Evening Star Newspaper, June 9, 1883, Page 2

ME, SWEET HOME” [Continued from First Page.) fe Manner of a harmony of the yur gospels; but e market having been previously occupled by a iaiiar work from the pen of an eminent clergy- , the project Was abandoned. SOUTHERN TOUR % Mr. Payne :nedea tonr through the south- and visited the city ot New Orleans, elved by many of a complimentary ben: % Theater, the net proceeds of done thon | On 4 way ba to New York he visited the j herokee country and passed several weeks with | hn Ross, the chief of the nation. At this time | 2 United States savoring | nezotiate a treaty with the Cherokees, provid- (ing for thetr reme J the Missis- Bippt river, a m opposed. os anid his ch sons for roperty in danger | pending, a military | ¢ the berder line > Peace between the waite Poker i removed | ly Into Tennessee. Mr. intimacy Brith Ross excited a susp i t he was in postponing a rat ton of the Breaty, and this suspicion mduced twenty-five embers of the fa Gu.td to” sur- und the hut of Hoss on a dark night, and Without orders or fecal authority, to arrest’ both | im and Mr. Payn m they forced to rt to jointly allot expense, and he had also Se Durhng the Fide one OF the eed eee | several large trunks containing “vatuable, books, Home, Sweet Hom thinking to | Papers and keepskes, which he was anxious to nen tne 4 Gskel tueta ie | Eting to New York for repacking, with a. view to they Knew he was the author of the so «us | their shipment to Tunts, but was ata loas to know | reap een tly > | Where to find a room in whieh to place them until 5 Songs they were ready to be sent to the steamer in which eee cal j he had taken passage. Fortunately I had a lange an] Wuogeupl -d rooin In the rear of the gallery, to F | Which I told him he could send them, and, at the Sun time, requested him to make my rooms his ‘President Tyler the nis, {thaving be» to performed COLLOQUIAL TALE! Atthistime he was In the {wigor of his p! nd mental powers, oarkable for rare colloquial talent: Spade him a drilant ornament to the suclal Wwhteh he moved. His conversation w: iehed by a fundot : nees of the 1 n he b person ‘@ddre he came out ¥ nt, Dut Seon collapse FPARKOTT'S Woo: r. Payne's tavorite ry ery Of Oak Hill. Fetreat he frequen eral lady friends, Chustastic expressi« Peauty of the spot a Which surrounde!l It, Mortal remains had Tested In t and for more then thirty yeor- Drought wither by the agency ‘and admired hi harming sylvan npany with sev- ons, gave en- aration of the | » pleturesiue seenery | that ater his | Lota foreign 0 their last ri Tees in Whose shadows BAILS FOR E Mr. Payne safled for Mn the month of Febru @hat city until the m faving tarried at London, Bellies, where he nist Years, who gave him a war MIS RECALL. In less than three years after reaching Tunts he ‘Was recalled by Presitent Polk,who had succeeded President Tyler, his position b anted for a political favorite,who had formerly held the office, Bnd whose re-appointment was strongly and per- Bistentiy urged by Thomas H. Benton, Seaator from Milssourl ‘Tu.ls sudden removal from office was a great dis- Sppotutment to Mr. Payne, as he had but Just suc- @eeded In bringing order out of chaos, and getting fhe consulate Into good working order; had ine @uced the Bey of Tunts to repair and improve the eonsular residence, and, for more than a year, had Deen engaged In writing a history of that city, ‘which work must now be abandoned, a3 materials or Its successful prosecutton could’not be found elsewhere: but with a true philosophic spirit he Quietly submitted to what was inevitable. He did Hot, however, immediately return home, but, true to old nomadic tnstincis, spent more than a Year in traveling in Italy, France and England, Passing a considerable portion of the time in Paris ‘and London, and did not reach New York until the Bonth of July, 184 oute for Tunis, ry. 1843, but did not reac lowing May, and Mar- riends of former | pllon, RETURN TO WASHINGTON. After a short sojourn tn New York he proceeded fo Washington, where he was cordially welcomed By his old friends, who co-operated with him in his endeavors to obtain a reappointment to the office from which he ha} been so unjnstly removed; but ‘Bo strong were the Influences arrayed In opposition to him that after several ineffectual attempts to give effect to hls wishes ft was deemed advisable walt until after the next presidential election, ‘when, it was confitently beiteved, a change in the Administration would take place. aud an effort to Secure his restoration to office be crowned with success. PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS, It was in the month of March, 1850, that I had Bhe good fortune to become acquainted with Mr. Payne in Washington, where he was earnestly en- @eavoring to obtain from President Fillmore his ¥e-appointment to the consuiship of Tunis, His efforts, though seconded by many members of Hoth houses of Coagress, and by other influential rents, were for a long’ time unsuccessful, owing chiefly to the bitter and persistent opposition of Br. Benton, whose only motive for the course he | sued seemed to be to retain In office a personal | lend who had succeeded Mr. Payne. Ata time in to be entertained con- | e success of the united elferts ‘Of Mr. Payne « > Hien ts to restore him to Old oficial position, a noble-hearted young wom: of Washington,who had become deeply Interest an bis welt se a President, and av & eloquence and sured his nomi- Bation to the ofice which he had so long sought Bhouid be sent to the Senate on the following day. ‘The nowination was made ast the President had omiised, and Was lunuediately and almost unani- yasiy confirmed. WIS LIFE IN WASHINGTON. During his last sojoura in Washington, which Bovered a period of more than a year, Mr. Payne Received much attention and kindness from his Old friends and from many others whose knowledge Of his early history and eventful life made him an Object of more than ordinary interest. He lodged % a small, but comfortable and well furnished, Foom in 1th street, opposite Willard’s hotel, and but a few rots from Pennsylvania ave- Bue. I passed many pleasant hours with him in this room, where I was not only entertained by Bis delightful conversation, but frequently by an examination of his rare treasures of Mterature and art, the chief of which were a volume of let- ters addressed to him by the noted men and wo- Men whose acquaintance he had formed many Years before, an’ album enriched by ori- Binal sketches from Allston, Leslie, Hayden, West and other famous painters of their thoes, together ‘With many autograph letters, including several from Charles Lam ne Of Which have since &ppeared in a New York monthly raagazine. cerning the ultim. Jn the volume to which I bave alluded were | etters