Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-11-15

sis for his present great establishment.
When one thinks of the humble start
it is almost impossible TO conceive how
the business could grow to such mag
nitude, and whether you ike him or
not you are bound to respect the ge-
MUS of the man who can begin with
less than nothing, for he had thousands
of dollars of debts hanging over his
head. and climbed to the very top
most round of the ladder Of success
and fame. When YOU contrast his
present position with that of Is years
ago it almost seems as if the wand OF
magician had wrought this wonder,
but it was all brought about by the
untiring energy and perseverance IN
the face of what seemed insurmount-
able obstacles, of the man now known
as the merchant prince and phLan-
thropist.
HIS MODEST BEGINNING.
The start was made on very mod
est scale. He rented a store-room at
25l Church St., paying therefor the
sum of 81 per day. The rent was
paid every night. Even in the time
of his poverty he had few friends
left, who knew of his sterling quail
ties, and believed that he had the
stuff in him to make a winner
Among these were three buyers and
five statesmen who had been with HIM
in the days of his prosperity. Other
friends were the members Of the hrm
of Hoyt & Bradley, an auction house
across the street. Mr.. Rouss went to
Mr.. Hoyt, with fear and trembling IN
his heart, and asked him If he could
buy goods at the auction sales OF the
firm if he paid for them within As
hours. The great merchant says the
suspense while he waited for the
answer was intense. On that, he said,
he felt depended in a large measure
his future. There was a second s
hesitation, then Mr.. Hoyt extended
his hand, and told Mr.. Rouss to send
buyers to all their sales. 81 admire
your pluck and know you will sue
ceed." Mr.. Rouss, in writing of the
incident six years later, said that he
had never before realized the poverty
of the English language when you
want to express your gratitude to
man who has stood by you in times
of direst trouble.
'In one hour here the kaleidoscope
changes, just as the hours, or, ottener'
the moments of decision fix the destiny
of the years that follow in the lifetime
of everyone" wrote Mr.. ROuss.
How inscrutable are the mysteries OF
Providence. In after days when we
commanded success and misfortune had
overtaken him, it was my good fortune
to tighten the load under which he was
struggling
Mr. Rouss says that few days after
he had opened his modest little store
former customer came in, and when
he went away there was only about $50
worth of stock left. That check opened
the millionaire's present bank account
The next big sale was for $4,000, and
when that customer took his departure
all the stock Mr.. Rouss had left could
be carried under the arm Of a boy nine
years old.
Fortune did not come with rush,
but he slowly made money. The beauty
of the new system of selling for cash
down was that there were no trouble
some creditors to come in and worry
him when he had disposed Of his
stock of goods at a profit. 1t wasn't t
long until all hands were working
seventeen hours a day. Then bus
iness increased so that three days in
the week they worked "a hours. Bus
mess grew and grew until the crammed
quarters in Church street became toe
small, and he moved to Broadway, and
occupied on that thoroughfare -four
different buildings before he took pos.
session Of the mammoth one he now
occupies.
A DEMOCRATIC MAN.
Now that we have traced the career
of the man from the point where h'
was poor country boy until he became
a millionaire dry goods merchant, w
may study his personality, and in thai
way viii have an opportunity to make
some observations on what are gener'
ally called his peculiarities.
Mr.. Rous. is the most democratic o.
men. He is what might be termed "a
plain, blunt man" When You tab
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