Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-10-06
NEW SERIES, VOL. XXXI, NO. 40.


'.six years ago there sauntered into our
Office tough specimen of piayed-out Southern
chivalry, asking for situation, saying that
he would be willing to work at any kind of
writing for ten hours a day for something TO
eat and place to sleep. He said he was hard
up, and hungry, and cold. and wanted the
situation only until he could get into shape
We tried him little and wanted him for q
year. He remarked that although he was
ragged and famished, ten thousand dollars
would be no inducement-thath he only wanted
to keep alive until he got his machinery into
motion, aud then he'd show the Northern
people that there was still some stern and
stubborn stuff in the rough remnant of the
Rebelioi. Money could not buy this shivcr-
ing but audacious devil for single year. For
a few days and afterwards he frequented free
lunches; went into the wholesale groceries and
got sample of crackers; made examination OF
pie bakeries; investigated bread aud cake
houses and sugar houses. and ate everything.
His talismanic word was-'PLUcK." He
began $4,000 in debt, and his first operation
was in the Stock Exchange. In three hours
he cleared S25.OOO upon the strength of u
lucky leak in telegram from Liverpool.
Then came his operation in the auction
rooms. his Brooklyn victories, his gigantic
| operations in smuggled goods, ETC." The
News went on to say; NO -onder his goods
were cheap-no wonder his business prospered
and grew into such tremendous proportions.
for he had army of men TO watch Snug
glers. and shcriffs at his bidding"
could quote more but this is sufficient to
| to show that the rebel soldier quickly caught
on TO the of smuggling goods to sell as
''stolen goods" and he made his fortune
by forcing them to either obey the law or
suffer the consequences. All, Charlie Rouss
was never fool. He ncountered difficulties
and disasters in his efforts, but he met them
with that sort of Roman courage which never
knew defeat even when defeated. Perhaps
he had read the advice of Richelieu to. his
page who spoke of failure:
Sin the lexicon of youth. which Fate reserves,
For bright manhood. there is no such word
as-FAn.!"
How e'er it be, Mr.. Rouss, from oil know,
was lord of himself, that heritage OF wee
and he did actually bring success ont of failure
and in his success was ever, and is now, so
loyal to his old comrades that even ingrati-
tude itself would feel ashamed if we did not
feel proud of Charles Broadway Rouss.
As an evidence of his sterling honesty 1
could quote from an article copied from
Baltimore paper which commended him for
paying a large sum- think, about $40, 600
to creditors who had compromised with him
soon after the war, aud he was under no legal
obligation to pay it, but he did and paid
interest Mt the rate of six per cent.
Mr.. Rouss is great economist OF time, very
prompt, and years ago he threw aside the use
of all unnecessary characters in writing
adopting the phonetic style, and no one, per-
haps, is more correct in phonetics, He used
to be and is now suppose, very fond of
literature. l remember glancing with him
over his scrap book, in which were many
choice gems in prose and verse. There is
yerbiage in what he writes, no arrogance in
his nature. In one of his letters to me he
uses the following beautiful words:
''Who is better than that man of whom il
can be said, he was n brave and true Con-
federate? Money may buy come things, but
it cannot buy courage. patriotism and personal
honor, nor should it buy friendship. These
are the offs pring of innate forces which stir
noble emotions and make heroes, They
not to be bought like merchandise"
could, Mr.. Editor, tell you of the charities
have known him 20 bestowi could write of
the love of all OF the People of Winchester,
Va, for him, but have no purpose OF
this sort: simply want the whole South to
know that out of our war was developed q
private soldier whose loyal heart to "loat
cause" proclaims his sincerity; whose gener-
ous deeds bespeak his nobleness aud whose
uuiinching industry and undertaking honesty
m axe an example for young men to emulate
in the battle OF life.
And an just as sure that his grand idea Of
Westminster Abbey will come to fruition
and be a testimony to his and cur praise in
the hereafter, as am that chivalry did not
die in the South when her shattered forces
laid down their arms at the bidding of Lee
and johnson. W. j. SLATER.
[Wsnchester (Tenn.,) Leader, Sept. 3, 1896.