Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-06-04
e. Z. Rorss.

perseverance md likes TO make use OF tltln
need never fail. The lives of successful
men have not been all roseate. The bed Of
thorns sometimes has had to be endured
before the bed of roses could be enjoyed.
Commercial men who have been successful
by honest means have been so because they
trusted 70 probity and cash rather than to
dishonesty and credit. We came across an
interesting trade circular, the other day, IS
sued By Mr.. c. b. R0uss, the successful auc-
ton goods merchant, OF 3j5 Broadway.
We were so pleased with It's %quaintness and
piquancy that we think cur readers should
be made acquainted with the
LIFE STRUGGLES
of Confederate soldier who is now a Nor
thern merchant, owning the largest auction
goods mart in the United States, If not IN
the world. G. b. Rouss. was born in Fred
erick. Nd. about - years ago. He is pos
sessed Of the attractive, genial manner Of
the Southern gentleman combined with the
hard-hcaded business energy aad pluck OF
/ the NOrthcrner. Five years ago he had eX-
perienced one Of those rcyefses OF fortune
which sooner or later come TO everyone who
builds on credit. Starting again, almost
without a dollar. he determined that cash
7 anu Gfl~N OILY ~liOlilu W Alf NstNiN va AAo "a
ture business. He found Il willing assist
ance from a promineIH member OF Il New
York firm. This very year, and within 4
few hours of the writing OF this article, Mr..
Rouss was able % return the favor 10y help
iug the firm in the houro Of greatneed. The
bread cast upon the water had returned
with interest after many days. In one of
his business circulars he gives this fragment
of an
AUrOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
"Thc early success Of this writer amount
ing 70 nearly q quarter of a million ere he
attained the age of twenty-five, was achiey-
el 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 rs a private sol
der under the banner of Lee and Jackson.
I'm old rival. a most intimate friend, invest
ell his wealth, half a million, in real estate.
When we met, we =pCCulated rs to where
and how the war would leave u. When
the clouds had driitcd away, Your humble
servant Travelled from ~App0matON, through
the burned district OF Richmond, not even
calling at the Tradesneu'S Bank for the
bonds then worth two cents a pound, home
ward in the old valley, seeking the charity
of food along thc way, staggered, di,heart-
ened. hut still brim tull OF that metal called
grim resolution. William IRA Smith came
out OF the ruins OF the fire with his bali a
million ~ par, and was c0Uatcd among the
wealthy ana favored of the Old Rebel Capt.
tai. He was clever, genial aad generous,
and his friends were welcome, and his mot
% wds, pay when YOU please" and upon
the banner that tloatcd over hi, palace were
inscribed the letters tine. The writer, after
"a years toll, roasting in the harvest field.
and freezing ut the cOrnShOcE, made enough
to get to this city, and met Topping and
and WarGlaw and lloyt and the icancrs.
The nightmare of an aute-beliUm debt Ot
twelve q q san dollars stared me in the
face, but Robert WardiaW passed. his word.
and the debt, dollar for dollar, Wal, obiiter-
atcd, and the foundations of future triumphs
laid. Yet, once more misfortune laid its
heavy hand upon IT, old victim in t.cshape
of partnerships, and almost in q single day,
q second fortune o. tive hundred thousand
dollars had been swept away. Again call
ing into pl3y that n>rye that never Q%uiycrs,
that ambition thI, never dies, and that res
OlutiOn that masters impOs,ihiljtiCS, without
a dollar in the world. ia q few ~lor. wears
the last foundation stoiic had b,cn placed
upon which we shall rear the monument
dedicated % thc almighty Collar. Sitting
in the Office mot long since, my old friend
walked iu and took me by the hand, and
for a moment I was Unable TO speak. He
was hagyard. fricndlcss and hcayt-brokcn.
The long years OF sunshine had passed over
and premature frost had settled in his
blauchcd and sunkcn face, Ills friends,
without exception and withoV, mercy, had
possessed themselves Of all that was once
his. His half million had gone, and his
hopes. his faith, and his war.n, homes, heart
were crashed, and he stood awaiting the
call of the great laWgivcI, ;Hd cite al these
days | shali place a slab over him bearing
witness to his great ability, his sterling in
tegrity, yet telling how his pcridious friends
had ruined and wrongcd him bcLiho the
mask of the credit system.
"What swept him into an early grave has
DESTROYED whole armiesof themo<t talented
sons of genius that ever marched into the
arena of mercantile battle. The cards that
beat him. viii beat every man, ~uinctv-ive
out of q hundred. Its the oldgamcof the
gambler holding The five aces, and from
+ these sad lessons bGt one out Of a thousand
can muster the resolution TO meet and mas
ter misfortune. The adyersities of many
men are attributable t0thc cr0wding prac-
ticcd by these heavy, antediluyian longtime
/ shops. giving his Oycr-pius stock, save upon
the same uncertain and reckless conditions
upon which be 20; them. unlimited time.
/ Instead of wasting time with these high
/ priced and undesirable goods, far better to
/ gather q Jew dollars together, and make one
/ single purchase of real live rattics that will
disappear from your counters for the money
down the moment they are placed in COM
p~ariSon with dead-time stock. Life is short,
midday has como and gone before most men
are aware OF it, and it is fatal to high aspi-
rations to waste time ON Il down grade when
the certain road is pointed out by the fore
warning Of experience, by the iniallible in
stinct OF pyesciCnce which reveals the i'm
pending destruction ahead. Your faithful
servant urges these admonitions upon the
young School as Thomas Paine said:
" while your life is vet before you-whilst
mine is well on its afternoon, that my years
may plead with your youth so that when
you come TO where | am Won may have less
90 regret, and more TO bc proud of than most
of as who stand in the long shadows of
farewcil."-F-0m TIE Home and House.
SHEPHERDSTOBN SCMM1RT.
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