The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-09-15

CHARLES b. R0USS
The Eccentric Millionaire Who Is So
Kind to His w. Va. Faiends.

thaBAA<J Ds AtOt1o
The Eccentric Millionaire Who Is So
Kind to His w. Va. Faiends.
In my visits to Virginia, the past
two or three years, in the neighbor-
hood of Winchester and Charles
Town, the name of Chas. Broadway
Rouss, every now and then was
topic of conversation. and one can
rarely read an issue of a newspaper
printed in either place but the same
name appears.
At Winchester, the most lannon's
scenes of battles and skirmishes in
Virginia and for that matter the en-
tire Southland during the rebellion,
the name of Rouss is household
word. He is, we believe, native to
that old fashioned town, and it was
hence he emigrated after the war
with but few cents in his pocket
to New York, and there had won
drous success, now being the owner
of three numbered fourteen story
building on Broadway, filed from
the lowest cellar to the topmost floor
with all kinds of merchandise which
he WHOLESALERS at the lowest possible
notch for the ready dollar only.
The first time l visited Winches-
ter, | went, of course, to the cemeter-
les, the Union and Confederate.
About the latter was q new iron fence
of strong and bold design, present
| soon learned from Charles Broad
way Rouss. But to the city of his
love, this was but single benefac
tion, as | have noticed by reading
that most excellent local paper, the
Winchester Times, that let there be
fire of public property, or other
calamity that excites his charity, he
does not wait for an appeal but
promptly sends his check for lib
eral amount as his voluntary contri
button. And, in the last issue of
that journul we noticed that he had
contributed $4,000 to some pub
lie improvements the completion
of which will be made the occasion
of a grand citizens and fireman's
demonstration on the 18th of Sep
TENDER, when Mr.. Rouss will be pres
ent as the guest of honor, accompa
MED by his friend, Erastus Wiman,
of New York, who recently was in
financial distress, and who was res
cued by Mr.. Rouss, who went his bail
to the extent of 100000.
Two weeks ago was in New York,
and riding up Broadway in a cable
car. AS | went along | saw Mr..
Rouss' immense establishment |
resolved, if l had time on my return,
to learn something of the place of
business of the man so famous in
Yirginia's current history. In pur-
suance of the Idea at clock that
afternoon | stood in front of his ca
pacious show windows, looking with
amazement at the multitudinous
items there exhibited, and at the fig
ures on the placards accompanying
each lot, indicating their marvellous
low prices.
A young man sat in the main open
doorway, whom | approached with
the remark: SIS this really the bus
mess place of Mr. Rouss, the famous
merchant, of whom | have read and
heard SO muchY" The answer, of
course, was affirmative, and then our
talk drifted TO the man, to his Vir-
ginia home, by which l learned that
the young man was himself Vir
ginian- from the neighborhood Of
Jordon Spring. Suddenly a man of
ordinary appearance and plain cloth
ing stepped briskly up, took me by
the collar and led me to the pavement
with the remark, "Who are you, and
do you think you can bunco us?"
| assured him l was not bunco
steerer, which appeared to be so sat
isfactory that he relaxed his hold
and invited me down Broadway to
take something" l told him l was
not going that way. Then he said,
"Well, let's go up street and take
something" l assured him that l
never took something" at which he
smiled, seized me again by the collar
and pulled me into the doorway, said
to the man standing there: "Here's
a bunco fellow. Show him every
thing and let him have what he
wants, but keep an eye upon him."
With this the odd creature went
rapidly to the street and off perhaps
to get something
For the Lords sake" said l to
the young man, "who is that crank?"
THAT" said he, "is the best man
on this side of heaven; he lives on
Fifth avenue,is worth millions, made
every penny of it himself, owns this
building and business. That's Chas.
Broadway Rouss.
Before | had recovered from the
surprise the young Virginian had
summoned a gentleman who was a
Georgian, with the instructions to
show me about and let me have what
l wanted. Before l had time to
look about me Mr.. Rouss returned,
he repeated his joke about the bun
co salute he gave me, upon which l
told him that if he repeated that
thought again, the next time went to
Shannondale, Jefferson county West
Virginia, where he has magnificent
estate upon the banks of the Shenan-
doah, that l would jump the fence
into his orchard and bunco his
peaches. At this he laughed hearth
ly, and said, "ah, ah, l see you have
been there" then entered the ele-
vator and was whirled out of sight
into the heights Of his wonderful es-
tablishment above.
IN