The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-07-30
WOODPILE HELPED
HIS FATHER, and
IS GOOD FOR ALL
Wealth Hurts Children When
They Get Too Much Of 1t,
He Says; Extravaganza
Hurting World.
John ID. Rockefeller Jr.
BY EDWARD NJ. THIERRY

NEW 1ORh.-John ID. Rockefeller
Jr., regards bringing up his children as
one Of his most engrossing and import.
ant tasks.
Il regret the passing of the old-fash
ioned woodpile,' he says. Il have failed
TO find a modern equivalent OF the
Woodpile of my fathers boyhood."
Thus begun the first interview Mr..
Rockefeller has ever given on this
human subject He discussed for NEA
Service his ideas on family finance and
the problem Of children. He did not
pretend TO be telling what other people
should do with their children he simp-
ly agreed. at my request; to dicsuss
some OF the principles he felt he was
dutybound to put into effect in train
ing his own children.
Wealth he said, hurts children
when they get too much of it, Jus,
because man can afford TO hire peo
pie 10 wait on his children is no reason
why he should do ii. l don't.
They ought 10 be helped 10 form
the habit Of doing things for themselves
things that need to be done-whether
they like TO do them or not ! think
many modern children are not develop.
ing the Will power and self mastery that
are essential in the solution of lfe's
problems.
Woodpile Helped Father
That's what mean about the wood.
pile. Ny father had to chop wood and
40 the milking. lie probably didn't like
doing the chores any better than most
hAx hat ba
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 IS. They are being taught
thrift and the value of money
Everybody knows that one of the
things which is wrong with the world
Is extravaganza. he says "Extrava-
gance hurts character II is "a mans
duty to civilization to be thrifty. Wheth.
er a man can afford lavish spending
isn't the point; II is wrong not TO spend
wisely whatever is spent, whether a
man can spare the money or not"
Families and individuals - children,
too-should keep accounts Of the none,
tney receive and spend, says Mr.. Rookie.
feller. He told me his father himself
kept account OF his personal expendi.
lures until he was past so. And he
himself did so until a few years ago.
Mr.. Rockefeller, Jr.. is 4S.
AT seven or eight children each
received an allowance OF 80 cents a
week" he explained "The understand
Ing was that out of it they were to
save and to give as well as to spend
Ten cents was 10 be saved, 10 was
for church and Sunday schoo-for be.
nevolence-and 10 for spending
Il explained the importance of keep.
ing accounts. At the end of the week
audited the accounts. A few years
later they were getting u dollar "A week.
and 10 teach accuracy in keeping ac-
counts, rewards and merits were given.
lf the account book was correct the
child got Sl.O5 the following week. S1.lO
The next, and so on; IL incorrect, only
80 cents, then 30 and S5."
These allowances never exceed a dol.
lar or two dollars week at the most,
until tho age ol Is. BY then Mr.. Rookie.
feller cons ders. child that has been
properly trained ought to be able to
handl' his own finances. SO the allow.
arce : Increased to cover all expenses
OUTSIDE OF keep, education and medical
service. II Includes clothes, fares, IL
travelling alone. entertainment. candy.
sodas and The like.
believe, Mr. Rockefeller sad
that children should know what to
spend, how to spend, what things cost.
whether thing Is worth buylng-n
short. the value OF money.
This, ana Keeping accounts. is .m.
portant because Of the principle under.
lying. 1t is OF value to my children
,c any child-to hold TO the rigid lun.
tnmental principle Of economies"
Five Cents No InduCcmcni.
Mr. Rockefeller smiled over an cx
pertinent he tried
Il was brought up to do things that
needed TO be done. whether liked them
or not" he said. "At seven years OF
age | began playing the violin. and
used TO get five cents an hour for
practicing But that sort OF thing
doesn't work these days-or at least
the standards are higher Even with
children. Five cents an hour isn't an
inducement any more
But do pay wages for errands
and chores II ch Id honestly works.
hc earns such pay. It stimulates tho
desire 10 work. ! used to got rs cents
au hour Tor saving wood. But those
days IT'S different. Down IN the coun.
try we have wood hauled TO the house.
My boys and | load and unload u. and
pa! them Tor the Job. Yes the scale
u higher than 10 cents"
schools Fail.
Schools do no, teach thrift aud hah.
its of work Mr. Rockefeller finds.
Education used to mean cramming
the mind" he sad Education really
learning how to use the mind The
tendency with many children OF today
j. TO follow the easiest way. the line
~ least resistance. You see IL reflected
IN studies, in SOCIAL life. and In busl.
ness
THE modern theory OF many people
seems TO be TO let a child decide what
he wants TO do and then let him do H.
Ot course. we an do hest the things We
Ike doing But life cannot be lived
wholly that. way How can a child
later learn how 10 AVOID tho things he
should not do A dsordcrly mind In,
an untfa ned one"
Mr. Rockefeller hasn't much sympa.
thy with parents who, having acupired
means. say they hope their boys win