The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-09-09
sold Rossum, the Beau"
...f 81 r.f'-
THE AUTHOR OF THAT SONG.


of Louisiana, has been spending the
summer in Atlanta Georgia, and
though in his seventy-ifth year, re-
tains his health and mental and
physical strength and yivacity to a |
remarkable degree. The Columbus,
Georgia, Enquirer a few days ago
contained an editorial allusion to
Colonel Sparks as the author Of that
once universally known and widely
sung American: ballad, 'O!d Ros-
sum, the Beau" This was shown to
the old gentleman, and in reply hel
writes letter to friend, which the
Atlanta Herald publishes. He says,
under date Of August 81:
It is very true, wrote the lines |
sent you, and they are the very first
that were ever sung to the air, which
became famous. s,. =,
viii give you brief history of
the writing, and of the man that in
spired them. When l first went to
the West, IN 1926, J. was some time
in selecting a donicile.
Finally I located in Mississippi,
and commenced the practice Of law.
It was in the midst Of the noblest
race of people I have ever known.
Amongst these were two equally re-
markabie, but very unlike. One was
a school master, who was quite old,
and who had been teaching in that
neighborhood over forty years. His
name was James Rossum. He was
peculiar in his habits. On Monday
morning neatly dressed and cleanly1
shaver, he went to bis duty in the
1 Cd school house, Where two-thirds Of
his life had been spent, and assidu-
onsly devoted himself to the duties
of his vocation until Friday evening.
On the morning Of Saturday he ar
rayed himself in his best, and de-
voted the day in visiting the ladies
of the neighborhood. He was a wei
come guest at every house. This
habit had continued so long that he
had acquired the sohriquet of eros
sum, the Beau" The others name
was Cox, who was a rollicking, good
fellow, and the best vocalist ever
knew. He was in song what Prem
tiss was in oratory, and they were
9 boon companions-both died young.
Cox was frequently at ing Office,
and upon one occasion whilst he was
there, Rossum walked by the door
and his age WAS apparent in his walk
Cox looked at him, and. aftera pause
turned to me and remarked in quite
a feeling tone, which he could assume
at pleasure, and its eloquence was
indescribable 'sPoor old Rossum
some. of these sunny mornings he
, will be found dead, when he shall
have "a noble funeral, and all the la
= dies will honor it with being present
| know" u0
Soon after he left the office, anG
being in the humor, [ seized the
ideas aud wrote the following dog
> gerel lines. Soon after Cox returned
and | handed them to him. He ,get
up, walked and shummed different
airs, until he fell upon the old Meth
odist hymn tune, in which they have
ever since been sung.
| have always considered Cox more
entitled 70 ohe authorship Of the song
9 than myself.
Hundreds of lines have been writ
ten to the air, by as many persons
and almost as many have claimed
the authorship Of the lines; but thi
is of no moment. ] claim no meri
for my lines, but everything Cox
singing them. l have seen him draw
tears from the eyes of old and young
= with the feeling he threw into tn
+ song: a
g Now. soon on some soft, sun.ly mornin
- The first thing my neighbor shal
know,
4 Their ears shall be ,ilet with the warnin
n Come bury old Rossum, the beau. =
" My friends then so neatly shall dress m
In linen, as white as the SHOW
T. And in my new coffin shall press me,
And whisper: Poor Rossum, the bea,
,g
T. And when Im to be buried, reckon
! The ladies will MI like to go;
u Let them form at the foot of my coffil
of And follow old Rossum, the beau.
i Then take you dozen good fellows,
d. And let them all staggering go;
m And dig deep hole in the meadow,
~ And in it toss Rossum, the beau.
Sc Then shape out couple Of dornicks,
Place one at the head and the toe;
D. A nj <lo NOT foil RI ccvafnh an IT,