The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-07-06
The Future Of New York.

NOlllIUH - llIpOrhIbIt. HH nun WIN
has energy and perseverance and likes
to make use Of them need never fail.
The lives Of successful men have not
been all roscate. The bed of thorns
sometimes has had to be endured before
the bed Of roses could be enjoyed. Com
mcrcial men who have been successful
by honest means have been 50 because
they trusted to probity and cash rather
than to dishonesty and credit We came
across an interesting trade circular, the
other day, issued by Mr., G. b. Rouss,
the successful auction goods merchant,
Of 1856 Broadway. We were 50 pleased
with its quaintnces and piquancy that
we think our readers should be made
acquainted with the
LIFE STRUGGLES
Of Confederate soldier who is now a
Northern merchant, owning the largest
auction goods mart in the United
States, if not in the world.
Mr.. &. b. Rouss was born in Frcdc-
rick, Md, about 45 years ago. He is
possessed Of the attractive, genial man
ner Of the Southern gentleman combined
with the hard-hcaded business energy
and pluck Of the Northerner. Five
years ago he had experienced one of
those rcvcrses of fortune which sooner or
later comes to every one who builds on
credit. Starting again, almost without
II dollar, he determined that cash and
cash only should be the basis of his fu-
turc business. Ie found willing as
sistancc from Il prominent members Of Il
New York firm. This very year, and
within II few hours Of the writing Of this
article, Mr.. Rouss was able to return
the favor by helping the firm in the
hour Of great need The bread cast up
on the water had returned with interest
after many days. In one Of his business
circulars he gives this fragment Of an
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SKETCH.
"Thc early success Of this writer
amounting to nearly quarter ofa mil
lion ere he attained the age Of twenty
five, was achieved by the sheer force of
persistent pluck and incessant attention
to business under the inspiration Of the
leaders from auction. When the guns
Of Sumter opened fire, this amount was
invested in Confederate bonds, and
their owner went forth ms private sol
dicr under the banner of Lee and Jack
son. An old rival, Il most intimate
friend, invested his wealth, half a mil
lion, in real estate. When we met, we
specialized as to where and how the war
would leave US. When the clouds had
drillcd away, your humble servant tray
cIcd from AppomatoX, through the
burned district Of Richmond, not even
calling at the Trudesmcn's Bank for the
: bonds then worth two cents pound,
homcward in the old valley, seeking
the charity Of food along the way, stag
gcrcd, dShcartencd, but still brim full
Of that metal called grim resolution.
| William Ira Smith came out Of the
ruins Of the fire with his half IL million
at par, and was counted among the
wealthy and favored Of the old Rebel
| Capital. He was clever, genial and
generous, and his friends were welcome,
and his motto was, "pay when you
| please" and upon the banner that float.
ed over his palace were inscribed the
letters Time. The writer, after a years
toni roasting in the harvest field, and
freezing at the corn shock, made
enough to get to this city, and met
Topping and WardIaw and Hoyt and'
the Fenners. The nightmare Of an
antc-bcllum debt Of twelve thousand
dollars stared me in the face, but Rob
crt WardIaw passed his word, and the
debt, dollar for dollar, was obliterated,
and the foundations Of future triumphs
laid. Yet, once more misfortune laid
its heavy hand upon its old victim in
the shape Of partnerships, and almost in
Il single day IL second fortune of two
hundred thousand dollars had been
swept away. Again calling into play
that nerve that never quivers, that am
bition that never dies, and that resolu.
ton that masters impossibilitics, with
out dollar in the world, in IL few short
years the last foundation stone had been
placed upon which we shall rear the
monument dedicated to the almighty
dollar. Sitting in the Office not long
since, my old friend walked in and took
me by the hand, and for moment
was unable to speak. lie was haggard,
lriendleSS and hcart-broken. The long
years Of sunshine had passed over and
premature frost had settled in his
blanched and sunkcn face. His friends,
without exception and without mercy,
had possessed themselves of all that was
once his. Ills half million had gone,
and his hopes, his faith, and his warm
heart were crushed, and he stoodawait-
ing the call Of the great lawgiver, and
one of these days | shall place a slab
over him bearing witness to his great
ability, his sterling integrity, yet telling
how his perlidious friends had ruined
and wronged him behind the mask of
the credit system.
"What swept him into an early
grave has destroyed whole armies ofthe
most talented sons Of genius that ever
marched into the arena of mercantile
battle. The cards that beat him will
beat every man, ninety-tive out of n
hundred. 1t is the old game of the
gambler holding the five aces, and from
these sad lessons but one out of n thous-
and can muster the resolution to meet
and master misfortune. The adversities