trom W: on Irvin: omas Moore, | ‘Taima, the French tragedian Philp Kem: | Die, Edmund Kean, George € Walter Scott, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe and ‘Mary Shelley, Curran, Daniel O'Connell, and m: Tames ‘have passe mm my me from the tenor of t ory. Judging WD high esteem by thelr distingut-hed writers, Mr. F Seught but little society at this time, Dut, on the contrry, seemed to shrink from ob: servation, and confined bis vistts to a few chosen friends. He was mueh tn the society of Mr. Win. | Bortation of his p maturity and tut | PI | rely upon their imagination for th ¥ others whose | that to which he had been reduced by advancing Years and a/lverse fortune hfs face wore an expres - sion of sadness and his voice faltered with emo- jon, RECEIVES HIS COMMISSION, Mr. Payne received bis commission a3 consul to Tuntsin the month of February, 1851, but did not leave Washington until after the adjournment of Congress in the month following, A short time before he left Washington for New York I per- suaded him to sit for a daguerreotype portrait, and at about the same time he copted forme the song of “Home, Sweet Home,” and these memen- toes of our pleasant acquaintance are now among my most valued possessions. His chirography was remarkable for Its flneneas, gracefulness, and legibility, each letter being per- fectly formed, and a page of his manuscript con- tulning nearly as many Words as would be included in a printed page of equal size. Although his corre- pondence was, ih earlier life, very extensive, he ‘Was In the habit of copying his letters by hand, nd placing the coples with the letters of his cor- respondents, I left Washington shortly after Mr. Payne's de- parture and went to New York to assume the harge of a picture gallery, on the corner of Broadway and Leonard street, where he called on me soon after my arrivalinthatelty. He in- formed me that he was busily engaged in prepa- rations for his departure for Tunis, aud was mak- ing purchases of books, pictures and other articles to take with him. When he called on me a few days afterwards I noticed that his face wore an axtous look, but before I had an opportunity to inquire concerning the cause thereof he informed me th he was boarding in Brooklyn, at an in- convenient distance from New York, the trans- hases thither was attended with much trout | hevdquarters so long as he remained in New York. His face at one ssumed a cheerful ex- anking me for my offer he | Went away, but In a few hours afterwards re- turned with several large trunks, which were carefully bestowed in the room which I had as- signed to his use. LAST DAYS IN NEW YORK. From this time until the day of his final depart- ure from New York Mr. Payne was with me sev- erai hours each day, and frequently remained with me until late at night He was busily em- most of the time during the day in arranging his business affairs and in making pur- chases, which consisted principally of books and Among his pictorial purchases were e colored lithozraphic views of Amerl- Ss, Wileh were Inten for presentation bey of Tunis. From the large quantity of books, pictures and other articles with which he filed ‘his trunks, 1t was evident that he looked forward lo Many, years of pleasant Ite in Tunis was In excéllent spirits at this time, and, seeming! happy in the prospect. of retur ing to Wis Old Home in a foreign land, When wearted with packing his trunks, in which labor I frequently gave him my assistance, he rould entertain me by his brilllant conversation, 3 intel th reminiscences of htS and with anecdotes relating to himself, which [listened with absorbing interes One evening as we sat together, after he had be- come exhausted by the labors ot the day and had sunk Into a large arme! r, he related, with deep story of his attachment to a beautiful lished lady of Boston, by whom his s reciprocated, and who would have become his wie but for parental objections. ‘This lady belonged to one of the oldest and wealthiest families of Boston. When he visited Bagton someyears after his re- turn from his first residence in Europe he missed that attention which had marked his visits to that city In former years. Conversing, one day, with a lady whom he had known many fears before, he remarked that times had changed since his last visit, for now he received many Invitations to church, but very few to dinner. “Will you dine with me to-day, Mr. Payne?” asked the lady. “No, I thank you,” said Payne. “I’m engaged to dine with an old friend to-day Icould cite many more anecdotes related to me by Mr. Payne, but have only space for the follow- ing: He once’ heard of a parrot, belonging toa hotel keeper In New York, that hag been taught to sing Home, Sweet Homeé, and walked some dis- tance to see it. Approaching the parrovs cage he requested him to sing the song, when Polly promptly replied, to the great ‘amusement of Payne, “I can’t, I've got a bad cold.” PEESONAL APPEARANCE. In person Mr. Payne was under the medium height, and slightly butlt, His symmetrical and finely-developed head was bald on the top, but the sides were covered with light brown hair. His nose was large and disproportionate to the rest of his face, which was lighted by a pair of delicate blue eyes that shone from beneath a lofty brow. He wore a full beard, consisting of side whiskers anda moustache, which were always well trimmed. He;was scrupulously neat in his dress, and usually wore dark brown frock coat and a black vest, while his neck was covered with a black sali scarf, which was arranged in graceful folds across his’ breast. Despite his quiet and unpre- tending manner, and his plain ature, there was that nameless Something about his appearance which never failed to attract attention, and to impress even the most casual observer with a feeling that he looked upon a man of no ordinary character. His voice was low ana musical, and when conversing on any subject in which he was deeply interested he spoke with a degree of earnestness that enchained the attention and touched the hearts of his listeners. POPULAR FICTIONS, It has, for many years, been customary to speak of Payne as a homeless wanderer, who knew nothing of the joys of home and the love of kin- dred; yet the popular opinion relative to thismat- ter has no foundation in truth. It is true that he had no home in the sense that a married man has, who has a wife and children, but he was no more homeless than any other bachelor, who ue in lodgings, or any foreign ambassador, whose offict: Grathes tony ‘1 him to reside in a house provided by the nation for his use. He was ardently loved by his brothers and sisters, and always welcome to share their home; but he preferred to live alone or where he could pursue his literary avocations in the solitude of his own apartmenta. He