Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-12-31
"ROsIN THE DO ;"
History Of the Famous Old Song-The
Author Still Living.
IL. NJ. n-I.... D.co.p,na

History OF the Famous Old Song-The |
Author still Living.
From he M,w Oriean, Picoyms'
Col, w. Sparks, of New Orleans, the
author OF the famous song, is perhaps as
we'll il not better known in the South than
any other man of old regime of aristocracy.
The Colonel is now over seventy-fve years
of age, but still retains his health, constitu-
tionnl vigor and great mental strength to
remarkable degree. He numbered among
his personal associates and companions Of the
long ago, such personages as Daniel Web
ster, John Calhoun, General Jackson, John
Slidell and most Of the statesmen Of note
who flourished in those times. In recent
letter to friend in Augusta, Ga, he said;
1t is very true l wrote the lines | sent
YOU, and they are the first that were sung
to the air which became famous. will
give you a brief history Of the writing and
the man who inspired them. When first
went TO the West, in 1926, was some time
in selecting a domicile. Why, 1t IL not
necessary for me to state, as the reason and
causes for the delay will form theme for
a chapter in the second volume OF the
"Memories of Fifty Years"
l.
commenced the practice of law. WINS in
the midst Of the noblest race of people l
had ever known. Among these were two
equally remarkable, but very unlike. One
was schoolmaster, who was quite old,
and who had been teaching in that neigh
borhood over forty years His name was
James Rossum. lie was peculiar in his
, habits. On Monday morning, neatly dress
, ed and cleanly shaved lie went to his du-
, ties in the old school house, where two
, thirds of his time had been spent, ,sand as
siduouslv devoted himself to the duties oi
q hia vocation, till Friday evening.
On the morning of Saturday he nrrayed
hims II in his best, and devoted the day te
, visiting the ladies in tho neighborhood
He was welcome guest at every house
The habit had continued 80 that he had Hc'
: auired the sobriquet of "Rossum the Beau.
The Others name was Cox, who WAS roi
= licking, good fellow aud the best vocalis
a ever knew. He was in song what Prem
!, tiss was in oratory, and they we're boo'
II companions-bot young.
Cox was frequently at my office and up
ID on one occasion when he was there Rossur
+ walked by the door, and his age was appar
ie ent by his walk. Cox looked at him, an
D, after pause turned to me and remarks
" in quite feeling tone, which he could as
If sumo at pleasure, and it's eloquence was in
re deecribsb Bile: "Poor old Rossum: some c
these sunny mornings he will be foun
dead, when he shall have noble funera
and all the ladies will honor it by thei
being present, know"
e. Soon after he left tho office, and being /
lie the humor, l seized the idea and wrote tn
/. succeeding dogerel rhymes, Soon ate
O. Cox arrived and 1 handed them to hin
e, 1 He got up, walked around and humme
:. different airs until he fell upon the oil
,e Methodist hymn tune, to which 1t has ev'
IL since Eeen sung.
have always considered Cox more er
titled to the authorship of the song tha
mySelf
Hundreds Of lines were then written
n the air by as many persons, and almost
r. many had claimed the authorship OF IL
liz lines; but this is OF no moment. l clai
- no merit for my lines but everything
80 Cox's singing them. haveseen him dra
he tears from the eyes of old and young wit
ne the feeling he threw into the song:
~ Now soon on some soft sunny morning,
u The first thing my neighbours shall know,
.S Thc.r ears shall DO met with the warning,
&c, "Come bury old Rossum, the beau"
NV friends then so neatly shall dress me
In linen as white as the snow,
S' And ia my cnfin shall press me,
e- A nd whisper: "Poor Ressum, the beau"
y, And when / IN to be buried, I reckon
~ The ladies' will all like 10 go
NC Let them form at the foot Of the coffin,
ne Aud fellow old Rossuu, the beau.
Then take you dozen good fellows,
- And let them all staggering go;
% And dig deep hole in the meadow,
And in il toss Rossum, the beau.
,r-
on Then shape out couple of dornicks,
- Place one al the head and the toe;
~, Aud do not fail to scratch on it,
nu ''Here lies old Rossum, the beau"
sts
an Then take these dozen good fellows,
a. Aud stand them all round in a row,
W. And drink out of big -bellied bottle
cl- Farewell to old Rossum, the beau p