The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1882-04-29
HOME SWEET HOME.
THE MAGIC OF MUSIC RENAISSANCE OF JOHN
HOwARP PAYNE.
little Rock Cor. Chicago Tines

From gentleman who ust reached this city
from Indian Territory, the Times correspondent
| learned of new and interesting chapter in the
history of the life of John Howard Payne author
of 'Home. Sweet Home" Payne was a warm
! personal friend of John Ross, who will he re-.
membered as celebrated chief of the Cherokees.
| At the time the Cherokces were removed from
| their homes in Georgia to their present possess
sions west of the Mississippi River Payne was
spending few weeks in Georgia with Ross, who
was occupying miserable cabin, having been
forcibly elected from his former home. num-
ber of prominent Chcrokees were In prison. and
that portion of Georgia in which The tribe was
| located was secured by armed squads of the
Georgia militia, who had orders to arrest all who
refused to leave the country.
| While Ross aud Payne were seated before the
| fire in the hut the door was suddenly burst
open and six or eight militia men sprang into
the room. Ross wife was seated on trunk
containing many valuable papers and small
amount of money, and at the unexpected intru-
sion she sprang up and screamed wildly. Ross
spoke TO her in the Cherokee language, telling
her to be seated rs she would thus save the
contents of the trunk. and. as she sst down
again. the intruders told Ross that both be and
Payne were under arrest and must prepare to
accompany the squad to Milledgcvlle. where
they would be imprisoned. The soldiers lost no
time in taking their prisoners away. Ross was
permitted TO ride his own horse, while Payne
was mounted on one led by a soldier. As the
little party left the hovel ram began falling aud
continued until every man was drenched
thoroughly. The journey lasted all night. To-
ward midnight Payne's escort, in order to keep
himself awske, began humming ''Home-hom
-sweet-sweet- home" when Payne remarked:
Little did expect to hear that song under
such circumstances and at such time. Do you
know the author ~
"No." said the soldier. 'Do you"
eyes" Payne answered "l composed it."
"Tbe devil you did You can tell that to
some fellows, but not to me. Look here. you
made that aOag you say +; if you did
know you didnt-you can say it all without
stopping. 1t has something in ii about pleasure
and palaces. Now pitch ir and reel it of and
if you can't, III bounce you from your horse
and lead you instead of it."
This threat was answered by Payne, who re-
pc ated the song in slow, subducd tone, and
then eang it. making the old words ring with the
tender melody and paR3os of the woods. II
no. onlSicaptivated but ~ who
sa'S thatfthe composer q -,
nevev C@ 70 prison if n hna
VIXEN ssaHarty rse-euvu MliedseV.lle they were,
,sfss 1lhinary examination, discharged,
much to their surprise. Payne insisted it was
| because the leader of the squad had been under
the magnetic influence of Ross conversation,
and Ross insisted that they had been saved from
inpult and imprisonment by the power Of
Home, Sweet Home" sung as only those who
feel can sing it. The friendship existing between
Ross and Payne endured until the grave closed
over the mortal remains of the latter.