The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-12-04
Charles r. RolsS.

this wealthy New Yorker, who has
offered 800, ,0j0 to establish Confed-
crate museum or depository fer relies,
and who. following SO closely On this
magnificent offer. only a few days since
donated $25, ,0GC toward rebuilding the
recently burned University of '
ginia.
Of all the interesting characters in
this city who have been prominent be-
fore the public for the past 80 or 40
years but few now remain. Million
aires are numerous, but they are Of
the hundrum type, and there is little
in their lives to occupy the public at
tcntion. There is one, however, whose
history reads much like Il fairy story,
and WHO, though advanced in years
and immersed in business cares sufii-
cient to staggcr man of ordinary
strength and vitality, is constantly
doing something to astonish these
blase New Workers, and it is always
something worth relating.
Nearly every one 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 90 per cent. of Amer
lean youth, who have afterwards
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 oac of poverty and
hardship, first as poor but respected
farmers boy, leading a dreary, monot-
onous life on his fathers farm near
Winchester, Va, rcstlessly longing
for noblcr 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 Winchester
with command of perhaps less than a
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
unremuncrative 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 $50 in cool
cash. There we're no bunko men then
and few sidcshows on the Bowcry,
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 scuilled and battlcd
along in one way and another until he
became known as man who had
bought out other mems stocks at auc-
ton 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 s5l 900
son his hands," as the saying is, but
really should say on other peoples
hands. But little thing like this
could not floor this "Napoleon of the
auction business. ~ lie had only had
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 crampcd 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. 53l, 333
Broadway, and for which he has been
offered 100000. The handsome
cdiGcc is ten stories high, is frcproof
and a triumph of the architects skill
and art.
In one of these large front windows
is magnificent lifesize painting OF
General Robert i. Lee by Bruce.
Right here l will mention one Of Mr..
Rouss' peculiaritics. While he is a
noblc.hearted, broad minded man, who
has lived 30 years and gained most of
his success in the North, yet he is an
ardent Southcrncr and loves the cause
and the people for whom he fought.
lie is never so happy as when ne IS
donating something to some common
dablc cause in the South, but for that
matter there is no more liberal and
charitable man in this city when real
distress is brought to his attention
from whatever section it may come.
The remarkable thing about his char
tiles and his donations of other char
actcrs is that they seem never to make
him poorer. The more he gives the
wcalthicr he grows.
lie has. as he deserves. a charming
family, though death has only recent
Is bcrcaved him, one Of these being a
Young son on whom he layishcs much
affection and whom he expects to sue
cccd him in pcrpctuating his sound
and profitable business methods.
His already great business is CON
stantly growing and prosperng under
his guidance, though for the past year
his cyesirht has totally failed him.
Oyerwork was the cause Of it, yet he