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Show Me and 'Rockefeller. "Have a dyspepsia tablet with me?" said Jolin D. Rockefeller, as he leaned back in an easy chair in his private car, -the "Oilerino," and handed me a box of the dainty pellets. "I always make it a point to treat my guests with the same consideration considera-tion that I treat myself," he added, as I helped myself to a handful. "You see, I once suffered from a slight attack of indigestion, and took these tablets tab-lets for it. I acquired such a liking for them that 1 have been taking them ever since." At this point Mr. Rockefeller was interrupted by his private waiter, who handed him a bill of fare. There was a familiar look about the waiter which caused me to study him closely. I recognized recog-nized him as a man who had once owned a small oil refinery in Southern California. Mr. Rockefeller Rocke-feller studied the bill a moment. "Bring me a tablespoon of hot water with a small pinch of salt in it, and have it well done," he ordered, with the expectant air of the man who is about to partake par-take of a hearty meal. Mr. Rockefeller devoured his breakfast with evident relish, and as he ate, I took a mental note of him. He is a small man with a smooth, oily voice and a South Improvement accent in his speech. He is as bald as an oil-can, and is without with-out a mustache or eyebrows. At times his eye has a far-away look almost as far as Oil City, Penn. He was neatly attired in a black coupon cut-away coat, bank checkered trousers and one of the latest "Petroleum" stocks. As he explained, ex-plained, his clothes wer all of "Standard" make. "Did you ever hear how I lost my eyebrows?" he asked as he finished his meal with a satisfied smack. "Well, you remember the trouble I had back in the '70's over a little matter of rebates. They tried to crowd me off, but I figured that I could just barely hang on by my eyebrows and come out ahead. Well, I' won out all right, but the strain was too much, and you see the result." "To whom do you attribute your success, Mr. Rockefeller?" "To a dose of Castor Oil administered to me in my childhood. I liked it so well that I soon after organized the 'Standard Cod-Liver Oil Co.' For brevity's sake I afterward shortened the name to Che 'Standard Oil Co.,' by which titlo it is now known." "Do you agree with your son that the poor should be given sympathy and not money?" H "Most decidedly not! You can't buy oil witi H sympathy. I firmly believe that Mr. Carnegie Is , H making a mistake in giving his money to erect H libraries. Libraries don't burn oil, and think of M the oil that could be bought with $67,000,000! I H must speak to Andv about that." M "Mr. Rockefeller, who is your favorite author?" M "Well, Ida Ttarbell appeals to me about as M much as anyone." M "And your favorite document?" M "Is the Declaration of Independents. Of M course, it came to naught, as wo gathered them in M one by one until ther are no Independents left." M "Do you believe in Trusts?" "I do not. I believe the Labor Trust is injur!- M ous, and should be abolishod at once. My favorite M quotation is from the 'Songs of Solomon,' and MM runs: 'Man wants but little here below, and M wants that little oiled." It has a very touching M sentiment. I have revised a number of quotations M and songs, which I intend soon to publish in book M form. Some of them run as follows: 'I cannot M sing the Oil songs,' 'Oil's Well that ends Well,' H 'Little drops of water make the Oil stock swell,' H and 'What is home without the Oil-can.' " H "Mr. Rockefeller, are you a believer in temper- M ance?" M "To a certain extent, I must confess, I dearly H love to see folks rush the can especially the five H gallon size. Have another tablet?" H "Were you favorably impressed with Califor- H "Very much so. I am now negotiating with the H owners for the sale of the State. No, I was not in- H tere'sted with Mr. Moigan In the purchase of the H Atlantic Ocean." jH Mr. Rockefeller, have you ever thougiil of tak- jH ing a partner in your business?" H "Yes, I have given it some consideration." H "I was wondering what kind of a partner Uncle Sam would make." H "Oh, Heavens! He wouldn't do at all! When fl I take a partner he must have as much money a.s I've got! Going? Well, have another tablet. Goodbye."'. H And as I left the car I heard him softly sing, "You'll never miss the oil till the well runs H dry." ALAN LOVEY. H |