Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-01-13
JvHs HOWARD pAYNE's LOVE.
Author OF "Home, Sweet Home" Died In a
Foreign Land and Homeless.


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TT. Larry CAN'T, IL spartsnburS Herald. I
Some one said the sweetest word
in the English language is "Home."
Thesweetest song that ever emanated
from an American pen is alone,
Sweet Home" This simple melody
has been translated into every civil
lized tongue, and has thrilled the
hearts of untold millions. Itappeals
to and touches and softens the heart
of all humankind. The millionaire,
in his guided palace, the peasant in
his cottage, the shivering and starv-
ing wretch in his garret, and even
the homeless outcast as he aimlessly
wanders through the streets Of some
great city or tramps the highways of
his country. There is a peculiar
pathos in this song that stirs anew a
better feeling in the breast of man,
and touches even the most callous
and wretched heart.
And yet John Howard Payne, the
author of "Home, Sweet Home"
wasshimself an outcast and wandered
upon the face o. the earth, and had
never known or experienced the
comforts and pleasures of home.
His early days were spent in no.
madic existence, and in later years
he wandered from one great
European capital to another, often
without a penny to buy food or a
place to lay his head.
1t is stated that often, while John
Howard Payne was a homeless wan
derer at night through tho streets of
London, he would hear floating from
some brilliantly illuminated mansion
the sweet and touching strains of
his own "Home, Sweet Home"
But little did the dazzling beauty,
sitting at the piano, know that the
author of her song was at thatss mo-
ment wanderer by her door, and
like unto the Saviour of mankind,
without place to lay his head.
After leading for many years n
wayward and homeless life the ad-
mirers of this gifted poet secured
him an appointment as consul at
Tangiers in Algiers. Here in this
distant island, far removed from kin
dred and friends, John Howard
Payne passed away, and died as he
had lived, without home.
Recently while on visit to
Athens, the seat of education,
wealth and refinement for the great
State of Georgia, in driving down
Prince Avenue, passed little one
story, weather-beaten cottage, nest
ling in grove Of ornamental trees,
and presenting queer contrast with
the magnificent modern residences
surrounding it. In this little home
lived and died withered and aged
maiden lady, Miss Mary Harden.
Miss Harden descended from one of
the leading and most distinguished
families of Georgia, her father, Gen.
Harden, being an ante bellum minis.
ter to France. Mis-, Harden was one
of the most brilliant and intellectual
ladies of her day, linguist, and
having accompanied her father to
France, acted as the secretary and in
terpreter.
While in her teens and the, zenith
of her beauty, Miss Mary Harden
met John Howard Payne, who was
at that time young man engaged
in helping remove the Cherokee
Indians from Georgia. 1t was a
case of love at first sight and the
young couple became devotedly at
tached to each other, and which af-
fection endured as long as life lasted.
But the vagrant life led by young
Payne presented an insurmountable
obstacle to the contamination of
their happiness.
John Howard Payne often visited
his sweetheart in her Athens home,
and Rob Roy, an old negro servant
who waited on the guest and tended
his horse, died only about two years
ago. 1t was during this happy
period that John Howard Payne
wrote his immortal song, "Home,
Sweet Home," and which will en-
dure and be sung by unborn millions
30 long as there is home.
Miss Mary Harden died some
eight or ten years ago, leaving all
of her property and belongings to
her devoted friend and kinswoman,
Miss Effie Jackson, of Athens, Ga.
In the trunk of the deceased was
discovered package of love letters,
among them the original manuscript
of "Home, Sweet Home" with