THE OIL KING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13727, 17 August 1908, Page 8

THE OIL KING.

CHARACTER SKETCH OF THE ,

RICHEST MAN.

Mr J. D. Rockefeller has written his reminiscences and the volume will be issued in October. The Oil King/ according to the New York newspapers, does not accept the popular verdict that his riches have been achieved by the relentless and merciless crushing out of small rivals and the formation of trusts. On the contrary, he holds that the economic necessities of the time developed the modern trusts, and the disappearence of small rivals and the formation of trusts. On the contrary, he holds that the economic necessities of the time developed the modern trusts, and the disappearance of small dealers has benefitted the world, because, as> he maintains, the oil of- which the Standard Company cotoirols 50 per tent of 'the world's total supply is cheaper now th«*n it was previously, # and is more generally distributed. On the personal .side Mr Rockefeller should have nrany interesting stories to tell. He may have some* thing to say about his own beginnings. Common report says that his father was a horse-doctor turned peddler, but there is a better-grounded belief that the millionaire's father was a practising physician.

St id curious that there should be any mystery concern ing. the parentage of the world's richest man, but Mr. Rockefeller's beginnings were fo very humble that his father's personality and profession scarcely count in his own life-story. He is the typical American millionaire, living very simply and giving very liberally to great causes. His university and hospital endowments run into many millions, ana ho has certainly given away more money in these directions than Mr. Carnegie has spent in libraries. Tn the eyes of the Yellow Press he is always the sleek, oily, old scoundrel, daily ertgaged in robbing the poor and neo'dy. a^d spending much. of his time either in excavating cellars in which to avoid baliff -servers at his "ountry house or preparing plans to "square the assessors of personal taxes" in New York. He regards these attacks without, bitterness, holding --that . the surest way to avoid persecution is to refuse fo bo persecuted. In his old age he gives all his leisure time to golf and recreation, and he is said to be ouite a ."good sport."

Influenza is always more or less prevalent »at this season of the -year, ".his djsc«re i«j verypfmilar to a. severe «.old and if allowed to take its- course ig liable to cause* serious results. The best treatment for influenza is to avoid exposure r.nd lake Chamberlain's Oougb JU-medy. This medicine gives immedinte relief and if used as directed, ivjU wnrd off all dangerous consequences. It leaves the system in a natural «rri hcaUhyicondition. It always euros mk! cures quickly. For sale by all stores.