Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-02-01
wonderful Career of chas. Broadway
Rouss.

Wonderful Career of chas. Broadway
Rouss.
[sacramentO (cal.) Reconciliation of January
1. 1881
New YoRK, Dec. 27th.-Coming up
Broadway the other day passed by two
men that seemed to be attracting consid-
cradle attention. One wore fur-trim-
med overcoat, the noticeable dusty ex-
trenity of which reached the shoetops,
and sealsEin cap that had " seen better
days" He was evidently blind, though
the eyes were open and even had bright
expression, but the face bore that vague
appearance rarely even seen except in
cases where the light has failed. His
companion, who led him by the arm, was
a waiter, evidently from some nearby
restaurant. When the great building
which houses the dry goods business of
Chas. Broadway Rouss was reached the
pair went inside, and then the curious
spectators who hadn't recognized the
blind man knew that he was the famous
head of that establishment the most pic
tured and talked-about dry goods mer-
chant of his time.
The story of the life of this man reads
like some tale from the Arabian Nights, y
it being almost incomprehensible that an
individuals efforts--unaided by such
supernatural powers as A1addin's lamp
should meet with such success as has
been his.
A friend of the writer's upon visiting
him recently at his place of business. was
received in Mr.. Rouss' Enthusiastically
outspoken manner. The business in hand
related to the local camp of Confederate
Veterans, of which both were members,
though they had not met before.
Mr.. Rouss inquired as to the rank which
his visitor had held in the Confederate
army, and then said: well, shake
hands on that; was high private my
self, but lately have come to believe that
1 am the only oneleft, as everybody seems
to be at least a Captain" He then in
quired if his visitor INDUCED, " and upon
learning that he did, said: " If you will
open the door of that closet you will find
on the shelf bottle of pretty good stuff
and some glasses. While not a teetotaler
myself, l have enough sense to be tenn
perate." Thus refreshed, Mr.. Rouss pro.
ceeded to business.
Shortly after the war Mr.. Rouss, pen
niless and unknown, arrived in New
York and spent his first night upon the
benches of City Hall Park To-day,
blind and aged, he comes to business as
regularly as any of his clerks, although a
nrulti-rnillionaire and founder of a bust
ness system that has made his name ia
nous in the mercantile world.
True to his genius Mr.. Rouss is eccen-
trio, and like all uccessful business men
he is fond of telling how he did it. Be
tween the two elevators in the building is
a very large sign on which reads the fol.
lowing:
He who bilt, GUNS & occupies this
marvel of brick, iron & grant, IS years
ago walkt the streets pennies and $4,000
in det-only to sho that the capitalists OF
to da were por men twenty years ago and
that many felo facing poverty to da NAV
be capitalists quarter of acentury hence
if he vii,
Pluck adorned with ambition bakt by
onor brite, will always command success
even without the aImity dollar.
The proprietor tho no smoker enioys
the flavor of a good cigar, but the nasty
old pipe or poisonous cigarette will not be
tolerated in the house-prefer a dead raj
or pollSat. "OPrE, for the firm.
Visitors making their headquarters
here are requested to leave their dollars
and valuables with the cashier, or at the
hotel. The alert and sure foted buncos
are everywhere. The woods are full of
them.
One hour now may save you years in
the credit hel of mercantile life.
You are welcom to an hour in this
concern free to see for yourself which is
the surer, shorter, quicker road to sue
cess-the old credit gauntlet or ten and
twenty per cent off for cash before de-
livery.
One moment pleas look at few stub
born facts in our window.
Half an hour through our warehouse.
containing one million auction values will
be very apt to shak your faith in the
credit system and build your fortune on
the solid rock of cash before delivery"
CHAS. BROADWAY ROUSS.
Mr.. Rouss has been the chief contribu-
tor to the various newspaper charities,
such as the free ice fund, " .'sick ba-
bies' fund, etc. In fact he is known
generally as a Philanthropist of liberal
proportions. A certificate of thanks from
the Virginia Legislature hangs in one of
the great windows. 1t was given because
$50. 900 was spent for the building of the
water works of the city of Winchester
He also gave to the Lee Memorial Asso-
citation recently a like amount to help
build monument to the south's favorite
hero.
In appearance he is of medium statue,
with dark complexion and gray hair and
mustache. His features, like his charac-
ter, are well described by the word blunt.
From time to time, quacks and so-called
eye-sPecialists make attempts to secure
the one million dollar reward ,,,licl, NJ