The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-03-12
Famous Sons OF Famous Fathers
THE ROCKEFELLERS: MONARCHS OF OIL
} O00OOOo0OosOOeOOOOOes
By RAIDER WINGET
GR, AsSnafafefl PreaWl

NEW YORK, March IZ'-Ih ne
richest man in the world" train
cd his son on rock pile.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., work
cd at day-labor wages of Is cents
an hour breaking rocks and chop
ping wood to "learn the value of
money"
His father worked for less than
that when he started in business,
but after 1867, when he dipped
into oil, his income pyramided be-
yond the clouds.
Just Dad
Popular fancy also tagged John
d. with the title OF "richest man
in the wOrld'-as it had many
anOther-but so far as his son was
concerned the father was simply
dad"
Said the son: "My father is the
most interesting man | have ever
known"
His life shows he looked to his
father for guidance, but the
father never exerted a curbing
hand of authority.
When it came time for the son
to go to work, he was given a
desk in his fathers office. There
were no instructions.
apparently it was his inten-
tion," said the son, that l should
make my own way"
Ready To Catch Him
1t was a case of trial and error
in the business world for the son,
with the father standing behind
the scenes but ready to steady
him if he should trip.
The father allowed him to trip
on at least one occasion, and the
son turned to his father for aid.
There was no hint of scOlding.
The son had Learned his lesson."
The mistake was made by the
son when he placed confidence in
"a stock speeGIatof and bought in
to an issue.
The speculator could not make
good his promises, and ROckefel-
Ter, Jr., was forced to repay a
large loan used in the transaction.
He went to his father, told the
story, answered searching ques-
tions and received loan to meet
his outside obligations.
As the son told it: "He said he
would see me through. That
was all. There was no reprOach,
and not even a warning as to the
future"
Not A Policeman
Gradually the son took over the
direction of his fathers MANI
moth interests, no little part of
which was giving away money.
In later years the son lauded
his fathers sagacity in handling
his children and said:
"Any policeman can say Don't,
but helpful guidance and wise di-
rection consist in showing US
what to do. That has been my
fathers enduring lesson to me.
1t is one which every father can
give"
The son didn't say Don't" to
his own children when they
started to college. He allowed
them to make their own choice,
and the selections so far have
been Princeton, Dartmouth and
Yale.
On The Ice
John d., Jr.. likes to recall lit
tie stories about his father.
When the younger Rockefeller
was a child. he and other chill
dren skated on a lake near their
home. Senior would carefully
test the ice with his own weight
before the children started skat-
/ ing.
HE led US" said the son, by
example rather than preeept."
After the family moved to New
York a rink was built near the
house. and many mornings the
elder Rockefeller in a tall silk
hat would make a few turns on
the ice before leaving for his Of
flee.
Today John D. Rockefeller, Sr..
plays golf and gives away bright
new dimes while his son has TAX
en- the empire of dollars off his
shoulders.
No Hero Worship For Children
But even with his dlstraciing
work in financial martS, he
{ guides his own children in the
ways Of his father. They are given
a small allowance and guarded
. from the public hero worship tina;
attaches TO wealth.
No crown prince is the oil
kings son. and to the grandchii-