MR. JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER AT THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN.

Random Reminiscences

of Men and Events

BY

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER

New York

Doubleday, Page & Company

1909

[v]

PREFACE

Probably in the life of every one there comes a time when he isinclined to go over again the events, great and small, which have madeup the incidents of his work and pleasure, and I am tempted to becomea garrulous old man, and tell some stories of men and things whichhave happened in an active life.

In some measure I have been associated with the most interestingpeople our country has produced, especially in business—men who havehelped largely to build up the commerce of the United States, and whohave made known its products all over the world. These incidents whichcome to my mind to speak of seemed vitally important to me when theyhappened, and they still stand out distinctly in my memory.

Just how far any one is justified in keeping what he regards as hisown private affairs from the public, or in defending himself fromattacks, is a mooted point. If one talks about one's experiences,there is a natural temptation to charge one with traveling the easyroad to egotism; if one keeps silence, the inference of [vi]wrong-doingis sometimes even more difficult to meet, as it would then be saidthat there is no valid defence to be offered.

It has not been my custom to press my affairs forward into publicgaze; but I have come to see that if my family and friends want somerecord of things which might shed light on matters that have beensomewhat discussed, it is right that I should yield to their advice,and in this informal way go over again some of the events which havemade life interesting to me.

There is still another reason for speaking now: If a tenth of thethings that have been said are true, then these dozens of able andfaithful men who have been associated with me, many of whom havepassed away, must have been guilty of grave faults. For myself, I haddecided to say nothing, hoping that after my death the truth wouldgradually come to the surface and posterity would do strict justice;but while I live and can testify to certain things, it seems fair thatI should refer to some points which I hope will help to set forthseveral much-discussed happenings in a new light. I am convinced thatthey have not been fully understood.

All these things affect the memories of men who are dead and the livesof men who are living, and it is only reasonable that the publicshould [vii]have some first-hand facts to draw from in making up its finalestimate.

When these Reminiscences were begun, there was of course no thoughtthat they should ever go so far as to appear between the covers of abook. They were not prepared with the idea of even an informalautobiography, there was little idea of order or sequence, and nothought whatever of completeness.

It would have been a pleasure as well as a satisfaction to dwell withsome fulness upon the stories of daily and intimate companionshipwhich existed for so many years with my close partners a

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