was often urged by his relatives to join their home, and, in fact, did live with his brother, Thatcher Payne, for many years after his returd from his nineteen years residence abroad. ‘To many people who make literature their pro: feasion, and who live much of the time in an ideal world of their own creation, there come periods of discouragement and privation, and such, un- doubtedly, was sometimes the fate of’ Mr, Payne; Dut he generally lived well and ina way that was satisfactory to himself. During the first nineteen years of his residence abroad he realized large sums of money from his dramatic perform: ances, and when he abandoned the stage hie found hls pen a source of liberal income. During most of this period of his life he lived comfortably, and often luxuriously, and numbered among his intl- mate friends and associates many of the most distinguished authors and artists of the time. Many of the storfes current conc Straits In which he some! in consequence of his im, . fiction, concocted by that class of W course It 1s poetical to write of the suthor of “Home, Sweet Home” as a “homeless ww: lerer,”” but such was not the fact. His naturai + istincts were nomadic, and in bisearier years he was never so happy 23 when traveling in his native land or in Europe. This taste for travel began with his early career as an actor, and the habit then formed clung to him through Ife. These frequent allusions to his poverty and homeless condition are unjust to the memory of his brothers and sisters, and must be paintui to his few surviving relatives. Payne was devotedly attached to his relatives, and during his last restdence in ‘Tunis a daguer- Teotype Of his only surviving niece always stood open ona table In his room, before which his Mo- hammedan servant used every morning to make a salam. ‘To this niece, of whom Payne was re- markably fond, 1t must be ure to remem- ber her uncle with a smile on his face, and neither hungry nor cold, for, though the world may be slow to believe 1t, there were tines when he was warm and fed, and happy, full of tun, playing with her asa child, and well dressed, comfortable and PY. FAREWELL TO AMERICA. On the 6th day of May, 1851, I saw Mr. Payne for the last time. He had taken passage for Havre in the steamer Humboldt, which sailed on that day at noon. AsIwas unable to accompany him to the ship, he called at my rooms on his way thither to bid me good bye. The day being quite cool he Wore a brown overcoat, closely buttoned, and car- ried beneath his right arm a large umbrella,which had evidently seen much service. He was’ in ex- cellent spirits. though a8 he grasped my hand at parting he exhioited no little emotion, and his letters MePasnewasteld | Yolce Was busky aa he pronounced these last words, “Good bye, and God biess you!” I watched him as he moved down Broadway with rapid step and form erect, and thus passed forever from my ; sight, HIS DEATH. by placing tn the Protestant chapel a memortal Window, which bears the following Inscription: “To the memory of JouN HowARD PAYNE, Author of ‘Home, Sweet Home,’” ‘On the 27th of September, 1988, a colossal bust of Mr. Payne, standing on a pedestal eleven feet in height, was unveiled in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. The bust and pedestal, Cae were presented to thecitizens of Brooklyn, by the Faust Club of that city, the project having been con- cetved by Gabriel’ H: yn. Alarge portion of the money needed for the work was raised by a dramatic performance in the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the plays produced on the occasion hav- ing been selected from the writings of Mr. Payne. Thirty thousand persons were present at the un- velling of the bust, and when the sculptor, Henry J. Bauer, cut the cord that held the American flag which covered {t, the alr was rent with the a plause of the assembled multitude. Whon It sul sided one thousand children united in singing Home, Sweet Home, the vast assemblage Joining in the chorus. The remaining exercises were of an interesting character, and included eloquent addresses by noted orators, and an original poem, read by the author, John G. Saxe. WILLIAM WILSON CORCORAN. For several years past many friends and ad- mirers of Mr. Payne have wished that his remains might be removed from their resting place in a foreign country and re-interred in his native land, and prominent among those who have been prompted to take some decided action in the mat- ter ts Mr. William W. Corcoran, of Washing ton, than whom no person living cherishes a more affectionate regard for the memory of the departed oe POne day last autumn, as Mr. Corcoran was slowly riding by the Ebbitt House, his ear was suddenly greeted by the music of “Home, Sweet Home,” which the Marine band was playing in honor’ of Lieut. Melville, of the ill-fated’ Arctic steamer Jeannette, who had just reached Wash- ington, and was a guest of the house before’ which they were stationed. As Mr. Cor- coran listened to the plaintive air, which never fails to touch responsive chords ‘in the breats of all who hear it, his heart was moved by tender memories of the poet whose words have | made it immortal, and his acquaintance with whom covered a period of nearly fifty years, and he that moment resolved that the project he had | formed years before concerning the removal of Mr. Payne’s remains to this country should at once be carried into effect. Witn characteristic Promptness he addressed the only surviving mem- | er Of the poct’s family, a niece residing in the state of New York, whose consent to the removal of the remains of her uncle wes cheerfully given. | The Secretary of Staite, when applied to. by Mr. Corcoran for permission to remove the re- mains from Tunis, at once ceeded to hig wishes, and as the post of United States con- sul to that cl}y was then vacant tmmediately ad-. dressed James Russell Lowell, United States min- | ister to En: ‘tructing him to secure the @0- operation of Lord Granville, minister of foreign affairs of Great Britain, in furtherance of the wishes of Mr. Corcoran. ’The result of the nego- | tations accorain de between Mr. Lowell and Lord Granville was necessary Instructions to Mr. Reade, Enzlish consul general to Tunis, under directions the red relics of Mr. Payne took place on the 5th day of January, 1883, {n the presence of about twenty persona.’ After being tniclosed in a suitable casket they were carried into the Protestant. chapel and placed beneath the memorial window de- seribed elsewhere. AS they were borne into the chapel a ding played on the organ, after which Mrs. Worthington, wife of Uie United States consul at Malta, who was also present, sang the song of “Home, Sweet.Home.” ‘The cas- ket rested in the church, under guard, until the following day, when it Was taken to a Vessel and sent to Marseilles, where it was placed on board the steamer Burgundia, and transported to New York. ‘The remains reached New York on the 224 Gay of March, and were linmediately the steamer and conveyed to the g s in the city hall, where ‘they lay in state unt! th following afternoon, during Ww! ten thousand persons passed by U Was covered by an Americ: TWO PICTURES—DEPARTURE AND RETURN. The hearse which conveyed the honored re- | mains from the city hall to the Pennsylvania rati- | Toad was drawn by four white horses, aud followed | by twelve carriages. As the procession moved up | Broadway it passed by the very Duliding in which Mr. Payne packed his trunks thirty-two years be- fore, and from Which he walked, unattended, to the ship which was to bear him forever froin’ his native land. ARRIVAL AT WASITINGTON. ‘When the remains of Mr. Payne reached Wash- | ington, early on the morning of the 2ith day of March last, Mr. Corcoran was one of the few per- sons In walting at the railroad station to receive them. They Were quietly conveyed to the chapel of Oak Hill cemetery, in Georgetown, anil to-d: the ninety-second anniversary of the birth of t poet, will be consigned, with’ impressive and a propriate ceremonies, to thelr last. resting pla which ts marked by a fitting and beautiful mon ment, erected by the noble-hearted philanthropt=t, | whose name will heneeforth be pleasantly associ- qted with that of the author of “Home, Sweet ome.” ————_+e-______ Written for Tar Evenine Stan. To John Howard Payne. O! come to Columbia! come home to thy rest, And proudly thine ashes we'll lay on her breast,— Thou wanderer on Earth, wo was’t destined to roam While singing thy song of a dearly loved home. Home! home! sweet, sweet homet While singing thy song of a dearly loved home, But one has remembered, and bidden thee come; From the land of the Desert he welcomes thee home. Far over the mountains and over the sea, The heart of the exile turned fondly to thee. Home! home! sweet, sweet home! ‘The heart of the exile turned fondly to thee, ‘The Laureate crown, never placed on thy brow, ‘We reverently bring to thy sepulcher now; Here reat thee forever, thy pilgrimage done, “An exile” no longer, we gather thee home. Home! home! sweet, sweet home! “An exile” no longer, we gather thee home. Many B. Hoses, 1524 14th street, Washington, D. SSS From Tunis to Washington. HOW THE TRANSFER OF PAYNE'S REMAINS WAS BROUGHT ABOUT. Ever since the death of Payne at Tunis, Mr. Corcoran has cherished the purpose of bringing his remains to his native land, but the definite Plan was not formed until last fall Inquiry was made to discover whether any of Payne's kins- people were allve, and Mrs. Eloise E. Luquer, who Tesides at Bedford Station, N. Y., Payne's hiece, was found to be his nearest’ living’ relative. This lady promptly and gratefully acquiesced in Mr. Corcoran’s plans. Mr. Corcoran, before hearing of Mrs. Luquer, addressed the following letter to the Seeretary of’Stat ‘ASHINGTON, D. C., October 14, 1952. The Hom. Frederick 7. Frelinyhitysen, Seerétary ‘of | Daak Stu: I respectfully ask permission of the State dvpartinent to isinter the retains of our country, u Howard Payne, which now reat ina grave licar ‘Tunis, in Africa, that they may receive more appropri- ste sepulture bowoin of his native Lan Mr. Payne died, as is well known, in the service of the State department, on the 9th of April, 1352. while act- in as consul of the United States at Tunis, and Tunder- stand that a marble slab erected by order of the dep art= amant still marks the spot whore his body was laid. It has seemed to me that the precious dust of an Amorican citizen who 80 sweetly in praise of ‘Home, Sweet Home," should not be left to mingle with any soll less deat to him than that of the land which gave him birth, and which, by the beauty of its home-life, gave to him his best poetical inspiration. If you concur with ma in this éntiment, I boc leave to say that I will, when favored with your’ official per misslon, imyself with the duty of providing for the removal of his remains to this country, and on their arrival here will give to them a new and suitable rest= ing-place in Oak Hill cemetery, taking care, of couree, to mark the spot with a monunient which shall perpettt aioin the eer of his countrymen the name of the post in their hearts by his immortal lyric. { ought to ada that I muke this application to you De- cause, as the honored head of the state department, to be the natural custodian of Mr. Payne's grave in Tunis. I am further induced to make this ‘to you becaure, after careful inquiry, I am led to Velieve that Mr. Payne has now uo desocndant or col- lateral Kindred to whom I could address a communi- cation on the subject, In evidence of this fact I beg to {invite your atfention tothe accompanying Ieftere. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient sor- vant, ‘W. W. Corcoran. The Secretary of State replied to Mr. Corcoran a8 follows: DxpantMeNr oF Srare, Wasuixaton, October 21, 1882. W.W.Corcoran, Esq., Washington: Dean sim: I have had the pleasure to receive your letior of the 14th instant, in which you ask the sanction and aid of this department for your projact of bringing to ths country, the femains of John Howard Payne, now interred af unis in Africa, and mying them ap- PiYour proposal meets with miy warte approbation, and 0 a hasten to assure you of my readiness to do what T cag jarendoring Ating tribute fo tho meuiory of Guo whose ‘his country- THE IMMORTAL SONG. “FAO SIMILE OF THE AUTHOR'S MORE ABOUT PAYNE. | Pest dramatic work from the hands of an Ameri-| Payne Hfears Jenn: ————— | Payn ACTOR, DRAMATIST, EDITOR AND | was brief and unfortunate. After he had been a/ MANAGER. ae * EVERY THING BY STARTS AND NOTHING LONG.” HIS EXPERIENCE AS A JOURNALIST, AND His | 'Tous FAILURE AS A THEATRICAL MANAGER. Payne, during his life, was engaged at different times us actor, dramatis » Journalist and manager, His journalistic experience appears, however, to have been limited in scope, ani it might be more accurate a statement to say that he was a critic than to speak of him asa journalist. He edited and published at different times periodicals, were devoted chiefly to the drama. His precocity Was manifested as much in his editorial enter- prises as in bis prodilections for the stage. When a boy of thirteen in Boston, he published in con- junction with his young friend Samuel Woodworth paper called “The Fly.” Short'y afterward:,when sent to New York, he found relief from the uncon- ental labor of the counting room by e. ittle paper styled “The Thespian Mirror, was t gentlemen to the surprising talents of the boy just entering his teens. Of this paper but thirteen numbers were printed when Payne started to col- lege, and it was discontinued. At collese he pub- Mshed for a time a paper called “The Pastime.” After leaving college he wrote for awhile for “The Mirror,” a paper published tn Boston. In London, after his brillant career as an actor was practically at an end, he made a venture in journaism, and published a critical journal, which he called the Opera Gi He fell ill, however, and the journal was soon abandoned.’ After his return to America In. 1832 he tssued a prospectus of a weekly tnter-national Uterary journal, to be published in London, for which the most, distinguished literary people on either side of the Atlantic were to write, He pro- to call it “Jam Jehan Nima,” which means in English the goblet Wherein one may vehold the universe, The scheme involved great expense, and Payne found it impossible to eulist. capital in ths undertaking, so “Jam Jehan Nima” was never issued. ‘The only other journalistic. labor per- forined by Payne, of which any record ts left, was in connection with the old “Democratte Rev in thts city. When here, between 1828 and 1842, prior to his appointment’ as consul to Tunis, he atused himself by contributing to that Journal PAYN:’S WORK AS A PLAYWRIGHT. Payne began his work as a playwright very early in life, He wrote his first play while a boy in college. The title was “Pulaski,” and Payne played the part of the heroine. His career a3 a playwright, however, commenced when he visited Paris, after starring through England as an actor. In Paris he met Sir John Cam Hobhouse, the friend of Byron, and through him Payne was offered £100 by the managers of the Drury Lane theater for an English version of the French “Maid and Magpie.” Having performed his task satisfactorily, he made an engagement to reside in Paris to translate and to adapt French plays for the Drury Lane stage. During his connection with that theater he wrote the play of “Brutus” for Edmund Kean, which proved such a success, asnotonly to revive the languishing business of the house, but to restore Kean to public favor, Payne, as usual, made a bad bargain, and received as his share of the profits of the play only £188.64. ‘A8 a dramatist and adapter he worked with great rapidity. Whem confined in the debtors’ rison after his fallure as a manager e received one day & parcel, sealed in black, and inscribed “Octavius.” He opened it in a loomy mind, and found two French plays, which ¢ threw aside as an anonymous mockery. At- terwards, when he examined them, he saw that they were Victor's “Therese” and’“Calas.” In ‘two days he translated and adopted “Therese,"and offered It to the new manager of the Drury Lane. At was accepted. Payne bribed his keeper to re- lease him. “He disguised himself, and supervised the rehearsal, and attended the first performance, The piece was 30 successful that he was soon ena- Died to satisty his creditors and secure his treedom. He wrote in his Journal: “I am indebted to Mr. Victor for the compliment he pald me in s0 mys- terlous amanner. I beg to return my thanks for it, and at the same time to ask his indulgence to- wards some alterations in the construction of the e Means of attracting tie notice and win- ning the admiration of influential and wealthy a j can author. | PAYNE'S PAILURE AS A MANAGRR. experience as a manager of a theater sort of literary drulge for the Drury Lon | tor some time, he be | treatment he rece! | partly through pique ater ame §0 diszustei with the from the | reat profits, he leased the Sadler's Wells theater, | | “the oldest and most respectable minor theater tn | © | Lonion.” ‘The enterprise, however, was disaz- | 000, and was lod It Was from th! u 7 Ticated, as mentioned abeve, by the adapted for the stage. HIS RECORD 4S AN ACTOR. Of an actor’s excellence in his art, Itttle can be | Said after he has been off the stage for more than halfacentury. Anactor leaves behind him only 9 tradition. Of the genius of young Payne, however, there can be Httle question when his acting made 30 deep an impression upon people who saw him in 1909, as that they still retain a lively remem- brance of his appearance and manner, As an in- stance, showing how at least one gentleman was impressed by Payne’s acting,tt may be appropriate here to quote the following extract from a state- ment published, with Mr. Corcoran’s consent, hortly after the arrangements for bringingPayne’s remalns home were completed: “Mr, Corcoren’s recollections of John Howard. extend backwards for more than haif a century. In 1309 Payne appeared on the staxe in Boston and New York, aud, meeting with suocess, entered upon a tour of the soutuern aud western cities. “This brouzht him shington in the month of August, 180, and it uring his appearance here that Mr. Corooran first saw bin. Payne played for a week at what was then known as Carusi’s Theater, corner of 14th and C streets, in the rear of Haryey’s saloon, Where the Theater Com- igne now stands. fe was announced as ‘the American Koscius’ end was very popular. Ho was handsome, and | appeared when tea had a strong hold on the public, M en a boy, Was an almost constant su- henever I could get the twenty-five cents to pay for a seat in the pit," relates Mr. Corcoran, “I went t» geo and hear Payne, nerally accompanied by two or three boys from Georsetown." Althouxh this occurred seventy-three saxo, the unimpaired memory of Mr. Corcoran alls each incid: with distinctness; he remembers n how Payne, appearing as young ‘Norval, recited ¢ Well-known lines: “My name is Norval; on the Grampian hills My father feeds his flock." Payne’s biographers say that he very early gave indications of hisirtonic talent of a high ‘order. He appears to have profited well. by his father’s instructions in elocution. It 4s related that he =o ited the Interest of aprominent actor by the ellence with which he rendered a school recl- ation that the actor called upon the elder Payne, cff-red to instruct his son io the theatrical art and procure him a two years’ engagement as an tor. This incident came near changing the father, inspired by the Puritan horror of the stage, ‘That the boy's soul might be saved from the dan- gers which now seemed to threaten it, every ambition to become an actor. When Payne was watched and crushed.” After the elder Payne had met with reverses in business, it appears that portunity, leave to try hia fortune oa, the is success was instant and brilliant. Upon reached manhood, however, his popularity waned. the promise of his youth. He was, in fact, a sort of boy prodigy, and when he outgrew his boyhood his value as a theatrical attraction shrank to very small proportions. 