Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-02-17
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CHARLxs Town, JEFFERsoH CoUnrr, W. W.
Telephone Call No. 50.
TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY II, 1908.
Gro. W. HAInxs, Editor and Proprietor.
ell in Advance; % If not Paid In Advance.
Big ROUSS BANQUET.
Independent Firemen Honor the Memory
OF Their Departed BenefactOr,
AND
Many Distinguished Guests Participate
In The Happy Occasion.

/ The banquet of the Independent Fire
Company in honor of the 9th birthday
anniversary of their departed generous
benefactor, Charles Broadway Rouss,
held on Wednesday evening last, was a
truly grand affair. and reflected much
credit upon Capt. ]. c. Holmes and all
concerned in its management and getting
up.
Rouss Memorial. IN which the banquet
was held. was profusely decorated, and
the four long tables reaching the entire
in the Independent Company's own china,
adorned with flowers and potted plants,
and ladened with the best of everything
the season affords.
BY the courtesy of Malta Lodge the
guests of The evening, both ladies and
gentlemen. were received in the Masonic
Hall on the third floor. and from thence,
at $3.50 O'Clock, proceeded to the banquet
tables in Rouss Hall.
After prayer by Rev. 7. S. Alfriend
several hundred persons sat down to a
most sumptuous feast. and that they did
full justice to the liberal menu provided
goes without the-saying.
Cleon Moore, Esq, served as toast
master. and presided very happily in
deed, delivering an opening address
emnently fitting to the occasion.
The . Welcome TO Our guests was
handsomely extended by Prof. S. p.
Hatton, Principal of Powhatan College.
Rev. J. S. Alfriend. of Zion Episcopol
Church, recited an interesting war poem,
We drank from the same canteen.
Col. Forrest W. Brown, by reason of
unavoidable absence from town. was un-
able to respond in person to the toast
. To the memory Of our departed bene-
factor, Charles Broadway Rouss." and
therefore transmitted the following to
Capt. Holmes:
February 10 1904.
Capt. Julius G. Holmes, Independent Fire
Co Charles Town, w. ".
Dear Sir: regret very much that my
unavoidable absence from Charles Town
will prevent me from attending the ban
quet on the 18th day of February. to COM
memorate the anniversary OF Charles Broad
way Rouss.
thank you and the Independent Fire
Company for the courtesy that you have
shown me by extending the invitation to
respond to the toast Charles Broadway
Rouss."
present at your banquets and responded to
that toast, / have felt that IL would be par
ticularly ard peculiarly privilege and a
duty on this occasion. lecause since your
banquet last year Mr. Rouss has surrender
ed to the iufirmities Of all human flesh. and
has passed over the river to rest under the
shade of the trees. 1t is therefore very i'm
portant that his memory and bis character
should receive attention at our hands at
this, the first occasion after his death.
Within the last year it hiss been my priv
ileee to read an address delivered by val
ueI friend of our community, Col. II. d.
Beail, on the character and achievements of
Mr.. Rouss, also an ex ersive article from a
life long friend Mr Jaquelin Smith, and
no one who has read either the address or
tine article can sai g., admire the energy and
the fairness. the integrity and tile sublime
courage of the man sfter whom this hall is
nsmed
After reading the history % the late civil
war from all soafces, North and South.
during period Of over hif,y years. have
come TO the concus on that this Valley of
( Virginia fprhisised to lie army Of the Con
federscy the most unselfsh. gallant and
heroic men in The history OF the word.
Asyol meet To night and were present
/ would recall to sou the bri-f histories or
biographies of the gallant eirizens. mere
youths, who went forth TO fight those ba:-
ties in 1861. MAY jut recall the names OF
a few hon r.d deal within the last two u
I three years
The little Company known as Company
B. distinguished fer its bravery, fortitude
and untiring e&ergy. aud the other COM
panies made up of citizens of the valley. ex-
hibit death role remarkable for the indi-
vidual achievements.
Henry D. BealI is dead, George Baylor is
dead, VIM L. Wilson is dead. Charles B
Rouss is dead this is few In the honored
number who sleep the sleep that knows nc
waking. Could there be mentioned the
names of men who are more to be honored
for their character in life? Mere boys. they
embarked in the defence Of what they
thought be right and fought to the last
hour in defence of the principles in which
they believed After Appamattox, resum-
ing the ordinary duties of life. they became
distinguished to more or less degree II
their various pursuits.
Our whole country applauds Mr.. Wilson
as pure, scholarly and unfaltering states
man. Several States recognize Henry D
Beall as an experienced and able journalist
n The bar of the State of West Virgins 10.