Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-02-18
MR.. fuckers LETTER.
WAsuNeroN q LEE UN1vERs1

WASHINGTON 81 LEE UNIyERs1rY, |
LEXINGTON. VA, February 10, 1896. {
Joseph e. Kiger, Esq, Secretary, etc., WIN
chester, Va:
My Dear sir-I deeply regret thaI a severe
cold. which has confined me to my house for
several days, aud from which 1 have moi
wholly recovered. will prevent my presence
with you on Mr.. Rouss' anniversary tomorrow.
Let me say in writing h would k to
have said in person, substantially:
Forty-fve years ago / knew a boy OF enter
prise and pluck. who was struggling for au in-
dependence. living in Winchester. He was
cheerfully pressing to the goal of success. He
interested me and others who watched his
career. Friends chcered him on and he
achieved some success.
The war came; he stood by his country, and
fought under its banner; and when the end
came he was without means or outside 1ntin-
ence with which to start anew in life. He
stl uck out for the race in the great CONNER
cial metropolis of America. By marvellous
holiness, strict integrity. and constancy of
purpose, associated with fertile resources in
the conduct of business, he has reached a
pinnacle of success which is q fair rival OF
any in the history of American merchants.
With untiring industry, mistaken courage.
and wonderful executive power, he has
marched from poverty to fortune. without ex-
traneous aid, and by the exercise of an extra
ordinary capacity for the management of
affairs.
We, who saw bis humble beginnings. and
have marked his remarkable success, feel that
the Winchester boy of forty years ago. now a
merchant prince of New York, is an honor to
the town which fostercd his boyhood's ambi-
tiou, and started him on his marvellous career.
To win wealth is d good thing, when won by
honor, personal courage, skill and jud"mcnt;
but to use wealth well is n nobler thing. In
the higher realms of Christian civilization the
maxim Is ever true that it is more blessed to
give than to receive When wealth is law
ishGd on personal pride and self indulgence,
men will look upon it without respect, if not
with contempt; and sometimes envy the pos
SCISSOR or contest his claim TO his i'll gotten ac-
cumulations. But when the owner of wealth
iudulges chiefly in the 'luxury of bcnciccnce,"
ard brings his hard earned gains to lay them
at the feet of his carly friends. and spends his
Thousands to minister to the comfort and well
fare of the people among whom he began his
life; or consecrated them to noble charities or
institutions for the uplifting of his fellow
men, men rejoice in such wealth, well used
and well earned; and rise up to do spontane-
Gus honor to the man whose energy and aoil-
ity have nmassed a fortune, which he gencr-
ously shares with the people he loves, by gifts
worthy to place his name among the b%cncfac-
tors of the age.
And it is well that he has wisely chosen to
administer his beueiicence in his own life time,
and thus see the grateful appreciation of the
recipients of his bencfactions, rather than
leave his wealth, which he canno take with
him ut death, to those who feel none of that
gratitude which the people of Winchester to-
10y ~ CShdNA W INCL llhllls DCuG-
factor.
It is a blessing when men like Mr.. Rouss
hold their wealth Us an opportunity for good
deeds. What noblcr dedication can n man
make of his wealth than this. Mr.. Rouss has
done much for Winchester; for the honorable
object of perpetuating the memorials of our
Lost Causes" and for uniting his name with
| that of others in promoting the education of
4 the children of his people for the great duties
devolving on them in working out their future
destiny in the restored union of these states;
so that the descendants of those who followed
the splendid leadership of Lee and Jackson
may have proper institutions for the training
of the coming generations of the South.
/ am glad to pay my cordial tribute of re-
spcct and esteem for MIR. Rouss on this, his
sixticth anniversary, which. Us the children of
that generation who were companions of his
bOyhood's ambition, and as the recipients of
generous endowments bestowed on the brave
| and noble association to which you belong,
you now celebrate i'll his honor.
l am sorry o to mingle with you personally
in your celebration, but cannot withhold the
| expression of my feelings in the only way that
is left 10 me. lam, with kin regards, your
friend, j. r. ucK
ny E8-Gov. HOLIDAY.
This Is a meeting in every way fit to be held.
Neither Winchester nor this Fire Company can
make any mistake in the person to whom this
recognition is given, for his generosity to both
has been unccasiDg aud unstintcd.
Returned in such q manner it is of more
value even to the receiver than the benefac-
ton itself. In the vast and rapid growth of
the material interests of our country the gent
Ter and nobler instints of our nature are apt to
he bluntcd. The man who accumulates, and
the nan who receives its benefits are both in
danger
Avarice is n common vice in orr Land.
Gratitude is q lare virtue on the Earth. Often