Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-10-31
ONE MANS CAREER.
How Charles Broadway Rouss
Won Wealth and a Name.


He who built. owns and occupies this marvel
of brick. iron and granite, lSyears ago walked
the streets pcnniless and $4,000 in debt.
Only to prove that the capitalists of to-day
were poor men twenty years ago, and that
many u fellow facing poverty to-day may be a
capitalist quarter of q century hence ii he
will. pluck. adorned with ambition, backed
by honor bright, will always command sue
cess even without the almighty dollar.
The proprietor, though no smoker, nor
chews, enjoys the flavor Of a good cigar, but
the nasty old pipe or the poisonous cigarette
will not be tolerated in the house prefer
dead rat or poe-cat.
Visitors making their headquarters h ere are
requested to leave their dollars and valuables
with the cashier or at the hotel. The alert
and surc-iooted buncos are everywhere. " The
woods are full of en-"
One hour now may save you years of agony
in the credit hell of mercantile life. You are
welcome to an hour of this concern, free to
see for yourself, which is the surer, shorter
quicker road to success, the old credit gaunt-
let, or ten and twenty per cent. off for cash
before delivery,
One moment, please, look at few stubborn
facts in our window. Half an hour through
our warerooms containing one million auc-
ton values will be very apt TO shake your
faith in the credit system and build yoar
future fortune on the solid rock Of cash be-
fore delivery.
CHARLES BROADWAY ROUss.
This is the code of principles on which
foundation was laid for one Of the most sue
cessful commercial enterprises ever built up in
this country. Hundreds upon hundreds of the
readers of the N01S have paused in front OF
the huge building at $40 to 553 Broadway, and
read the five paragraphs which head this col
umn. They are printed in biz black type on
cardboard so that literally he who runs may
read. When Mr.. Charles Broadway Rouss
started some - years ago on very small
scale iu Church st. he euunciatcd these priu-
ciples, and he has stuck to them from that
day to this The result is the monument OF
brick, iron and granite. a business where the
sales amount to nearly $4,000 q day, and
reputation for the man wuo evolved this for
tune from nothing, as one of the shrewdest
brainicSt and squarest business men among the
thousands of men who have carved out fame
and fortune in this great metropolis.
No man has been more misunderstood than
MIR. Rouss Columns on columns have ap-
peared in New York newspapers describing
what they termed his pecuiarites and eccen-
tricities There has, too, been much misrep-
reseutation, and do doubt not little Of twas
inspired By people who were enyious of his
success. and sought to detract therefrom by
innuendo. having realized that they were no
match for him in the fair aud open compcu-
ton of the business world. Those who do not
know Mr. Rouss have been led to believe that
he does all sorts of queer things simply TO
advertise his business. second thought will
serve to show how foolish such supposition
is What man would buy a dollars worth Of
goods from his counters because he gees fit to
give small coin to hungry, half-naked news
boys:
When one knows Mr.. Rouss it is easy TO un-
derstand how the mistaken ideas regarding
him have been spread broadcast If he were
a commonplace individual, his every act
would not be noted and commented on. What
are referred to as his eccentricities would be
overlooked on the part Of a man who oc-
cupied a less conspicuous place in the world.
Having made his mark he is paying the pen
atty Of acquired fame. But no man who
has ever grasped the hand OF Charles Broad
way Rouss aud had him say 4 am your
friend. ever after saw anything peculiar in
the man, except that Notwithstanding all bis
riches, false pride has DO part in his makeup.
The writer has known Mr.. Rouss more or
less intimately for a number of years and it
is for the purpose Of correcting some false
ideas that this story Of a remarkable man.
who has had q wonderful career, was written.
Some Of the fallaeious ideas regarding Mr..
Rouss and his methods Of doing business may
be set down at the very beginning Of this AZ
ticle. and then il the reader has time to peruse
it still futher. ne viii see how easy il is for a
good mar 20 De- maligned.
II You have ser heard Of Mr.. Rouss and
do not know l'm, you must have heard those
two pfeposterous yarns to the effect that he
never hires q man unless he drinks. and will
not pay man over q dollar day, and that
he gives him that dollar every night, so that
he won't have enough money at the end Of a
week to 20 on q rousing spree. Those are the
two sock lies in the repertoire OF nine out Of
every ten men who have essayed to write any
thing about the life Of Mr.. Rouss. little
further On it will be shown how utterly foun-
datonless they are. Then another old story
is that his only pleasure in life is the distrib-