80 about the close of the American war of Lad pcos the stage he went to Paris and entel upon his work asa play- wright. Some years afterward he returned to the stage for a brief period. He was then resid- ing in Paris, but he went to London and played ee II” three nights, recelving £10 for each an Payne as a Volunteer Advocate. AN INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED AT THE CITY HALL THIRTY YEABS AGO. , the year 1850, and m which Payne figured, was related to a Star reporter by a well-known citizen MANUSORIPT,. j the | American-born iady with an’ Atwertean ind Sing *Eiome, Sweet Home.” Perhaps the most thrilling quarter of an hour of i was that when Jenny Lind sang | “Hlome, Sweet Home” to him. ‘The occasion was id concert in Washington, the night 17, 1850. ‘The assemblage was pe the most’ distinguished ever seen In a and partly in the hope of | concert room in the country. | the Jenny 1 | of Dece ‘. ment that, | hare ater The immense on the ruins of the burned was filled to overflowing, ding the big price for admission, an at the weather was cold and fainy. notables present and occupying frout Seats’ were Presideat Fillmore, Daniel Henry Clay, Gen. Scott, and John Howard Payne. “Casta Diva,” and followed (in which her volce contes- ted rivalry for purity and sweetness with a flute in # duet,) then the famous “Bird Song,” and next on her program the “Greeting to America.” All the pleces were applauded apparently to the full acity of an enthuslastic audience, and Mr. Webster, who was in his most genial after-dinner mood, emphasized the volume of plaudit by rising from his seat and making Jenny a profound bow, for the country to her iIngale” answered the encore by turning in the direction of John Howard Payne and “Home, Sweet Home” with ail the wonderful urity and simplicity fitting both the air of the immortal song, the differ- ence was at once seen between the mechanical ap- plause called out by a display of flne vocalization, and that elicited by the “touch of nature that Makes the whole world kin.” Mine of the song was completed the audience was fairly “off its feet” and could ive expression narily of the undemonstrative eort, and shouted as if they were mad, and 1t seemed as if there would be no end to ‘Meantime all eyes were turned Rea National ‘Theater, al of two plays from M. Victor, whica he at | with the “Flute Song, if responding taken by United States Consul months ago encased ttin cement for ite better preservation. A little thread-like root of the pep- Per tree had made its way into the grave and coffin, and was just about to pass across the fore- head.’ Some of “eur mother earth had got in the Before the first coffin and ‘led with the bones. whole a9, obtat t skeleton w: ‘ew coffin, which was covered with lead, soldered. ‘scarcely to, tts Cnthuslasm. | and sealed. ‘This was then. piaced In #'neat ne, clapped, stamped Payne, & small-sized, el haired gentleman, who blushed himself the cénter of so many ‘ne writer of this does not recollect ever wit- nessing a scene of wilder enthusiasm. Was Payn Unfortunate? SOME FACTS WHICH SHOW THAT HE ENJOYED A FAIR SHARE OF THE GOOD THINGS OF THR WORLD—THE STORIZS AROUT HIS LUUKLESS POVERTY AND HOW THEY MAY HAVE ORIGINATED, There is one question Tegarding Payne upon ‘which there will probably always be a division of opinion. A gort of sentimental exaggeration of the homelessness of the author of the so1 indulged in by many writers, has ca pression to prevail that he suffered to an unusual extent from poverty. It has been said that he Wrote “Home, Sweet Home” one cold ni! London, while he sat on the doorstep of Somebody's house. To destroy 80 Tusion seems almost, sacrilegious, does n ‘ the | Injustice @ memory of Payne infer Whole course of Paynes fe, for, 1t 1s said, the | injustice to, the erentig aia te kas ee that his path through life was es, but inspired fayne Was an outcast, ee collected, refused the offer with, considerable indignation. | collected, that his pa 5 neg’ yy the world, and ts only now rece! Method was employed to discourage him in his aig tte hh igelonnd Sent from Boston to take a place in a New York | tuted in every page of his bi counting house, his Tachoees: tnatraccions were we ard ‘Home, Sweet that “his propensity for theatrieals was to be | 2 tear ready to start’ in poet, A foundation for the St nearly always e ut the son obtained at last, through persistent im | Beary always in the utmost Decauiss of is fallurs as a theatrloal manager ie olng to England, in 1818, the English publie re- | because lure a8 a theatrical manager In Se a ap ot a oe ee pa PA Teco hones ty wanes | was able to clear himself of debt and gain his treet tation of a play, which he accom- id, in two days, cemonstrates that e commanded the means of supplying needs when he chose to work. A writer in “The Biographer,” in which a sketch of Payne's life was ublished, sald: “His supply of money uously Low, and ‘THE EXTENT OF HIS MISERY by reason of poverty will never be known. Thata magnificent parts should assist ns by diligence in lent means to fom,” with perhaps ity for the si it envy the lol e story that Payne was verty and wretch- y the fact that he steamer, which soon after was sellies. Thus John Howard Payne be reburied in the land he loved, to forth under the flag he served 80 well nek It ts to be hoped, to be at but dreamless and tranquil In the soll of his home, sweet home. isiting the cemetery today I found the marble slab laced over the now His maturer years do not ‘seem to have fulfilled | dom by the the enrichment of inferior clothe him, is a shameful record for which no paid to his memory can make atonement. A “ intanoe with ‘Washington Irving. — oiseaid inl j, Who mich rrea about | Paris, temporarily absent from them” The ree ae a Ta Pte aye tea oes | suis Writer senta that whee Parte pointed consul to Tunis he galled from under ah assumed name to of the District, who was then a boy. In those days | creditors. Payne’s own com} 1t was one of the pastimes of the boys living in the | can be better understood when it is . | focnay Sad Uttle doudt that he was improvident tf not ex. travagant in Lis modeof life. He appears also to hare = im visionary and unprofitable pros, ts jects. essay aS A theater manager dna nie attempt to establigh an interna. Uonal literary journal without capital illuy trate that phase of his life, So the accounts of his being debarred from London OB account of his debts may probably be true. That he ene Joyed lite keenly seems equally true. His iterary work ap; mercial spirit, and he w: craving for fame, which ness to many authors less fortun: By a happy inspiration, however, he acht clear a title to fume as any of hid cotemporari He was a volunta’ exile from bome of his life. He Mked to. tr ed from his post at Tunls, took’ two years to get back to America. If A TINGE OF SADNESS colored his thoughts in later years, tt ts easily ac counted for by the fact that he had been disap pointed in the great dream