Year: 1874

ASSS@~s AAo DS"s


The History Of the Famous old ss.g-The


Author stiM Living. .-


Colonel w. II. Sparks of New Or
leans, the author of this famous song,
is, perhaps, as we'll, if not better known
in the South than any other man Of the
old regime of aristocracy. The Colo
mel is now over IS years of age, but
still retains his health, constitutional
vigor and great mental strength to
remarkable degree. He numbered as
his personal associates and companions
of the long ago such great personages
as Daniel Webster, Calhoun, General
Jackson, John Bell, Slidell, and most of
the statesmen of note who fourished in
those times. In a recent letter to q
friend in Augusta, Ca, he said:


It is very true I wrote the lines 1
send you, and they are the first that
were ever sung to the air, which became
famous. I will give you brief history
of the writing and Of the man who in
spired them. When I first went to the
West, in 1926, L was some time in Sc
lecting a domicil. Why, it is not nee
essary for me to state, as the reason and
causes for the delay will form theme
for chapter in the second volume of
the " Memories of Fifty Years."


Finally 1 located in Mississippi and
commenced the practice of law. I was
in the midst of the noblest race of peo-
pie l had ever known. Among these
were two equally remarkable. but very
unlike. One was schoolmaster, who
was quite old, and who had been teach
ing in that neighborhood for over forty
years. His name was James Rossum.
He was peculiar in his habits. On Mon
day morning, neatly dressed and clean
ly shaven, he went to his duties in the
old school-house, where two-thirds of
his time had been spent, and assiduous-
ly devoted himself to the duties OF his
vocation until Friday evening.


On the morning of Saturday he ar
rayed himself in his best, and devoted
the day to visiting the ladies in the
neighborhood. Hewas welcome guest
at every house. This habit had con-
tinued so long that he had acquired the
sobriquet of " Rossum, the Beau" The
others name was Cox, who was roll
licking, good fellow, and the best vocal
ist ever knew. He was in song what
Prentiss was in oratory, and they were
boon companions-both died young.


Cox was frequently at my office, and
upon one occasion when he was there
Rossum walked by the door, and his
age was apparent in his walk. Cox
looked at him, and, after a pause,
turned to me and remarked in quite q
feeling tone, which he could assume at
pleasure, and its eloquence was inde-
scribable: "Poor old Rossum! some
of these sunny mornings he will be
found dead, when he shall have noble
funeral, and all the ladies will honor it
by being present, I know"


Soon after he left the office, and be-
ing in the humor, I seized the idea and
wrote the following doggerel 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, to
which they have ever since been sung.


1 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 al
most as many have claimed the author
ship of the liues; but this is of no mo-
ment. I claim no merit for my lines,
but everything for Cox's singing them
| have seen him draw tears from the
eyes of old and young with the feeling
he threw into the song:


Now, soon on some SOFT sunny morning,


The first thing my neighbors shall know,
Their ears shall be met with the warning.


"Come bury old Rossum. the beau"


My friends then so neatly shall dress me


In linen as white as the snow,


And in my new coffin shall press me.


And whisper: 4" 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.


Then take YOU dozen good fellows,


And let them all staggering go;


And dig a deep hole in the meadow,


And in it toss R0ssum, the beau.


Then shape out couple of dornicks,


Place one at the head and the toe;


And do not fail to scratch on it


Here lies old Rossun, the beau"


Then take these dozen good fellows,


And stand them all round in a row,


And drink out of a big-bellicd bottle


,.1l 4