Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-12-18
's1ld II -ASss.as. the III 'aaas's-Tia
Author of that SHRg.


Author of that ss0Rg.
The veteran Colonel W. H. Sparks, Of
Louisiana, has been spending the sum
M 7 in Atl,uta, Gl., and though III ilE
seventy-ffth yetr, retains his healt.
and m nta and physical siren eth and vi
vacity to Il remark lble degree. The Co
lumbus, Ga, "Enquirpr'' Il few dtys age
contained in editorial allusin t. Colonel
Sparks rs t:e altlor of thlt once IL liver
sally known and widely sung American.
ballad, ''Uld Rrssum, the Beau" This
was shown to the old gentleman, and i'll
reply he writes IA letter to friend, which
the Atlanta 'snertld' publishes. He says,
under date of August Dist:
it is very true | wrote the lines l SEN
you, an they are thu inst til Ut were ever
sung to the air, which became famous.
will give y,u u brief history Of the
writing, and OF tae mtn WHO inspired
them When first went to the West, i'll
1926. was some time in selecting a do
micll.
Finally I 10 ated in Mississippi, and
commenced the practice Of law. 1t WA
in the midst Of the noblest race Of people
I have ever known. Am ,ngst these wer,
two equally remarkable, but very unlike.
One was a scho ,lmaster, who was quite
oil, and who had been teaching in thai
npighb1rhood over forty years. His name
WIS James Rnssum. lie was peculiar III
his habits. On Monday morning, neatly
dressed aud clearly shaven, lie went to his
duty i'll the old sc'lool~llouse, where two
thirds of his life had been spent, and as
siduOusly devoted himself to the duties of
his vocation until Friday evening. On
the morning of Saturd " h8 arrayed him
self in his best, and devoted the day in
visiting the ladies of the neighborhood.
He was welcome guest at every house.
This habit had continued SO long that he
had acquired the soubriqupt Of 'Rossum,
the Beau" The others nam3 was Cox,
who was q rolIieking. good fellow, and the
best vocalist I ever knew. He was in
song what Pfentiss was in oratory, and
they were boon comprehension died
young.
mon one occasion while he was there Ros,
sum liked by the door, and his age was
apparent in his walk. Cox looked after
him, ard, after a pause, turned to me and
remarked III quite a feeling tone, which ut
coull assume at pleasure, and its eloquence
was indescrlbable: Poor old Rossum.
Soma of these sunny mornings he will be
found dead. when he shall have a nobi''
funeral, and al! the ladies will honor it
with being present, | know"
Soon after he left the Off :e. AMI being in
the humor, sez9d the ideas and Wrot''
the following d ,ggerel lines. Soon after
G X returned, and L handed them to him
He got ,tp, walked and hum ned different
airs. Ii iii Ii fell up,n the oil Met 10 list
hyinu tune in which they have ever since
been sung.
have al ways considered Cox more en-
ii led to the auth ,rslip of the song than
myself
Hundreds of lines have been written to
the air, by us MANY persons, and almost as
IN my have claimed the authorship OF the
lines: but this is of no IN 'ment. ! claim
II, merit for my lines, but everything for
Cox's sin sing them. have see him draw
tears from the eyes of old and young with
the feeling he threw into the song:
N1w soon on some soft, sunny morning,
The first thing my neighbIrS shall know,
Their ears shall be met with the warning
Come bury old Rossun, the beau
NY frienls then so neatly shall dress me
In linen as white As the snow
AMI in my new coffin shah pre- me,
AnIw i,ner: Poor Rossum, the beau.
And when I'm to be buried? reckon,
The ladies will all like to go;
Let them form at the foot of my coffin,
And follow old Rossum, the beau
Thea take you dozen good fellows,
And let them all staggering 60;
And dir a deep hoe in the meadow,
And in it toss Rossum, the beau
Then shape out a couple OF dornicks,
Place one at the head and the toe;
AMI q, not fail to scratch on it
Here lies Old Ros sum- the beau.
Then take you these dozen good fellows,
Aud stand them all round in row;
And driu out of ig-bellied bottle,
Farewell to old Rossum, the beau.
| w. SPARKS.
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