Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-18
Are Taught to Master Mil
lions Not to Let Millions
Master Them - Regrets
Passing of WoodpiIe
BY EDWARD M. THTERRY


NEW YORK, July 15.-John D.
Rockefeller, Jr., regards bringing up
his children as one of his most en-
crossing and important tasks.
IT regret the passing of the old
fashioned woodpile," he says. "I
have failed to find a modern equiv
alent Of the woodpile Of my fathers
boyhood."
Thus began the first interview Mr..
Rockefeller has ever given on this
human subject. He discussed his
ideas on family finance and the prob
lem Of children. He did not pretend
to be telling what other people should
do with their children; he simply
agreed, at my request, to discuss
some Of the principles he felt he was
| duty-bound to put into effect in
| training his own children.
wealth." he said, hurts chill
dren when they get too much of it.
Just because a man can afford to
hire people to wait on his children
| is no reason why he should do it. I
don't
"They ought to be helped to form
the habit of doing things for them
selves-things that need to be done
whether they like to do them or
not. l think many modern children
are not developing the will power and
self mastery that are essential in the
solution of life's problems.
That's what l mean about the
woodpile. My father had to chop
wood and do the milking. He
probably didn't like doing the chores
any better than most boys but he
acquired the habit of doing things
he didn't like to do; his will was
trained, and it helped him cope with
other difficulties"
Mr.. Rockefeller has six children
five Of them boys. In age they are
from six to eighteen. They are be
ing taught thrift and the value OF
money.
Everybody knows that one of the
things which is wrong with the
world is extravaganza" he says
"EXtravagance hurts character. II
is a mans duty to civilization to be
| thrifty. Whether a man can afford
lavish spending isn't the point; it is
wrong not to spend wisely whatever
is spent, whether a man can spare
the money or not"
Families and Observation-Disclosures
too-should keep accounts Of the
money they receive and spend, says
Mr.. Rockefeller. He told me his
father himself kept account of his
personal expenditures until he was
past fifty. And he himself did Sc
until few years ago. Mr.. Rockefel
Ter, Jr., is forty-eight.
"At seven or eight my children
each received an allowance of 81
cents a week." he explained. "Tht
understanding was that out Of i
they were to save and to give, a:
we'll as to spend. Ten cents was tt
be saved, 10 was for church ant
Sunday school-for benevolence -
and 10 for spending.
II explained the Importance O.
keeping accounts. At the end of thu
week I audited the accounts. A few
years later they were getting a dol
lar a week, and to teach accuracy
in keeping accounts rewards and de
merits were given. If the accoun
book was correct the child got $1.O
the following week, $1.10 the next
and so on; if incorrect, only 95 cents
then 80 and 49,"
These allowances never exceed {
dollar or two dollars a week at thu
most, until the age of fifteen. By
then, Mr.. Rockefeller considers, {
: child that has been properly trained
ought to be able to handle his owl
! finances. So the allowance is in
creased to cover all expenses out
side of keep, education and medica
service. 1t includes clothes, fares
} if travelling alone, entertainment
! candy, sodas and the like.
"I believe" Mr.. Rockefeller said
t "that children should know what t
spend, how to spend, what thing
cost, whether a thing is worth buy