The evening times., 1900-05-28
JOHN HOWARD PAYKEs LOVE.
A Romance in the Life OF the Famous
Author.

Author.
ATHENS, Ca, May 2s-Rob Roy Har-
din, an old negro who died here few
! Gays ago, was the last being left TO tell
from personal knowledge OF the author Of
Home. Sweet Home" and his Southern
| sweetheart There is every reason 70 be-
Iieve that old Rob Roy knew more about
John Howard Payne's only love affair than
anyone now living.
Back in the thirties the famous author,
who had returned from a stay Of more
than twenty years IN foreign countries. be-
came deeply interested in the movement
on the part of the General Coveiumz nt 20
remove the Creek and CheTOzee indians
from their home in Georgia, ard with a
very large number Of people Nj. Payne
did not believe that the proposed removal
was consistent with right and jUstice. Act
ting under this conviction he determined
/ 70 visit the Cherokee Nation and asceF-
tain for himself just what the Indians
thought OF the matter Among the g gntle-
men to whom he carried letters Of intro
duction was Gen. Edward Harden. who en-
tertained General lafayette in Savannah
in 1924. At the time OF Mr. Payne's visit
10 the South General Harden had removed
TO Athens Ga, and vas known and rec0g-
he State both socially and politically.
7 When Mr. Payne reached Athens he was
cordially received by General Harden. and
promised that whatever could be done in
aiding him in making the iaves; iga- ion
would be fCne. Mr.. Payne stopped At the
only tavern in Athens al that tine and
the evening he called to present his let
ter Of introduction he met for the first
time the beautiful daughter of General
Harden. and it was clearly a case of 1--we
at hrst sight. as the devoted attentions of
Ar- Payne afteryard proved.
Payne controlled his feelings and de-
voted himself TO the work he had entered
Georgia TO accomplish Through General
Harden he obtained an invitation from
the chief OF the CheTOkees, John Ross. TO
visit the Indians This he eagerly ac-
cepted, but he had scarcely put his foot
among the Indians before an ofheiOus IN
dian agent named Curry had him arrested
as a suspicious character and charged
him with meddliBg with matters which
did not concern him. and endeaVoring 10
stir up strife between the Indians and the
whites As quickly as possible MT. Payne
acquainted General Harden with the facts
OF his arrest and that gentleman imme-
diately hastened 10 the capital al Mil
ledgeville and secured from the Governor
the necessary papers for Payae's release.
Il is at this stage Of the story that the
negro Rob Roy. the house boy and valet
20 General Harden. furnished some inter
esting facts. as related by him.
The general and the rest Of the family
did not like the way Mr. Payne was being
treated and tell you that Mars Edward
sure did take plenty OF time in shining
up and cleaning ais pair Of pistols the
night before We started Up 10 the Indian
country after Mr.. Payne. OF course.
went with Mar Edward and II there
had been any ncnsense about releasing
Mr. Payne there would have been trouble.
for while nv m2rster was a quiet nan
he was hOrnet when stirred up. Wasn't
no steam cars in them days. and Mars
Edward and myself went horseback. car
rying with US a good horse for Mr.. Payne
20 ride back TO Athens on. / sure did
feel powerful sorry for Mr. Payne when I
seed him 'mong them Indians and
watched closer than ef they expected that
he was a snOkehOuse rObber and chicken
thief. Il didn't take Mars Edward long
10 nounce his mission among the Indians
and II WASH Z more than three hours after
We reached the nation before we had Mr.
Payne and or our way back to this town
Mars Edward sure did talk sassy 70 that
white man Curry. who hung his head and
looked like a sheep-killing dog. Mr.
Payne told Mars Edward not to be brash-
that the fellow was ignorant Young
marsteT, IL was a long trip back here.
over the mountains and rough roads. ard
l did feel so sorry for Mr.. Payne, because
he was SO pale and sick-llke and looked
like he didn't have a friend on earth 1
remember that as We rode along Mr..
Payne was hUmming that sweet old song.
Home. Sweet Home and that was the
first time ever heard H. bur I heard il
many times after that for Miss Nary
used u sing il often before she got old.
before Mars Edward and old missus died
and before Miss Mary got so curious-like
and lived all by herself in that biz old
Harden house round here on Hancock
Avenue
I know that she thought a powerful
heap Of ar Payne. and he was a powerful
nice mo q He never did come to see Miss
Mary y thout giving NE dollar. and al
ways s. Thank you for every little thing
I did for him I was mighty sorry when
he left Athens. and expect Miss Mary
was. too Mr. Payoe is dead and gone. Miss
Mary. God bless her. Just lived there in
that old house and grieved herself 10 dea.h.
and poor old Rob amt got long 10 stay
here
The old negro was a prime favorite with
the students at the state University. and
was held in high esteem by the entire peo-
pie Of the city Up 20 the time OF The death
,
six years ago. old Rob Jared we'll for his
mistress saw that he was provided
with the comforts and necesSaries Of life.
but after her death the old man had a
pretty rough road being unable 10 per
form manual labor. Rob Roy was a ia
miliar figure in the residence portion Of the
city. as he went around carrying a large
basket. into which many good things 10 ear
were placed by people who knew him. 4
few years ago the county commissioners
gave him a monthly cash pension. sufficient
TO keep him from want. and during the
last years CT his life the faithful old man
had no occasion TO be dependent Upou those
who knew his history
It is not stated as an absolute truth. but
it is believed here that Miss Nary Harden
had the original manuscript OF Home.
Sweet Home and that il was placed in
her coffin with her There are these r-ho
claim that Miss Earden gave il 70 her
niece Miss Efhe Jackson. who is now living
in Athens Miss Jackson has been cues
toned about the matter. but she declines
10 either deny or affirm The statement.
CURRENT HUMoR.
tnsatisfactOry Lodgings.