The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-04
CHARLES r. ROUSS.
Something About the Northern Friend Of
the South.

Something About the Northern Friend OF
the South.
NEW YORK, Nov. 2S.-There is no
one hardly in the South who would
not like to know something more
about this wealthy New Yorker, who
has offered 500, 600 to establish Con
federate museum or depository for
relics, and who, following so closely
on this magnificent OFFER, only few
days since donated $25, 900 toward re-
building the recently burned Univer'
sity of Virginia.
Of all the interesting characters in
this city who have been prominent
before the public for the past 30 or 40
years but few now remain. Million
aires are numerous, but they are of
the numdrum type, and there is little
in their lives to occupy the public at
tention. There is one, however, whose
history reads much like fairy story,
and who, though advanced in years
and immersed in business cares sufli-
cient to stagger a man Of ordinary
strength and vitality, is constantly
doing something to astonish these
blase New Workers, and it is always
something worth relating.
Nearly everyone in this vast city
who can read is familiar with the his
tory of Charles Broadway Rouss, the
merchant prince of Broadway" as
he is sometimes styled.
Mr.. Rouss, as 80 per cent. of Amer
ican youth, who have after wards
achieved greatness or wealth have
done, began his climb very low down
the ladder, and slipped once or twice
before he had passed many rounds:
His history is one of poverty and
hardship, first as a poor but respected
farmers boy, leading a drearY, mono
tonous life on his fathers farm near
Winchester, Va, restlessly longing
for nobler things, yet patiently plod-
ding and performing his duties as he
saw them.
When the war broke out he was a
small country merchant at Winches-
ter with command of perhaps less
than thousand dollars. This faded
away before the advancing armies and
he fastened to cast in his lot with his
beloved State. When the smoke of
that conflict cleared away he was one
of the many thousand not only out an
unremunerative job, but minus food
and clothes.
In this plight he set out for the
home of his conqueror and landed IN
this Christian city with $1.S0 in cool
cash. There were no bunko men then
and few sideshows on the Bowery,
consequently he was not disturbed on
account of his large possession.
Fortunately for himself, Mr.. Rouss
was not so modest with his possessions
and with pluck and luck and plenty
of AL horse sense he scuffled and bat
tied along in one way and another
until he became known as man who
had bought out other mems stocks at
auction and sold them again for spot
cash at reduced prices.
After his ascent in prosperity in
New York began he had tumble,
with debts to the amount of $51, 900
ION his hands," as the saying is, but
really I should say on other peoples
hands. But little thing like this
could not floor this Napoleon of the
auction business" He had only had
a taste of wealth and there his real
success began when he entered the
ring again.
From this time on his career has
been one of success upon success.
From small cramped quarters he has
moved and removed until he finally
decided about five years ago to erect
the grand building he now occupies,
the fine iron building at $40, 551, 553
Broadway, and for which he has been
offered 81. 100000. The handsome edi.
fee is 10 stories high, is freroof and
a triumph of the architects skill and
art:
In one of these large front windows
is, magnificent lifesize painting OF
General Robert E. Lee by Bruce.
Right here 7 will mention one of Mr..
Rouss's peculiarities. While he is a
noble-hearted, broad-minded man,
who has lived 30 years and gained
naost of his success in the North, yet
he is an ardent Southerner and loves
the cause and the people for whom he
fought. He is never so happy as when
he is donating something to some
commendable cause in the South, but
for that matter there is no more liber-
al and charitable man in this city
when real distress is brought to his at
tention from whatever section it may
come. The remarkable thing about
his charities and his donations of other
characters is that they seem never to
make him poorer. The more he gives
the wealthier he grows.
He has, as he deserves, charming
family, though death has only recent
ly bereaved him, one of these being a
young son on whom he lavishes much
affection and whom he expects to sue
ceed him in perpetuating his sound
and profitable business methods.
His already great business is con-
stantly growing and prospering under
his guidance, though for the past year
his eyesight has totally failed him.
Overwork was the cause of it, yet he
continues to labor and direct and may
be found at his office 13 hours out of
every "a. His friends in. the South
send him many letters of regard and
sympathy for his affliction, and they
are all gratefully received.
In this short sketch it has been hard
to do Justice to a character so rich and
a history so ripe i'm interesting anec-