The Holbrook news., 1922-09-15
JOHN D. ENIGMA
 TO NEICHboRS
Richest Man Rarely Seen in Tar. rytoWn and is Guarded From
 All Questioners.
GIVES CAMERAMEh \ CHANCE
Recently He Let Photographers Shoot Him to hsart,s Content, but Re porters Still Are earred--
 Stories About Dimes.

feller. passing the Indian summer of his life on his vast estate in the Po- cantico hills, at last letting down the barriers he has always raised against photographers and reporters?
 This is question which has been interesting the newspaper profession ever since the worlds richest man, on recent Sunday, permitted camera men to snap him to theirIheart's con- tent after they had consented to fol. low him into church for service.
 MT. Rockefeller, who bears the repn- tation of being one of the most cam- era-shy men in America, may be be toward photographers, but as yer he has given no indication of taking re porters into his confidence.
 An effort to interview MT. ROcke feller on the recent occasion of his eighty-fourth birthday anniversary made, as usual, through third party representing the household-brough the response Impossible" As no re- porters as yet have succeeded in stOrming the well-guarded gates of the Rockefeller home, the modern Croesus goes uninterviewed
 Enigma to Fellow Tewnsmen.
 Even to his townsmen the little man, slight of, frame, who appears in midsummer in leather waistcoat, over coat and muller, is very much of an enigma.
 Tarrytown points out to each visi- tor the home of John D. Rockefeller. urges the visitor to go up and see where Rockefeller lives, talks con. stantly about Rockefeller-but rarely sees him itself
 Very seldom do Tarrytowners get inside the gates which guard the big home back in the hills. Once in while they see John D. come down town and sit in his machine while a chauffeur goes into a bank or a store but Tarrytown almost never talks to its richest citizen. He comes and goes-there is excitement while he is downtown, and discussion afterward And that is all of Tarrytown's claim on it's most famous citizen.
 Ever since the oil king celebrated his eigth-fourth anniversary Tarry- town has been seething over the Ques- tion of who is its oldest citizen. There is no question as to the most famous.
 An ancient who sits in front of the big hardware store just around the corner from the station comedies first place to John D. The ancient admits he is only eighty-three. But an Italian has asserted his grandfather is eighty eight, and there is farmer who lays claim to ninety. Still, even in the face of odds Tarrytown stands Loyalty behind its prominent citizen and an nounces to the world that Its oldest citizen today Is none other than the man who made oil famous.
 But the town maintains that Mr. Rockefeller Is still youngster in spirit.
 Any man who plays golf as ire Quently as he dOes," began one citi- gen. when he was interrupted with question as to whether John D's. pri. vate links were regular size.
 Certainly. but John D. goes around slowly" replied the citizen. but an other Tarrytowner broke in with denial.
 Tt is not. It is only about four holes of a normal course. And John D. takes three hours to make two of 'em."
 Last but not least. in Tarrytown's viewpoint toward its leading Citizen Is the tradition of the dimes, the day of, days for the boys and girls. Spasmod- cent pieces away to children. How did 1t start?
 Stories About Dimes.
 Three stories are current:
 Number 1-Three boys. many years ago, walked up the hill, climbed the stone wall, went up to the porch and saw Mir. Rockefeller. They asked him for a dime Spiece-and got 1t. Since then. it is said, the oil magnate has held his yearly party.
 NunUer "A pos was stohuinS downtown when the Rockefeller ma chine drove up. A package dropped out The boy picked 1t up and handed it to Mir Rockefeller personally. The boy got a dime and John D. Rocke- feller got an inspiration which he has followed ever since.
 Number 3-A lad was lost. He wandered onto the Rockefeller mys- tery links. The oil king saw him. He took him into the house, gave him dime and sent him home. And the lO-cent party sprang from that
 Whatever the cause, dime day" has become to the youth of Tarrytown d day apart, ranking with Christmas