Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-10-06
Charles Broadway Rouss, o.
New York.
[From the wlnehester lva.l News...

From the Winchester (Va-) News-]
1 was in Richmond, lately, at he great re
union of Confederate soldiers, and while there
concluded to go to New York, and for NJ
other purpose than TO see man with whom
1 became well acquainted about thirty-fiy'
years ago, aud who has been friend auC
brother to me ever since.
AS TO the immense city-good Lord, deliver
me! II is too big place for fat people, and
felt that one should have a hundred eyes, a:
did the fabulous Argus, TO keep from being
knocked down aud killed by everpassing carr
and all kinds of vehicles. L went there solely
| to see the man whose uame heads this article
and did see him, but he did not see me-hC
could not, for ''CLarlie Rouss," as he wrote
me not long since, is ''almost on the verge o.
total darkness" But his voice was the same;
his greeting more cordial, if that were posi-
bic, and his great heart and splendid home as
open 10 me as if L had been as rich in worldly
goods US 1 wish, for sweet independence sake
verify was. And 1 do not lie, nor jostlc
truth when say that if the loss of ole OF
mine own eyes could insure one of his to be as
go2d as erst it was, I'd suffer the loss quite
checrfulIy, and he could dispense with his
German occulist.
This, Mr.. Editor, is the man who offers to
give s10O, ,Oo0 towards the erection of West
minister, or Battle Abbey, wherein may be
kept record of all that made up the history
of the South in her heroic struggle for inde-
pendence-an Art gallery, an intellectual re-
sort, wherein aud whereat our descendants
may ramble in their search for the truth in
history and find food for wonder and pride
tt.
been published in our newspapers of the
South, renders it unnecessary for me to say
more on this point, except thatI will add
quite naturally, too-my hope that Nashville
may secure the location of the Abbey. And
when call to mind the lberality of Nash
ville's best citizens to all worthy enterprises,
and the Centennial especially, l con-
strained to believe that Tennessee will supple
ment Mr. Rouss' offer sufficiently to secure the
location, in which event am persuaded all
the other cities and States of the South would
acquiesce and never murmur.
And now that the name of Charles Br oad-
way Rouss is on the tongues of so many in cur
land, and so many diversified efforts are being
made to raise the amount upon which MIR.
Rouss- gift is conditioned, apprehend that u
few words about the man would not be de-
void of interest and write them as sur
prise to him that 1 know him so well.
We have had many remarkable men in every
age, and among such in this generation
class Charles B. Rouss. And, If O perfect re-
rord of all his deeds could be made, am sure
that grateful people would place his
':Among the few immortal names
That were not born to die"
He is one of the most unassuming men 1
ever met, and in the matters of independent
integrity, of moral soundness and honesty, ol
hatred of all corrupting influence or motive =
especially as to dealings between men in the
fulfillment of contracts, promptness to ap-
pointments, honesty in trusts. agencies, etc,
-he is as firm as adamant- He hates decep-
ton in all its unnumbered shapes and dis
guises.
Mr.. Rouss is not strong man physically; is
small of stature. His head shows to advan-
tage, for the cerebrum is largely developed,
Indicating at once his powers of reason and
that ind omitable will which have been the
architects of his fortune in n financial sense.
a good phrenologist or judge of human nature
could readily see this in photograph have
of Mr.. Rouss. and which have kept for more
than twenty-five years.
Now. as for myself, am always consider
ably glad when stingy rich man dies, il
scatters his boarded wealth and the world i:
benefited, aud, generally, he leaves lot oi
proAigate, idle children who do the work of
scattering it and in devious ways. But when
man with care, labor aud perseverance, ae-
cumulates fortune and casts about to find
out judicious disposition to make of his ac'
cumulations, and so helps the needy ''all along
the line;'' when 1 find that man of noble i'm
pulses and philanthropic emotions 1 could
pray to God to make his life as long as that he
vouchsafed Methuselah, and his riches to sur
pass those of Solomon. And 1t has been fol
quite while a custom with Mr.. Rouss to load
his pocket with nickeIs. and, as he rides in his
carriage from his paiatial store to his elegant
home. to throw out handsful of them to tbs
crowds of newsboys, and other boys, all o.
whom watch and wait his coming and going
for they all know him. 1 had the pleasure
lately to ride with Mr. Rouss and dine witt
him frequently, and was in company will
such distinguished men Us Gen. W. II. Jackson
Stephen ID. Lee, Johnston, Gibbs, and all O
them will stand for the truth of what 1 say II
this regard. And, by way of parenthesis,
would state that was as big man in Charlie
Rouss' house or carriage as either of the biz
and justly honored generals referred to. That
the sort of rebel Rouss is. In fact, he boasti
of being PRIVATE in the rebel army. Mr
Rouss is n generous man by nature, He can
help it. 1 first remember his generosity t'
the soldiers of Col. Turney's regiment, ant
other regiments, at Winchester, Va, and, af
forwards, his gifts to soldiers of the South a
they passed through Richmond on their way
to yorktown, and all this Tailed with hi
personal acts towards myself.
When the war had impoverished his purse
enlisted as a soldier and was capturned IN one
of the aghts at the one OF the struggle. But
no was not Impoverished in spirit aud IL
pluck. He went to New York. determiu ed.
as I've heard him assert, to whip some ol
those in the battle of life whom he could moi
whip in the battle of bullets. 1t was averita'
bic case of Poverty and Ambition" undel
which heading copied from the New Yori
Times, in 1871, to the Home Journal, which
then edited, q lengthy article about Mr. Rouss