The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-06-09
HOME, SWEET HOME
Two Beautiful Stories of Our National
 Song.

Every household in the United States should contain a picture of John Howard Payne. He produced song which, although familiar to other countries, is purely American, for ours was the flag he saw through the mists which gathered in his eyes as his aching heart gave to the world the tender passion of Home, Sweet Home"
 The great artists of the lyric stage, whether of native or foreign birth, often turn from the mighty sympho- nies of grand opera to render the sim pie music and touching sentiment of this ballad, and they throw into Its rendition their greatest powers of voice and ability to play on the heart strings of vast audiences.
 Patti, the most gifted of all living singers, always melts human nature to tears with her production of this melody.
 Two incidents relating to this song, whose music and sentiment blend so perfectly, will show how completely its pathos Is woven into the tender memories of our life. One is of war, when brothers were opposed to maim and k!ll-..the other of songstress, pining for the distant homo of her childhood.
 THE MUSICAL DUEL.
 On the night before the battle of the Rappahannock the two great armies lay encamped with only the river between them, in plain sight of each others camp fires and hearing of preparations for the morning. Early in the evening the band of an infantry regiment on the Union side, whether in spirit of bravado or for the pur- pose of inspiring the hearts of the sol diers, played with energy the stirring air of "The Red, White and Blue. They had hardly ceased playing when band from the Confederate camp across the river gave answer in the music of "Dixie." Then the Union band sent forth its power again in "The Star-Spangled Banner" and tn. reply came from the other side in the strains of "The Bonnie Blue Flag "Hail Columbia" and Maryland, My Maryland" followed in challenge and answer untilsat last the Union band, becoming exhausted in Its stock of national airs, performed with tender ness "Home, Sweet Home... Ther. was silence for time, and then from the Confederate camp sweet music foated once again, and the same loved sounds were there of "Home, Sweet Home."
 Kindred visions came into the minds of the soldiers in the opposing armies, and the same thoughts filled all hearts. He of the north saw the green fields and the dear surroundings of his far- of home-saw the evening lamps lighted and the kneeling forms pray ing for his safe return. He of the south scented the breath of magnolias and jessamines blowing round his childhood's home. Both saw faces at the window watching, saw hands at the doorway waving their sad iare- well-heard voices in the light wind
 "DeaT ss remem bsTss9 kisses | After dessh."
 Then in the silence that fell upon both armies the arch of memory rose from either side, met at its summit, the key- stone of Home, Sweet Home" dropped to its place, the chasE that had sepa- rated the sections was bridged in that hour, and over it passed the fuliili- ment oi all the years in which Puri- tan and Cavalier had lived asd gro wD strong together. All that night it existed in dreams, but the carnage which came with the morning shat tered its bases and the gulf was as wide as ever.
 cARoLIHE ncHrxGs AT GREEN LAKE. Green Lake in Colorado is located