Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-12-14
"reminiscences of John Howard Payne
and Of the Cherokee Indians.
The Southern World.

"Reminiscences OF Jonn uoWaIu fayne
and Of the Cherokee Indians.
The Southern World.
John Howard Payne, author of
"Home, Sweet Home" was warm per-
sonal friend of John Ross. who will be
remembered as the celebrated chief OF
the Cherokees. AT the time the Cher.
okees were removed from their homes in
Georgia to their present possessions
west of the Mississippi River Payne
was spending few weeks in Georgia
with Ross, who was occupying mis-
cradle cabin, having been iorcibly
elected from his former home. A mum.
ber Of prominent Cherokees were in
prison. and that portion of Georgia in
which the tribe was located was scour-
ed by armed squads of the Georgia
militia who had orders TO arrest all who
refused to leave the country. While
Ross and Payne were seated before the
fire in the hut the door was suddenly
burst open and six or eight nilitiamen
sprang into the room. Ross wife was
seated on n trunk containing many
valuable papers and n small amount of
money, and at the unexpected intrusion
she sprang up and screamed wildly.
Ross spoke to her in the Cherokee Ian
guage, telling her to be seated, as she
would save the contents of the trunk,
and thus sat down again. The intrud-
ers told Ross that he and Payne were
under arrest and must prepare to ac-
company the squad to MilledgeviIle,
where they were to 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 soldier. As
the little party left the hovel rain be-
gan falling and continued until every
man was drenched thoroughly. The
journey lasted all night. Toward mid
night Payne's escort in order to keep
himselfawake, began humming Home
home, sweet, sweet home,' when Payne
remarked
Little did expect to hear that
song under such circumstances and at
such a time. Do you know the au.
thor 2"
"No," said the soldier. "Do you -
ayes" answered Payne 81 compos.
ed it."
The devil you did. You can tell
that to some fellows, but not to Inc.
Look here, you made that song you
say ifyou did-and know you didn't
you can say it all without stopping.
1t has something in it about pleasure
and palaces. Now pitch in aud reel
it of, and ii you can't I'll bounce you
from your horse aud lead YOU instead
of it,"
The threat was answered by Payne,
who repeated the song in slow, sub.
dued tone, and then sang 1t, making
the old woods ring with the ieuder
melody aud pathos of the words. 1t
touched the heart of the rough soldier,
who was not captiyated but convinced,
and who said that the composer ofsuch
song should never 20 TO prison If he
could help it. And when the party
reached MilledgevilIe they were, after
a preliminary examination, discharged,
much to their surprise. Payne insist.
ed it was because the leader of the
squad had been under the magnetic
influence of Ross conycrsation. aud
Ross insisted that they had been saved
from insult and imprisonment by the
power of Home Sweet Home" surg
as only those who feel can singit. The
friendship existing between Ross and
Payne endured until the grave closed
over the mortal remains OF the latter