of lis early lite—that of becoming a world-renowned actor. The song of “Home, Sweet Home” has been taken as the ex. ? jon of a wanderer’s longings for the peaceful Test of an humble home. Such a suppositic Ts have been done chiefly in acom= troubled with = | while ft seems to add a charm to the song, doug injustice to the author's Imagination aud dra- matic skill He was giving expression to the sen- Ument which be supposed to move the heart of Ohe of his characters under certain conditions If | Us accepted as an expression of Payne's state of mind at the time he wrote It, 1C would serve only to explode the notion that he was then suf fering from neglect and poverty. — It ts the sot of one sated with the luxuries and splendors ¢ the palace, and sighing for Ube simple comforts {and peace of th “Towiy. thatebat cottage ® Payne's ite, however, gives no tnatcation that he Would have Sought the lowly thatched cottage in preference to picasures and palaces, The ceremonies attending the reinterment of Payne # remains, in the light of the facts concera- ing his life, should be cousidered as an honor {B88y duct tls memory asa man whose genius as Feflected credit. upon the nation, rather than AS an act of sentimental or poetic justice to one who was In life unappreciated and uprewarded, nia maeretbl THE EXuU MATION. The Scene at the Cemetery of St. George Tonts iat 5 uary—A Simple but Touching Cero= mony. The remains of John Howard Payne left the shores of Tunts, on board a French steamer, om the 6th of January last, to be carried to Marseliles whence they were to be forwarded to America, ‘The remains were exhumed on the Sth of January from their resting place in the Protestant ceme ery of St. George, where they had lain, undise turbed, for uirty-one years The y ot St. George Is situated on high ground within the elty and is enclosed by a Wail. of the New Tritune, then In one few persons who. ‘witnessed wrote the following Une der othe date oof = January 6: “<= Was agreeably disappoluted tu the appearance of thts snerejas Thad read in American news. that Payne's grave was a neglected one, 19 f ‘On the contrary, the h fourishing and’ tra- of heltotropes, es of by pluins, While Che w. nd the stones a pinks and gera clean and smooth, nts Showy wihtte In Uh morning Sun, id think the Inclosure Lalned ats and almost tu the center of it was w ot 7 At the head of the grave was standing a beautitul pepper= ny branches “of which bent tender. and droopingly over the tomb. This, the t and noblest tree in the place, was Planted by one of Payne's tracst’ and beet friends tn Tunts—M. Chappeltte—who Was present at the death and interment of the poet. From M. Chappelite and also Mr, Reade, the British consul, under whose directions the’ distnterment took place, T learned much of Payne's last days and Sickness. | ‘The narrative of them is a painful one, Let tt suMfice it I write what I beard touchinglg and heartliy said by the two or three gentlemes present at the exhumation who had familiarly Known Payne, that his character through dls appointments, fantted loneliness and long brood- ing had become of a sad, soft and delicate melancholy that was, witle te and pitiful ef the Same time most winning and beautiful. His illness was a long and painful one, but he had Most faithful and loving friends 'in M. Chap Delile, M. Pisant, Mr. Reade, Mme, Chappelle (an eart), and & certain—now old—Arab dragoman—whose @i tachment to the poet was deep and sincere, 1 saw this honest man atthe exiutaation, wearing his Arab costume, believing In the Mahometan relt- gion, but ruil of Christ-like humanity. The Euro S present at the grave on this sunny Frida: morning were about a dezen In number, sever Arab gentlemen belng also on the ground in thelr Tich and picturesque dress and turbans. ‘The coffin was reached by the workmen at about clock, and Was carefully lifted and placed on broad marble slab which for thirty years had cpyered i, and which bears the following tnacrip= 01 “FE PLURIBUS TNUM. Shield and eagle). “In memory of Col. John Howard Payne, twice Consul of the United States of America for te city and kingdom of Tunis, this stone ts here placed by agrateful country. He died at the Amerte can consulate In this city after a tedious tli April Ist, 1852 He was born at the city of Boston, State of Massachusetts, June 8h, 1792 His fame asa Poet and Dramatist is well known wherever the English language ts spoken, Unrough Ils cele. brated Ballad of ‘Home, Sweet Home,’ and his popular tragedy of ‘Brutus,’ and other similar productions,” On the four edges of the slab 1s also carved: “Sure, when thy gentle spirit fled wig Tealms beyond the azure dome, arins outstretched, God's ange) sal “Welcome to Heaven's: Home,Sweet homes The coffin was badly rotted tn spite of the care Fish, who several ned and laid reverently in a which was secured by looks and keys, all then tin the strong, iron- Dound outside ‘Dox, which "be nddreae: United States Consul Taylor, Marseilles, Pranoa* ‘bore the At3 o'clock In the afternoon the body wastaken to the small and simple Protest: pepionrine PI ant church and Which are inscril these words: Uttle chancel window, oa “To the Memory of Joux Howarp Paryr, Author of “ Home, Sweet Home.’” ‘This window was made in England and placed here by a few English-speaking residents of whose admiration and respect for Payne were de cided and sincere. Indeed, I found among the poet's friends an affectionate regard that was akin to enthusiasm. They grieved to lose the sacred bones that Lad lain here for thirty long years—the object of thelr loving and ceascless care. When the body was carried into the church an English gentleman at the little American-made organ played the alr and a sweet—volced American lady sang the immortal song of the dead and as the tender avords tremulously feated through and Mlled the holy place, hearts swelled, eyes were suffused, and “a charm from the skies seemed to hallow u that » Sung Under the circumstances I have stated. The gloaming of the coming evening had erent into the ‘chapel and the ‘dim Feligious light” ay ne" 5 ment cou derstood and ab- Pathe " dead, in its meliow have un- bathed all, both living and lance. The twilight came ‘on apace, and we left, of remains to ife there ~ maul the sorrow, gears oe Taithful drago- man, as Was staunch ang faithful to the last. To-day the body was taken tothe Marina ut aboard a boat and rowed down the bay ont Into the open, where it was received on the French. en ment in Ube matter cannot be too highly commended—said tome: “We shall put back the slab with ts 11 adding thereto the fact ani date of the removal the body to the United States, and shall them and keep pure und clear the rel maddie tn we marked his grave with more than aquarter of a century ago; but deeper, clearer