Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-08
ROCKEFELLER, 81,
| CUTS OFF PHONES
oil Magnate Wants Privacy
on Birthday Dimes
More Generously
By the Associated Press.


TARRYToWN, N. Y. July b.
There are two anniversaries in the
life OF John d. Rockefeller, which he
celebrates each year--his birthday
and the day he got his first job his
eighty-seventh birthday is today. the
other big day is in September In the
village Of Richford, N. Y, the re
tired oil king was born in humble
circumstances. Hard work and
frugality were his creed until ne re-
tired. and since then constant activity.
Mr.. Rockefeller plays some goli
nearly every day. and to his IN
Sfulgence in the ancient game ne at
tributes his continued good health. N
ii, too, he places his faith that g
cherished ambition to live TO pc one
hundred will be achieved. He plays in
the Winter at Ormond Beach, Fla, IN
the Summer on his course at Lake
wood. n. J., or at his great estate IN
the Pocantico Hills here.
Routine on Birthdays.
Birthdays with the one time head OF
the Standard Oil Co. have now become
somewhat routine, so much so that ne
IS said to dislike the thought OF
them. His happiest day OF the year,
he recently admitted, is September 70,
which marks his entry into the world
of business. On that day, now nearly
n years ago, he found. his first JoD,
which paid him exactly cents an
hour. His present income is thou
sands of times that amount with every
tick Of the clock.
AS these two anniversaries roll
around quiet observances are nelo,
and. in so far as the birthdays are
concerned. the same story might be
used each time, in effect that his inn
mediate family were present at the
family dinner at his Pocantico Hills
estate, held after he shall have played
once around his nine-holfe golf course.
The only variations to be noted to-
day in Mr.. Rockefellerss observance
of this years birthday are that the
telephones on the great estate have
been ordered silenced, and the re-
port that his generosity in the distrt-
button of dimes is said by those who
know him well to be unprecedented.
His habit lately has been to give
a shiny new dime for each child to
any Industrious worker he encounters
In his motor trips, whether policeman
or garage attendant, or more humble
workman.
Plays Good Golf Game.
Mr.. Rockefeller's golf game is ex-
cellent for d man of his years. He
hits not far, but always straight.
Knowing his limitations, he seeks to
make up by accuracy on the green
the deficiency of his long shots, for
which $50 yards is the limit. II is
nothing for him to break SO. His
golfing companions are various. Re-
Gently a Roman Catholic priest and
Methodist minister helped make q
hlS Sohn s." once was pitied by car
toonists as a multi-millionaire who
had to live on crackers and milk or
the like. As a matter OF fact, visitors
say, he eats what he likes, and eats
heartily anything that figures in the
diet of a normal healthy man much
younger.
In the Summer he takes especial
delight at his great country estate
in the hills. Walled and guarded to
insure him privacy, It has extensive
woods and gardens as well as recre-
ational facilities for his grand
children, the children Of John ID.
Rockefeller, jr., who since the elders
retirement has had active charge Of
the Standard Oil interests and the
philanthropies into which have gone
millions made in oil.