The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-01
JOHN D. RocKEFELLER SHY.
Shows Himself Very Little to His Towns
nennIe-Permits Photograph


Is John ID. Rockefeller, passing the
Indian summer of his life on his vast es
tate in the Pocantico Hills at larry
town, y. Y, at last letting down the
barriers he has always raised against
photographers and reporters?
This is a question which has been in
teresting the newspaper profession ever
since the worlds richest man, on Il re-
cent Sunday, permitted camera men to
snap him to their hearts content after
they had consented TO follow him into
church for service.
Mr. Rockefeller, who bears the repu-
tation of being one of the most camera
shy men in America. may be becoming
more lenient in his attitude toward pho
tographers, but as yet he has given no
indication of taking reporters into his
confidence.
An effort to interview Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter on the recent occasion of his S4th
birthday anniversary-ma as usual,
through a third party representing the
acknowledgements the response ''im-
possible" As no reporters as yet have
succeeded in storming the well-guarded
gates of the Rockefeller home, the mod
ern CroeSus goes unintervewed.
Even, to his fellow townsmen the lit
tie man. slight of frame, who appears in
| midsummer in leather waistcoat, over
coat and muffier, is very much of an
| enigma.
| Tarrytown points out to each visitor
| the home of John ID. Rockefeller, urges
| the visitor to go up and see where
| Rockefeller lives, talks constantly about
| Rockefeler-but rarely sees him itself.
Very seldom do TarrytOwnerS get in
side the gates which guard the big home
back in the hills. Once in while they
i see John ID. come downtown and sit in
his machine while a chauffeur goes into
| a bank or a store-but TarrytOwn al
most never talks to its richest citizen
! He comes and goeS-there is excitement
| while he is downtown, and discussion
afterwards. And that is all of larry
towns claim on its most famous citizen,
Ever since the oil king celebrated his
S4th birthday, TarrytOwn has been
seething over the question of who Is Its
oldest citizen. There is no question a.
to the most famous.
An ancient who sits in front of the
big hardware store, just around the cor
ner from the station, comedies first place
to John ID. The ancient admits he i
only So.
But an Italian has asserted his grand
father is Sand there is a farmer who
lays claim to 80. Still, even in the face
of odds, Tarrytown stands Loyalty be
nounces to the world that its oldest citi
zen today is none other than the man
who made oil famous.
But the town maintains that Mr.
Rockefeller is still a youngster in spirits
ANY man who plays golf as fire.
quently as he does began one citizen
when he was interrupted with a question
as to whether John DIS private links
were regular size.
Certainly it is. but John D. goes
around it slowly replied the citizen
but another Tarrytowner broke in Will
a denial.
1T is not. 1t is only about four hole,
| of M M }
three hours to make two of EN-"
! Last. but not least. in Tarrytowni
viewpoint towards its leading citizen i
the tradition of the dimes, the day o
DAYS for the boys and girls Spasmodi
: cally, John ID. Rockefeller gives 10-cen
pieces away to children. How did i
: start?
Number one-Three boys. many year
7 ago, walked up the hill, climbed tn
stone wall, went up to the porch ant
saw Mr.. Rockefeller. They asked hin
for a dime apiece-and got it. Sine
then, it is said. the oil magnate has he'll
his yearly party.
! downtown when the Rockefeller machin
drove up. \ package dropped out. TIL
boy picked it up and handed it to Nh
Rockefeller personally. The boy got
; dime, and John d. Rockefeller got a
= inspiration which he has followed eve
since.
Number three-A lad was lost. III
wandered on to the Rockefeller myster
links. The oil king saw him. He too
him into the house, gave him a dim
and sent him home. And the 1O-cen
party sprang from that
Whatever the cause, "Dime day. ha
become to the youth of TarrytOwn a da
apart. ranking with Christmas and tn
! Fourth of July.