[from the Winchester Republican]
A Liberal-Mind Gentleman.--Instances of liberality towards the State and Confederate Governments have been numerous, and have been rightfully recorded by the Press. But instances of liberality towards the poor and body, on the part of business men, are of far fore unfrequent occurrence, and constitute exception rather than the rule, ‘"A friend a need is a friend indeed,"’ and he who conducts his business operations in these timeless war so as to afford life and sustenance the poorer classes, rather than to acoummuist wealth, gives evidence of genuine, disinterested patriotism and builds for himself a monument more attractive than the polished work of the sculptor's hand. The desire to mass riches, even at the expense of grinding down the poor, has been so frequently and they demonstrated on the part of business meting general, that one conducting operations for a different plan is accounted the wonder of a community.We have been led into the remarks by a circumstance which lately name under our immediate observation. The exorbitant prices demanded for the necessary article of salt having attracted the attention of our enterprising and go-ahead townsman, Mr. Charles B. Roues, that gentleman dispatched an agent to the Salt Works, in Southwestern Virginia, with insidious to buy 1,000 sacks, to be furnished this customers and the poor of the town at as lowest price as possible. Owing to the destruction of the bridges on some of the roads, and the occupation of others in transporting Government freight, only a portion of the salt has reached Star-burg. On its arrival there he following telegraphic correspondence editor place:
Steeping, Nov. 28.
C. B. Rouss — There are 100 aks of salt here of yours, and I am offer one thousand dollars for it. Answer. Jr Fleming.
Winchester, November. 28.
Jno Fleming:
Ten thousand dollars would not buy it.
On the arrival of the salt at Winchester, and before it was unloaded from the wagon, Mr. R. was offered fourteen dollars sack, for the lot; but he refused the balt on the ground that he had purchase for the purpose of accommodation, not upon nation. The entire lot of salt was dispose of at five dollars per sack, no purchaser being allowed more than one sack Mr. Roun has the proud consolation of knowing that in refusing a large pecuniary gain, he is added to the comfort and health of large and worthy class in this community. An the article of sugar, a similar liberality as been displayed by Mr. Rouss. Hogshet after hogshead has been retailed out by 1st gentleman at twelve and a half cents per pound, when twenty or twenty-five cents per pound could have been realized.
We have thus alluded to this transaction not for the purpose of ‘"puffing"’ Mr. Rouss, but with the hope that others, sing his good example, may be constrained to ‘"go and do likewise."’ It will give them pleasing prominence in the community must at the same time a consciousness of duty well performed will administer to the inappoiness through life. Would that me of the industry, energy, and humanity, and as it exhibited by Charles B. Rouss, was more plentiful.
