Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-06-14
At the Rouss Lot.

The Winchester News. in its report of
Memorial Day proceedings at that place
on the 9th of June. under the above cap
ton says:
The principal Mecca for the throngs
both before and after the exercises in
cemetery was the beautiful
Rouss lot situated in the south part of
Mount Hebron Visitors found that low
ing hands had, when the sun was barely
risen, placed beautiful tributes of affec-
ton and esteem upon the graves of Mr..
Rouss's beloved ones. The lot was
thronged with crowds who read and re-
read the inscriptions on the stately mon
ument which was reared by Mr.. Rouss in
memory of those who are buried within
the enclosure.
The monument stands upon an emf
hence and commands splendid view of
the lower Shenandoah Valley, and, as
some giant sentry guarding the sacred
ashes of the dead, overIooks the peaceful
city below. The monument is worthy
tribute to the parents of Mr.. Rouss, his
two sisters and his idol, Charles Hoke
Baltzell Rouss, and is one of the finest
ever erected in this country. It's closely
designed after the model of Cleopatra
Needle, and is constructed of Vermont
granite. The shaft is 81 feet in height and
rests upon a base 9 feet square. Entering
through the gateway of the handsome
granite coping the eye rests upon the
name e Rouss cut on the base, and inn
mediately above facing the west is the in
scription oh for the touch of the van
ished hand, for the sound of the voice
that is still" Cold in the grave the per
ished heart will lie, but that which
warmed it once will never die" On the
other side is inscribed The path to the
unknown eternal ends here; there are no
returning footsteps" On the west side is
the following; will deaths pathetic
dust ever thrill and throb with life again2'
On the north side is inscribed 1.-The
dreamless sleep of affection and ambitions
the shadow was greater than the
sunshine
To the left of the monument is the
handsome granite tombstone to the mem.
ory of Mr.. Rouss's sisters, Lizzie and
Ginnie Rouss, and adjoining is the tomb
of Mr.. Rouss's son. e. H, B. Rouss, who
died in New York City, April IS. 1891
and whose ashes repose beneath the hand
some tribute erected by an effectionate
sire to the memory of worthy son. Il
flial affection was one of the predominant
characteristics of Mr.. Rouss to his parents
during their lives, the paternal emotion
was even more strongly marked in hisre
gard for his lameuted son to whose mem
DRY this noble work of art was dedicated
and although for time it seemed i'm.
probable that he would long survive the
affection caused by the death of his noble
son, doubtless he has been buoyed during
all the long years since his boy passed
away by the hope of again meeting him
in that land where there is no more sor-
row and therefore no more tears; where
death cometh not and where physical in
frrnities are unknown.
In addition to the magnificent tribute
in stone, Mr.. Rouss has had erected at
his own expense handsome iron fence,
which encloses Mount Hebron, Stonewall
and the old Lutheran Cemeteries, making
over mile of fence in length.
Among the standing committees of the
Union Steam Fire Company is the Rouss
Memorial Committee, whose special and
loving duty it is to keep green the memo
ry of Mr.. Rousss departed ones, and on
each recurring anniversary of their
deaths. as well as on special days, hand
some floral tribdtes are placed upon their
tombs. and Mr.. Rouss in his New York
home can always rest assured that this sad
duty is never forgotten, and so, as usual,
the graves were handsomely decorated by
the firemen.
The Union Fire Company had three
floral pieces on the grave of Mr.. C. H. B.
Rouss, the monument and Mr.. c. b.
Rouss's mothers grave. The Friendship
and Rouss Hook & Ladder Co. S also had
beautiful floral designs on the graves.
The Independent Fire Company had a
committee here and placed eight hand
some pieces in the Rouss lot the largest
being broken column of white flowers,
surmounted by a white dove with out
stretched wings,
The Union cornet Band played a num-
Der of dirges at the Rouss lot after the
services.
The Charles Town Cyclists participa.
ted at the wheel contests in Winchester