W, Corcoran, wi saw and uinired him ay an | On the 8th day of April, 1852, in le-s than a year Det ieietiae = mo pet hite tative | CTaIRE.? Ar his release he returned to Parisas| per story of the building and walk over the ceiling Wrno had achieved success and wealth. His tastes | humed trom its grave actor many yar before, and whose name 1s now | from the time I parted with Mr. Payne, his gentle | In the absence of any. consular representative ent play wr 18 New Manager of the the 3 80 honorabiy “auc pleacantiy associated with his | spirit ascended €0 Its eternal reat, During Maclase | Sf tunis, There inatracied Me. Lowell to request the | Drury Lang. “Boon afterwards he sent, Charies | 3018 to about the central portion of the butlding, | to entertain as he was entertained. Hts poverty Washington, ager arde! Dut _m: : he was in the habit of psssin 10 Kindly assistance of the British government in obtain- | Kemble, then man: ‘of the Covent ‘the- | for the purpose of robbing the nests of pigeons that | Was comparative any American would Of séveral evenings In eacs week at the house oe | MiNess, which was long and painful, he received Rinson fo ochune Ue rematea YUS BaeeeEes | ater, q bateh of playa iN manuscript, for which no | Homed there. While a trial of « colored gin, | {essing to aman of bi a sensitive | &run ‘over to Mr. Uicgs, the bu-lness partner of Mr. Corcoran, | €very, needed attention and comfort from his | Mision dhe Socomery ts to tranaport them | asked £250. One of these « the | charged with the larceny of some of John Howard | tate of his ad , the profits pep Adare aged Where Le was always a welcome £' Mr. Cor- | friends in Tunis, and espectally from four Sisters | {> this country. “I doubt uct thet thls amen oee we Payne's clothing, was tn progress in one of the| fend from his actitg alone where rep coran often met hiss on these occasions, and now | Of Charity, and also from his faithful Moorish ser- | cheerfully and effectively ‘Aw soon as I ro- J rashly undertook an | would seem a fortune. When he engaged ee. presence X, Felates with evident pleasure many Interesting | Yant. The sisters said of him that “he was ceive Mr. Lowell's I will hasten to communi- court rooms below, two boys ary work he was as well rewarded, Detar Teaheane starected the Incidents of his life at this period. gentle, and thoughtful of their comfort to the cate it to you, tom, ae S sir, vary fraly yours, apes atten ee In the of the | SF the a ‘dramatist actor, curfosity,the others At about this time Eiama Southworth had crea- | 8nd that it was a pleasure to care for him” He EDK. T. FRELINGHUYEEN. search, while moving from joist to joist, one or | 88, the average dramatist acta a ted & marked sensation tn literary circles by her | Ws often'vieited by Mrs. Heap, a most excellent | Mr. Lowell was instructed to ask Earl Granville the boys _ stepped he > oid ton of managers to drive hard bargains, the exhumation Story of “Retribution,” which Mr. Payne had read | hd lovely woman, who read to him from bis fav- | thatthe Betis; casa ae Pete be requested £0 his leg wi eeding ore “ROMeF | Taany another author, did Bot rece! two ‘present With much tnt and on which ‘Destowed | Orite boocs whenever he was able to listen. optain permission to exhume the Ins and to of plaster down Ls Es ‘share of the profits yielded by tl gy Ser bIED praise in 3 letter to its author, to wh BIS BURIAL make arrai ta, for thelr transportation to ane. Ons Janitor of the arrosted tee dona Gragoman. The a short! erwards introduc rem: were terred Protestant this country. The neoeasary arrangeme! re le. "sho then resided = Ghat portion of anes Gunny ols. Gegerar Tunis, and his grave | ado, snd on, January perenne Cone Frightened Culpris Ai, Cou, Fayne harmed | ts, statement sar mare abeond toon that Giatcatty: bute [si ~ rods Gi the site of the Smithemian Inet We passed | marked by a thick white marble slab, on which triple collin, two being Of wood wah conn then to bo on the stand. and at the time of the homeless and jgericken. was scrupulously and Many pleasant hours together at the residence of was carved the seal of the United States, followed ‘The remains arrived in New York by the steamer 1ad’s misadventare ee ee srpeel men and ‘leaders of his skeleton left. Traces of the Hterury men and Women oF Wenn are pommnent | by an appropriate epitaph. Rach edge ot the stab | Burgundia on the 22d of Maroh eit renal oo enlisted im the boy's case. the | in og ‘America, and was which iterary men omen ‘ashington and otner | was inscribed with a line of poetry, the four lines ‘Deen detailed to the fireside. Payne lace Sections of the country who had read ‘and admired of New York, and Mr. Charles M. Matthews and Circumstances had court, every some her first ‘novel. Mra: Southworth was a brilliane | MMe thus: Lieut. Reginald ¥. Nicholson, representing Mr Payne, actuated by is impulses, tarned to the Eitste in, bis bari 00 Dutton, which was: Ggueiat iterary ans somal creAr una NETS Ge- | Sure when thy gentle spirit ea Eat asd ities tay tu seas fo tate ore sratana in the Iad’s behalte ‘The cours mare Breeding leo ‘early gucceaes a8 an actor wise incloos = Werary and social circle, of w! fr. realms beyo! azure dome, the ordinary ‘that ts Payne was, for a time, a prominent member. With arms outstretched God’s angels sald, on the $8d of March, during which day they were Over, notwitne ANTE nna e, of im- | be sufficient for any acorns, Mr. Payne was one of the most modest and un- ‘Welcome to Heaven’s Home, Sweet Home, viewed by thousands ot, people. A special car advocate, a¢ & severe repri- Rad no reesop, from an artite pans: gTave, this twig Pretending literary men I ever knew. rare! yht the remains to wi they ar- ‘to the boy. . Payne seemed to be more | be his achievements as which I took it. Riuaed 6 his writings, but woud smacanes POSTHUMOUS HONORS.” Fired early on tho: morning of Maree Be? ake deeply burs by the, rebuke Shan the boy, for his | and Hoge ed ae an pod Then he bashed In thesmalles of func wnntntan | _Tewas ebout two years since that the Engitsh | COF depot Without coremony the oii was Client remains deeply impressed it the taemorya |" woatatata hea ia acy gras recht oth re Proventeat care wae fame ane ‘une, 7 and was the petted favorite of an exicnstve Ite. | Tesidents of Tunis, and other Englishmen at home, | norne to Oak Hill cemetery, where it was the lad, who is now a, wa citizen of Wash- was well ‘by his At will ret to-nt 4 Fary and dramatic circle. “As he contrasted nis | Manifested thelr regard for the momory of Mr. | Prine tciving Vaan aeae ie erent ington, and who is the one that related 1s to © facts show thas there was — ‘ @endition at that happy period of his lite wita Payne by a perfect restoration of his tomb, and | to-day. | i k !