Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-10-25
early struggles OF c. B. Rouss.

At the recent Winchester Fair Mr..
Charles Broadway Rouss was introduced
by Judge,wm. NJ. Atkinson to the large
crowd which had assembled in front of
the Presidents office. Mr.. Rouss replied
in a happy strain, relating some of his
early struggles in the metropolis. His
start in life was made in modest way,
and we herewith reproduce a few facts
written by our former townsman MI. I'll
Dorsey Beall. for the N. Y. News, in 1894:
at was in 1876 that he laid the basis
for his present great establishment. When
one thinks of the humble start it is al
most impossible to conceive how the bus
mess could grow to such magnitude, and
whether you like him or not you are
bound tn respect the genius of the man
who can begin with less than nothing.
for he had thousands of dollars of debts
hanging over him. and climbed to the
very topmost round of the ladder of sue
cess and fame. When you contrast his
present position with that of eighteen
years ago, it almost seems as if the wand
of a magician had wrought the wonder.
but it was all brought about by the I'M
firing energy and perseverance in the
face of what seemed insurmountable OBJ
%stacles, of the man now known as the
merchant prince and philanthropist.
The start was made on a very modest
scale. He rented a store room at 2sI
Church street, paving therefor the sum of
81 per day. The rent was paid every
night. Even in the time of his poverty
he had a few friends lett, who knew of
his sterling qualities, and believed that
he had the stuff in him to make a winner.
Amongst these were three buyers and
FIVE statesmen who had been with him in
the days of his prosperity. Other friends
were members of the firm of Hoyt &
Bradley, an auction house across the
street. Mr.. Rouss went to Mr.. Hoyt,
with fear and trembling in his heart, and
asked him if he could buy goods at the
auction sales of the firm il he paid for
them within 4S hours. The great mer-
chant said the suspense while he waited
for the answer was intense. On that, he
said, he felt depended in a large measure
his future. There was a seconds hesita-
ton, then Mr.. Hoyt extended his hand,
and told Mr.. Rouss to send buyers to all
their sales. L admire your pluck, and
know you will succeed Mr.. Rouss, in
writing of the incident six years later,
said that he had never before realized the
poverty of the English language when
you want to express your gratitude to a
man who has stood by you in times OF
direst trouble.
"In one hour here the kaleidoscope
changes, just as the hours, or o%ftener,
and the moments of decision fx the des-
tiny of the years that follow in the life
time of every one" wrote Mr.. Rous.-
How inserutable are the mys-
terieso of Providence. In after days when
we commanded success and misfortune
had overtaken him, it was my good for
tune to tighten the load under which he
was then struggling"
Mr.. Rouss says that a few days after
he had opened his modest little store a
former customer came in, and when he
went away there was only about $40
worth of stock left. That check opened
the m~illionaire's present bank account.
The next big sale was for $4,000, and
when that customer took his departure
all the stock Mr.. Rouss had left could
have been carried underline arm of a boy
nine years old.
Fortune did not come with a rush,
but he slowly made money. The beauty
of the new system of selling for cash
down was thai there were no troublesome
creditors to come in and worry him when
he had disposed of his stock of goods at
a profit. It was not long until all hands
were working seventeen hours a day
Then business increased so that three
days in the week they worked twenty
four hours. Business grew and grew
until the crammed quarters in Church
street became too small, and he moved to
Broadway, and occupied on that thor
oughfare four different buildings before
he took possession of the mammoth one
he now occupies"