Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-12-25
Extract from Biography Of
Charles Broadway Rouss.

~ ne GfkEtPE u 4tAkt 4NoA9' - = 90
gular illus tration of the proyerb
ssThe UNEXPECTED always hap
pens. That he has done more for
the South than any Southerner who
ever located and prospered ia nor
thern State, has already been dem
onstrated. BE has already startled
us by his princely generosity; and
now. In this last announcement OF
his loving memory and lavish deeds,
he rises TO a loftier height than ever
before; and while he touches the
tendercst chords in thousands of
southern hearts, he commands the
admiration and respect of the entire
North. Actual, personal experience
taught him what the poor, brave,
half fed, lily clad Confederate SOL
der endured during the four years
conflict; still hitterer reality, the
woes of toll and poverty in the war
ruined land of his hearts truest
and tenderest memories on the
seeming neglect of his living and
dead comrades, his own eyes have
looked; on the heroic efforts of the
veterans to meet and recall the glo-
RIGS of the past, his heart has dwelt
in soldiers sympathy; afar off in
his business pyramid, he saw them
saving their scant earnings to travel
hundreds. of miles to greet each
other. In q home of their own?
Mol but first in one State and then
in another in some hall furnished by
the city that invited them. No per-
manent temple on whose walls the
memorials of their dead might hang
to revive their virtue and sacrifices,
no house in which sacred relics might
be stored to tell future generations
the true story of the men who fought
some of the greatest and bloodicst
battles of modern or ancient times,
no art gallery adown whose corri-
doris the feeble old vetern might lead
his grand children to gaze upon the
superb Lee, the knightly Stuart or
the sad countenance of Stonewall
4 jackson. No shrine to hold the
blood stained altar of the southland /;
since fate seemed to compel the men
who had tramped on, not knowing as
they went TO the meeting of one
year, where next year would find
them. True, they wanted settled
gathering place, just as they wanted
other grand things beyond their tinan-
ciaL ability. Then like the clear,
loud, inspiring, yet always startling
call of the bugle, comes the voice of
CHARLES Broadway RoUss, -you
must and shall have a home; rouse
yourselves up, here is the plan, /
will give bountifully of my means /;
so will othersl
And, oh! the thrill of THAT voice,
as it comes from his fortress, crosses
the Potomac, fingers among the his
toric fields of Virginia; floats over
the blue grass meadows of Kentucky (;
mingles with the sunlight that gIori-
fies the old hills of Georgia; passes
like strain of martial music across
the blood stained wales of Tennes-
see; grows tender amid the orange
and myrtle of Alabama I; throbs like a
Wardrum in the Cypress groves OF
4 beautiful Louisiana and, borne up
the waters of the Mississippi, echoes
among the breastworks of Yicksburg
= wakes the heroes of Arkansas and
electrifies with joy and pride the
rangers of Texas around their camp
fire. No more RESOLUTIONS" as to
which town they may be 'invited'
next time. No more planning and
nconomizing by the veteran of Vir-
ginia to know if he can raise the
money 10 go to Texas to greet his
Comrades. No more scattering OF
battle flags, records and precious rel
les all over the land for He, their
Comrade and millionaire benefactor
has come to the conclusion that THIR-
TY years of marching is enoughIlI
And it will be done, for CHARLES
BROADWAY ROUSS has planned
and will perfect it.
That assurance is sufficient
He has proven himself to be won
derful man; his wealth is enormous !;
his success the marvel of the COM
mercial world his genius and daring
acknowledged and admired by all !;
his liberality phenomenal but all
pales before the brilliant light of this
last great act. History furnishes no
parallel to Citizen and Soldier of a
conquered province, seeking and Sc
curing fame and vast fortune in the
stronghold of the Comquerer; pour
ing forth his sympathies and his
riches to aid his old friends and erect
a Memorial Institution to commence
rate the cause for which he fought.
He wins in the act, a greater fame
and gratitude than that of the famous
leader under whom he marched and
battled. This will be the verdict of
future history, and could Lee, Jack
son, Bragg, Hill, Hood and Cleburne
rise from their graves, they would
say with one voice: . We did our
duty, but this Representative man of
the South has done more than his
duty. He is, after all, our greatest
Southerner, and time will lay upon
his brow more glorious laurel wreath
than that which circled ouSs." IF
there be one spot in all the South
upon whose soil the sun will slime
with unclouded beauty; where far
parted stars shall meet in one golden
Shaft of light where roses will bloom,
like those by Benderneer's classic
stream, all the year round; where
the dove of peace shall build her
nest, and the air shall be full of the
songs of the past: where War shall
lay down her arms forever, and old
heroes shall weep the tears of Oroti