The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-09
Macon Merchant Was His l;nyhoOd
Friend. and Recalls Much of
Interest About Him.
GENEROSITY TO C0NFEDERATES
Made Money Rapidly After the
Civil War-Large Gifts 70 His
Native City. Winchester,
Na.-SOldiers' Friend.
REPCRLIC SPECIAL

$500 &A<A> - ~
Macon. Mo. March S.-Mr. T. W. Robin
son. one Of the veteran merchants OF Macon.
was a hoyhood chur of Charley Broad
way Rouss.' the blind New York million
aire who died Monday. Mr.. Rouss's name
was Charles Baltzell Rouss. but he adopted
the middle name as an ingenious advertis-
Ing scheme to designate the location OF his
immense store. His son. who. since his
fathers illness. has been in active control
of the business. signs his name Peter Win
chester Rouss.' Winchester, Va, being his
birthplace.
Charley and 1 were farmer lads. living
near Winchester. before the Civil War
came on" said Mr.. Robinson. land even
at the early age Of 10 there was a dis
tinguishing characteristic about him. II IL
was sport in which we were engaged the
way was never too long. the road never too
rough or the sun too hot for him. He was
the first one to suggest a tour. his the
energy that kept up our spirits. and he the
last one to complain Of fatigue he was
n little fellow. and nev& grew to be over
5 feet 6 inches. and never weighed more
than $50 or rs pounds. But every ounce
was grit. and his brain never rested.
Start in Business.
He went into business at Winchester at
the age Of IL or Is years. with $50 In MS
pockets. borrowed from his parents. He
CtuSut aUtli'h SootS at io" phASNs nav wv
them for cash. Inside OF a year he carried
everything In stock q man could possibly
want. from n haby's rattle to a traction en-
gine. When the war came on he was worth
$7o.Oo. He instantly espoused the Southern
side. and invested nearly all his money in
He went into the cavalry and Fought an
through the war, which left him pennies.
Eut he never complained. He turned his
weary footsteps toward the old home farm.
and remained there the summer Of 1875.
After resting a bit. as he called it-out 1
doubt II any man ever saw Cnariey restins
at any time-he borrowed a few pieces OF
money from the family and went to New
York. I saw him when I was there in the
goods which We first opened up at Macon.
When l first went to buy from him
Charley was occupying a portion OF d
basement under No. 1+o Duane street He
was 1900 in debt over matters occurring
before the war. but he was not hunting
sympathy-he was after the business, And
he got II. He bought goods so he could sell
Just a little cheaper than the other fellow.
and ne had an almost marvellous intuition
as to values, In ISL ! had the pleasure %, OF
of his $4,000 antehellum Indebtedness to a
At His store Early.
For forty years Rouss was at his stoIs
every morning at s. and remained until s
or Q at night. His business grew to wonder
to every dealer in novelties all over the
land. and possibly in Europe. He never
cared for money. he told me. but said he
was so built that he could not help making
Il: I, was n part of him and just as natural
as for a mother to dandle her infant on her
knee. l.. or some one connected with our
arm. made a trip to New York every year.
and the greater part OF our purchases were
made at his store.
"!Abou. ten years ago Charley became
blind. as n result OF too close application to
business. His offer Of N.00D.aG0 to anyone
who could restore his sight is familiar to
every newspaper reader in the land. My
first meetin- with him after his misfortune
keenly than he did. He was In his private
Office debating to his stenoRrapher. The
eyes had gone out. nut the wonderful brain
precision. As soon as he heard my voice
he jumped up and a glad smile spread over
his Intelligent face. He furtivety reached
discoursed about business matters the same
as usual. He had lost not a thread of the
gigantic machir. of which he was vet the
fer directions. merchants called In regard
to trades. and letters and communicst lions
were placed on his desk for his secretary to
read to him.
birthday Observed.
"Our native town of Winchester religions
" observes the 18th of February zach year
as the birthday Of Mr.. Rous. And it has
ever had a friend that one did. When
Charley got on his financial feet and things
began coming his way. he the
royal way. He built an iron fence around
the cemetery. paid $S.oO on a new City
Hall. built a fre-enzine house that cost
that furnished water free. His YEARLY visit
on his birthday was a great event. and I
am satisfied he never spen: less than 5000
Tadcs never left his door wi >t their re e9%-
sitions dishonored. There may have been
times whe3 this privilege was badly abused.
for II vi the most falling plea one could