firm o
uples & Marston. | attribut
\ latever success | have met il
world to the influence of thes
omen. A young man could hav
no better instructor or guild
an Samuel Couples. From tn
ne entered his employ until tn
OF his death, | was intimatel
~ ISOLATED with him.
+ had been in the employ o
: puppies and Marston less than
q ar when it became evident to m
q ~ the one field for which I wa
ea was craftsmanship; so | ar
aied to Mr.. Couples to give me
ahce to go on the road. Quite
tS thlS kind had not been assigne
50 young a man by this firm be
ie' but Mr.. Couples decided t
We We me chance. | was told t
-. IN my grip with samples and tr
luck My trial trip was dow