New Britain herald., 1925-12-04
By N. f. 4. Service.

Mr., and Mrs. Henry Schroeder an
By n. f. A. Service,
Enid, Okla, Dec. tp,-n every
city and town in America it wouldn't
be hard to find several old couples
whose declining years are made I'M
happy because of proverty,
After a. lifetime Of toll, Dad dis
covers that he won't be able to sit
back and take things easy, after all;
and mother finds that old age
doesn't bring relief from the scrap
ing and saving Of her younger days.
But Mr.. and Mrs Henry Schroeder
who have Just reached 70. after
spending their lives struggling with
an Oklahoma farm, are very unh2p-
py because they are rich!
Most people don't believe the copy
book saying about tho failure of
money to bring happiness; but Mr.,
and Mrs. Schroeder arc learning that
it is tragically true.
Until a few years ago the
Schroeders lived on farm near here
They raised eleven children and lived
the hard-Uorking, uneventful lives of
the average American farmer. They
never had any luxuries, but they We're
content enough,
Oil Brings Riches
Then. OH a corner of the SChroe-
der farm, oil was discovered. The two
old people were delighted. Never
again would they have to worry
about money matters. They could re-
tire now and live out the rest of their
lives peacefully and quietly in serene
content.
But somehow 1T isn't working out
that way.
The Schroeder farm proved q
yoritable gold-mine. Many wells We're
shot. and an ineXhaustible supply Of
oil gushed to the surface. Mr.. and
Mrs Schroeder found themselves
possessed Of all income OF about $3.50
4 day, over and above the very large
sums that went to each Of the eleven
grown children. Furthermore, there
is every indication that this income
will be doubled in size before very
long.
They have retired 10 a modest
home in Enid. But happiness aud
contentment are not as near TO them
os in the days when $3.50 was q fair
percentage of their yearly earnings,
/ Mr.. Schroeder cant work in his
little garden because Of the way in
which high powered statesmen of
high powered motor cars dog his
footsteps.
He can't go down to the corner
grocery to sit and chat with his old
friends because charity workers
keep beseeching him for contribu-
tons.
He can't even have telephons In
his home. He had TO have the old
PARTY line disconnected because
statesmen of very known variety nero
forever calling up.
The number Of peopl" who want
to help the Schrocders Spond their
money is simply amazing
I'VE don't want a larger home,
says Mrs, Schroeder. Wed rather
live here than in a palace, but real
estate men poster us all the time
wanting us to buy fine residences.
Don't Want an Auto
I'VE don't want any motor car, hut
agents Of all the big, expensive
makes are calling on US all the time
I'VE don't want to invest in any
stocks and bonds of concerns We
never heard of, hut salesmen are
after us constantly"
The daily mail is Of enormous
bulk. As many as 500 begging letters
have been received by the Schroeders
! in one day The old couple spe"'iilH
found that life was in danger Of be-
ing reduced to an endless process OF
onening letters. So they hired an at
torney to devote his entire time TO
handling their income, making such
investments as he thought wise and
contributing to such charities as he
thought deserving.
Mr.. Schroeder gets most of his
pleasure out of his garden. He could
II he wanted, send to every corner
Of the earth for his supplies; but
most of the vegetables that come TO
the Schroeder table he raises him
self.
He doesn't play golf, he doesn't
drive an automobile. He has a
princely income and he can't buy
anything he wants with it.
And Mrs. Schroeder is the same.
She doesn't know how to enjoy
luxury.
1t sounds trite to say money can't
buy happiness. But sometimes it's
true.