Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-01-05
Col. Charles Il RouSS FeGSfS thousand
ia Winchester.


From he Winchester Tines.
Mr.. C. B. Rouss arrived here via Berry
Vile. about IL o'clock, on Monday, and at
ter paving his respects to his honored dead
that sleep under the turf in Mount Hebron
drove to Grim's Hotel, and after having his
carriage put away he called in to pay his
respects to the Times.
After short interchange Of courtesies he
wendell his way down to Main street, where
he was soon surrounded by over GOO boys,
from 8 to Is years Of age, among whom he
distributed by tossing in the air about $50
in small change. He found upon trying to
got further on intending to call upon his
many friends on Main Street, that it was
matter of impossibility, so completely was
he surrounded by the youth of the city
lie could not move for them, having whei-
ted their appetites by the Rhino Dino. He
finally succeeded in retracing his steps to
the Times office where he spent an hour
pleasantly with many of his friends.
lie visited the Court House Hall about
o'clock and was introduced BY Mr. r. +.
Byrd ON the part Of the Sarah Zane Com
psa~. TO the guests Mr.. Byrd asked them
TO stop eating long enough to be introduced
90 Mr.. Charles Broadway Rouss, a man
much better known than he was and from
whom an introduction would be more ap
propriate He bad generously dispensed
his wealth more lavishly than any other cit
lien who had left lis. His charity was
catholic. and he made no difference as to
age. sex or previous condition, and when he
gives a spread it is rs free as the air we
breathe In the innate nobleness of his gen
ercsi,y- having found :he golden stream he
cxclaims with the poet "Breathes there a
man with soul so dead, who never to him
self has said this Is my own my native
land" He closed his pretty Introductory
speech by proposing three cheers for Chas-
B. Rouss.
The cheers were given by the large crowd,
making the old Court House walls resouud
with a hearty good viii.
SIR. C.. b. Rouss then came to the front
and In an inimitable speech, full of pith
and point, acknowledged the compliment
| Seeing Capt. Barley in the crowd he ex-
| claimed there is "a man who for years took
my fare on the old trap iron, Winchester
and Potomac Road, and in later years on
the steel of the b x o. r.. and never would
let me slip through dead-head.
We became so much interested in his
homely expressions, eyincing the great prac-
ticabiIity of the man, that we found our
selves listening in,ently, instead of captur
/ ing the gems Of thought as they fell from
hi, lips aud putting them on paper, lneyer
mind we will get him TO write us ont hom-
iy on human happiucss.l After a cordial
hand-shake from many, aud word Of good
cheer he was whirled away to the Valley
Female College where he had been invited
Co take view from the observatory. He
spent some time very pleasantly there, in
speeding the building and old landmarks
after which he was again entertained by hi-
friends. and about o'clock left for home
via BerryyiIe
He was much pleased with the few hours
spent In his old native town.
The Sarah Zane Fire Co, fed over 90
people In a handsome manner, having pro-
v.iei everything of a substantial character
! for the multimde-oys ham, turkey &c
/ &C.. ia protusion. Everybody was .atisied
having received a square meal-just what
/ llr Rou.- desired each one should have.
The Din of fare con listed of oyster soup,
/ hot coffee, roast turkey, roast chicken, boiled
| hsm. roast beef. boiled beef bread biscuits,
crackers, butter, pickles, cakes, &c, and the
amount of food was enough for l,2O0 to
I 800 persons, as numerous quantities were
/ lea over after the dinner closed The din
uer was continued till after o'clock, instead
OF . as advertised
The poor and the rich We'd with each 9TH
er iu enjoying the dinner, and they came
from every part of the city and the whole
surrounding country.
As farewell TO the boys, having given
away % them and Co persons OF Older growth
abou. $500, he left $1,000 in small change
90 be scrambled for. one hundred and fl
e. boys scrambled for it-biting fighting
and scratching each other IN confusion worse
co1tounded much 20 the amusement Of
large crowds of bystanders. Thus ended
another one of the memorable visits of Mr..
Bouss 90 old Winchester.