Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-07-17
Charles Broadway Rouss Re
members a Christmas Din
ner,
An Act Of Kindness Returned.
From the Baltimore Sum-

New YORK, July 15.-The re-
lease of Erastus Wiman from the
Tombs q day or two ago upon secur-
ity furnished by Charles Broadway
Ronss brings together for a second
time two remarkable men. Erastus
Wiman is man of great business
capacity, and his charities have been
1nbounded. In the minds of many
people these charities cover nearly
all the sins he has committed. He
has helped many a young man to
make start in the world, and many
persons have gone to him for advice,
which he always freely gave. 1t is
reported that during tue cruel cross
examination to which he was subject
ed by Assistant District Attorney
WelIman he had in his pocket mem
orandum of loan. of 81, 900 which
he had loaned to Mr.. Wellman to as
sist him in business venture, and
which was still unpaid. A remarks
BILE feature of Mr.. Wiman's case
has been his constant serenity and
apparent unconciousness of baving
committed crime. His faith in his
final acquittal has never seemed 10
waVer. The constant devotion to his
cause of the late Secretary of the Ma
Wy, General Tracy, without any ex-
pectation of fee, has been remarka-
BILE.
Years ago man named Charles
Broadway Rouss got embarrassed in
his business and came to Mr., Wiman
man for advice. This he received in
most kindly fashion. Later on
charges were mado against Mr.. Rouss
which were afterwards shown to be
entirely groundless. But he was ar
rested and committed to Jail. He
was there sn Christmas Day, and Mr..
Wiman heard of it and pitied him
and sent him his Christmas dinner.
That little act of kindness has been
treasured up in the generous mind
of the great merchant for quarter
of century, and the bread thrown
upon the waters by Mr.. Wiman then
came hack to him last Friday, when
Mr.. Rouss went to the Tombs and
entered his security for $40, 1000,
pledging his Fifth avenue residence.
After eating the Christmas dinner
sent by Mr.. Wiman, Rouss wrote
this on the walls of his prison cell:
''This is Christmas Day. A friend
has sent me enough to buy Christ
mas dinner. l VOW to him, and write
it here, that | am to-day farty years
old, before am fifty | will be rated
in the reference book which he helps
to compile, as being worth 5000, 900,
and before am sixty / shall be
rated at over 81 200, 600.
Mr.. Rouss is u native ef Woods
boro, Frederick county, Nd. He
went 10 Winchester, and when the
war broke out he had lourishing
store there, which he closed out and
Joined the army as a private in Com
pany B, Twelfth Virginia Caualry.
After the surrender lie returned TO
his fathers farm, in jefferson coun-
ty, but farmNork was utterly distaste-
full to him.. He borrowed S29, and
with that as his capital entered
New York. This gave out before lie
had gotten any occupation and he
slept some nights under wagon in
the street and in tho station-houSe.
He met by accident former custom
er, WHO engaged him to dispose of a
large stock of goods he had bought
at-an auction. For this service he
received a considerable sum, which
gave him start and he made money
fast. He established a hundred or
more branch stores in the South, and
during the panic of 1877 he failed,
and it was then he got into trouble.
He owed $4,000 when he got his
discharge in bankruptcy. livery cent
of that he subsequently, paid with in
terest. Now he has oIe OF the lar
gest stores on broadway, is worth
several million dollars and does al
business of twelve millions year.
The readers of The Sun are familiar
with many of his public acts of BEN
iticencc, nut his private charities are
unknown.