The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-04

w Va; Lieutenant Milton Rouss.
graduate of the Virginia. Military 1nsti-
tute and dashing soldier, and Fl. ID.
Beall, OF Baltimore. Like most of the
gallant men who gave their services TO
their country, AIr. Rouss encountered the
usual experiences of the soldiers life,
with the attendant discomforts and perils
of the camp and the severe marches, ex-
posed to the sufferings of piercing cold
and blazing heat, and when the hour OF
terrible conflict came he bore his share
OF danger at The battle front.
AFTER THE WAR.
When the war ended it found MIR.
Rouss without a dollar. for he had given
his fortune in one way and another. to
the .sLost Cause Returning to his old
home in the Shenandoah Valley. he made
himself useful on his fathers farm. But
after the first harvest was over in 1865
and the crops had been gathered. he told
his fathe- that the life was too slow and
unsatisfactory for him; that he was going
to New York to become. if possible. q sec
ord A. r. Stewart. He left home with mis-
wife and child for New York with SIS in
his pocket. He did not at once catch to
business and his slim finances were soon
exhausted. However,, just when 1t seem
ed darkest he secured temporary employ
ment soon got well on his feet and be-
gan business career which has had few
parallels. When the panic of lSI! came
on he was shipping goods to more than
ore hundred stores. scattered over the
country, and had outstanding obligations
amounting to over $4,000 i'll New York.
Being unable to make collections. he was
forced into bankruptcy and surrendered
everything. One of his most treasured
possessions is a receipt showing the pay
mcnt of every cent of his i-dehtedness,
with full interest up to the date of pay
roaOt narSopal latter from Mr.
B. CIatfin, the millionaire merchant, say
ing 1t was the second Instance of its kind
in all his mercantile experience
GREAT PROSPERITY
But Mr.. Rouss would not be downed.
He recommended business in small room
on Church Street, for which he paid one
dollar a day. and which he says %as t.
hardest rent to pay he had ever contract
ed for. Business prospered, and no made
three moves on Broadway, his last rent
being $4,000 year. But even here his
business soon outgrew his space, and his
last move was into the immense struc-
ture on Broadway. the cost OF
which was 4 round million dol
lars. Here he transacted bust
ness of from s10,OoV,O0O to s15.000,000s a
year, and as he realizes 70 per cent, net
spot CASH from his sales, an idea Of his
immense income is readily obtained. Al
though nearly DllnQ. MT. sflouS5 was tEe
hardest worker OF the five hundred peo-
pie in the establishment, and he seldom
puts in less than twelve hours work a
day
While a hard worker, Mr.. Rouss was
most generous in his benefactions. His
gifts to Winchester alone aggregate at
least 100000 and include a splendid water
supply handsome iron railing around
Mt. Hebron and Stonewall Cemeteries.
three fire engines, etc. He has given
se5, GOO to the University of Virginia for
the erection of scientific building. He
offered 100000 for the erection OF Con-
federate memorial abbey These are only
few of his public benefactions. His
private gifts every year are known to
reach into the thousands of dollars
Like every man who acquired wealth,
Mr.. Rouss had forced upon him the pen
atty of owning money. He received beg
gipg letters from every section OF the
globe. and every mail contained them
To all such demands copy of one OF
this following letters vas sent by his