Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-18
Rockefeller Finds Sumlit Days
NEIGHBoR JOHN" READS POEMS MEDITATION
BY BENTON e. JACOBS.
Copyright 1881. by the Associated Pr

| (Copyright, 1881. by the Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE. Fla, November
l8.-Bringing with him a word OF
optimism for the future John d.
~ Rockefeller. ST., resumed the role
| of "Nleighbor John" as he arrived
in Florida today for his Winter sojourn
In poem, prayer and meditation the
94Ayear- old founder OF one oil the
worlds largest fortunes expressed his
sentiments on the ''Sunlit days" that are
ahead.
1t is customary for Mr.. Rockefeller to
find expression OF his own thoughts in
the words of others.
The first warm rays of the morning
sun. which he comes to Florida every
Winter to enjoy, filtered into the draw
ing room of his private car, where he
and two feminine members of his house
hold were having breakfast. as an As
ISOLATED Press staff writer was uShered
in.
You are just in time to share with
us our morning n1editations." he smiled
cordially. waving his visitor to a seat
beside the table, after fluctuations had
been exchanged.
Il think there is particularly timely
sentiment expressed here. Won't you
read 1t slowly for us. please"
He handed the reporter a copy of
TOlRCI MCHilSCy OuilltI Lays.
1t read:
Well sing of the better things, my
friend.
And Wen think of the better ways:
Well trust tomorrow to heal our
sorrow
AS beauty has healed today's.
Well sing and think of the better
things:
For the sake of those we know
Who need the sun and the shine Of
life
On the rocky road they 90.
Well trust in the better things, my
friend,
And hope for them. and smile;
Well sing of the light instead of
the night,
And twill come true after while
Well chase the shadows and grief
away.
BY thinking Of better things;
And maybe Gods answer will come
some day
To the heart that sweetest sings.
A tear trickled down the cheek of
the aged multimillionaire as the poem
was concluded
All" he murmured that is, indeed, ),
a beautiful and timely sentiment. Will
you read the prayer?"
A baked apple! cereal and tea sat
upon the table untouched as this brief
prayer was read:
would be quiet. Lord,
Nor tease, nor fret;
Not one small need of mine
Wilt Thou forget. Amen.
Mr.. Rockefeller's own daily medita-
ton, a fixture at the family breakfasts.
coincidentally expressed in religious
ferver a word Of optimism.
1t was headed "ENf1ilarant Spirits"
and quoted line from the Psalms: He
maketh my feet like binds feet"
II think of WordSworths lines. in
which he described a natural lady,
made by nature herself:
She shall be sportive as the fawn.
That wild with glee across the
lawn
Or up the mountain springs.
"And," the meditation continued, cit
is this buoyancy. this elasticity, this
springiness that the Lord is waiting to
impart to the souls Of His children, SO
they may move along the ways Of life
with the light steps of the fawTi.
"Some Of us move with very heavy
feet. There is little Of the fawn about
as as we go along the road There is
reluctance in our obedience. There is a
frown in our homage Our benevolence
is gracelesS, and there is no charm in
our piety, and no rapture In our praise.
We are the victims Of the spirit OF
heaviness' and yet, here is the word