The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1874-09-30
OLD ROBsUM, THE BEAU.
what Col. sparks KzAnvvs About this HIS
torsC Individual
--- rn.a.a = EanLNannr. nn.snr-

VAb eVGG W. 4GAA D0G&1s
what Col. sparks Knows About this His
toriC individual.
From a Southern Paper,
Noticing in the columns of the Sun
Enquirer, a few days ago, an article
from Mai. Calhoun, in which allusion is
made to Col. w. Il. Sparks, of New Or
leans, nov in this city, as the author of
this we'll known and popular old song.
1 called his attention to II. The follow
ing letter is in reply to my inquiry,
Col. Sparks is, perhaps, as well if not
better known than any other man of the
old regime of a~ristoeraoy and wealth,
for Ehich the great southwest became
80 famous anterior to the war. He is
the author of a notwithstanding book
entitled Memories of Fifty Years"
The colonel is now over seventy-ive
years of age; but still retains his
health, constitutional vigor, and great
mental strength to o remarkable degree,
He numbered as his personal associates
and companions of the long ago such
personages as DaniRl Webster, Calhoun,
Gen. jackson, John Bell, Slidell, and
/ most of the statesmen of note who
hourished in those times. In converse
tional powers the colonel is unsurpassed,
and his familiarity and acquaintance
with all the prominent men and public
incidents of a half century back make
his society really charming. He, to-
gether with his excellent and talented
lady, have been spending the summer
at the Kimball House, and the two have
been the center Of great attraction for
the number of intelligent guests who
daily throng it's parlors. But I give
you Col. Sparks own word together
with the original Rossum the Beau y
ATLANTA, Ga, Aug. 81, 1874.
Mr.. w. I'll. MooRE Ny Dear Sir
I ana obliged TO you for the little para
graph from the Columbus paper as
cribing to me the authorship of this
song, once so popular throughout the
country.
It is very true, / wrote the lines I
send You, and they are the first that
we're aver sung to the air which became
famous.
will give you a brief history of the
writing, and of the man who inspired
them. When l first went TO the west,
in 1896, / was some time in selecting a
domicile. Why-it is not necessary for
me to state, rs the reason and causes
for delay will form a theme for u chap
ter in the second volume of the Mem
cries Of Fifty Years"
Finally I located in Mississippi and
commenced the practice of law. II was
in the midst Of the noblest race Of PEG.
pie | have ever known. Amongst these
were two equally remarkable but very
unlike. One was a schoolmaster who
was quite old, and who had been teach,
ing in that neighborhood over forty
wears. His name was James Rossum.
He was peculiar in his habits. On
Monday morning, neatly dressed and
clearly shaver, he went to his duties in
the old school-house, where %two-thirds
of his life had been spent, and assidu-
ously devoted himself to the duties of
his vocation until Friday evening. On
Saturday morning he arrayed himself
in his best, and devoted the day in Wis
iting the ladies of the neighborhood.
He was d welcome guest at every house.
This habit had continued so long that
he had acquired the sobriquet of
A" Rossum, the Beau" The others name
was Cox, who was q ~rollicking good fel.
low, and the best vocalist I ever knew.
He was in song what Prentiss was in
orRtOry, and they were boon compan-
ions. Both died young.
Cox was frequently at my office, and
one occasion while he was there
Rossum walked by the door, and his
age was apparent in his walk. Cox
looked at him. and after q pause burned
to me and remarked in quite q feeling
tone, which he could assume at pleas.
ure, and its e~loquenee was indescrib.
able: " Poor old RosBnmI some of these
sunny mornings he will be found dead,
when he shall have b noble funeral,
and all the ladies will honor IL with be-
ing present, I know"
Soon after he left the office, and be-
in the humor / seized the ideas and
wrote the following doggereI lines.
Soon after COX returned, and I handed
them to him. He got up, walked and
hummed different airs, until he fell
upon the old Methodist hymn tune, in
which they have ever since been sung.
/ have always considered Cox more
entitled to the authorship Of the song
than myself.
Hundreds of lines have been written
TO the air, by as many persons, and
almost as many have claimed the au-
hhorship Of the lines; but this is of no
moment. I claim no merit for my lines,
but everything for Oox'B singing them.
have seer him draw tears from the
eyes Of the old and the young:
Now, soon, on some soft, sunny morning,
The first thing my ~neighhors shall know,
Their ears shall be met with the warming
Come bury old Rosautn, the beau.
My friends then so neatly shall dress me
In linen as white as the snow
And in my new cofliu shall press me,
And whisper: Poor RoHsura, the beau.
And when I'm to be buried, 1 reclr on,
The ladies will all like 10 go;
Let them form at the foot OF my coffin.
And follow old RoHsurn, the beau.
Then take you a dozen good fellows.
And let them all staggering go:
And dig q deep hole In the meadow.
And in IL toss RoasuIn, the beau.
Then shape ont q couple of dornicks.
Place one ut the head and the toet
And do not fail 70 scratch on IL
Here lies old RoHsurl, the beau.
Then take YOU these dozen good fellows,
And stand them all round in a row;
Ard drink out Of . big-he1lied bottle,
80 - h&mf Eg I