Evening Star Newspaper, January 23, 1892, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D.C. SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1892—SIXTEEN PAGES HOME, SWEET HOME. How John Howard Payne Found One | at Anacostia. HIS IMMORTAL i SONG. Evidences That at Last the Final Version of | It Was Perfected in Anacostia—Character- Inties of the Poet—A Brief Sketch of an In- teresting Life. 2 OF MY “ROAD- hes” recently | ,, 4 din Tur Stan it | ¥ ed that Paym Sweet Home” | at the old a in and the ac- that state- thi the: his to the matter | he truth, if The result has | nas satisfac | | d that the matter tory as had hoped. I fou ie shrouded in considerable doubt, there being but little, if any, positive evidence to sustain | the claim of any place to the distinction, but I| think there is enough presumptive evidence to ake a strong case in favor of Anacostia, so far as the form of the song of today is con- @erned. Although methodieal to a marked degree in his Kiterary labors, there is a great uncertainty | Fegarding some leading incidents in Payne's | own life and work. Even his place of birth | ‘was at one time amatter of di«pute, and people 2 once elaiming the antho-ship of his im- mortal song for another. But these disputed facts are now settied beyond all doubt and for alltime, Next to record evidence the tradi- tion or oral testimony of a people, handed down from mouth to mouth, is the best of proof of a historical fact that ean be advanced. | and | Lon 8001 the for Yor! ton. the was his man als, eri Ww the wort was And there being no record evidence to direct Us to the place where the poct wrote his song, we must accept traditionary. If You will visit Anacostia and make inquiry rding this ma: you will find who has given | nd will pomnt to as the spot where it was written. ef absolute behef with thy peo course they are very prow: of the dis This neighborhood tradition and bel 3 the statement referred to, and I ue to accept it until better proof is favor of some other place. ONE OF THE cLarys. Mr. Griffin Hughes, in an intezesting letter addressed to Tux Stan, claims that the song was first introduced to the pu re concerned, | ed 2 as then pro »m the revised ver- | or, which the fa ing whe: Pay elani as sung | in 1823;] | ‘onzh we may roan, ne aliow us there, him son ; toe | ing is ¢ cn ive | Some years after the foregoing was written | the two follow tangas were added to the | mg aat presented by Mr. Payne toa Mrs. | Bates, « relative of his, then living in London: frou edu aues our t H investigation of the facts, that there circumstantial evidence ‘or the honorable distinction clai His p. onderf precocit ant. declamation and the dramatic profession, which made the acq’ paper called ecame a contributor. Mirror. pat that he immediate by both his p paper called tion for its young editor, who for her. not claimed that the original notes of LIFE. SOME UNKNOWN FACTS IN PAY™! Fora man of such interesting character- istics, a man whose literary and dramatic fame most world wide, the life of John Howard Payne is not as well known as it ought to be, .e was for trading facts in his life, thereby removing any clouds ially in this community, where le such a prominent figure. It therefore, to briefly present the to obscure the light of fact. On the 9th of June, 1791, just one hundred years ago, John Howard Payne was bern in New York city in a house on Pearl street. ‘The honor of his birthplace has been claimed both Boston, Mass, and East Hamptor Mr. Payne himself effectually set Point in his speech at the public reception him in New York upon his return home bis protracted absence in Europe. He n and there announced New York city to be birthplace. al ancestors came from England settled in Massachusetts in 1622. On the maternal side he was of Hebrew extraction, hia mother being a Miss Isaacs of East Hampton, ng Island, where his father, William Payne, = after his marriage became the head of Clinton Academy, an educational institution founded by De Witt C inton while governor of state of New York. He held this position several years, when he removed to New ‘k city, a few years afterward going to Bos- ; uring his temporary residence in It wa New York that his son John Howard was born, he being the sixth of a family of nine children. One of his brothers, Thatcher Taylor Payne, attained to considerable eminence as a member of the New York bar. HIS EARLY LIFE. John Howard's early education was under immediate direction of hi father, who was renowned as an elocutionist. The boy, who an earnest, industrious student, not became his fath for He early relatives tried to discourage. He, howeve naged to take part in many private theat and also found time to indulge in dramatic icisma, hile in his father's school in Boston he ‘aintance of Samuel Woodworth, author of “The Old Oaken Bucket.” Wood- th was then aboy ina printing office, but publishing on his own account a child's he Fly, to which young Payne JOHN HOWARD PAYNE AS A BOY. In order to remove the boy from the stage influences that surrounded him in Boston his ured for him a position in a count- house in New York. This was when he was enth year, but the seed that waa sown in Boston greweven more luxuriantly n tr ne is s planted im another soil, and young on found cultivating his natural taste, destinely editing-« paper called the Thespian The ability shown in the conduct of little pap these, Mr. Coleman of the Avening Post, be- © 80 interested in the young editor he sought an interview with and found the boy so full of promise sent him at his own per- expense to Union College, Schenectady, omplete his education. Upon his repo tot the officers were admonished nm and his her to restrain But the boy’s love A not bo repressed. It was trollable. And the restraint dran end ry one he started a college The Pastime,from the income nm which he hoped to be able to pay for his the venture was well sup- © boys it did not prove a vs but, it mude quite a reputa- came a lion sociates. ‘The paper was discon- after its twenty-fifth number. TOOK PARTS IN THEATRICALS his two terms at college he acted in ation. leading parts in the theatrical performances given he college chapel. ori at college was first-class, ‘Though is ri flattered and caressed. by society for his many ] rare in g-fts, be was a close, conscien- The following is the author's final revision of | tious stucent, and stood well in all of his clas the words and music of today —and it | was, I bel | iu Anacostia: | <*"MkE pl Hever Achorn xe, arranged at the Talburtt house | eat! n sand pal res thoush we may roam, sno plare ihe bone! taki He ase his The song was revised az differen TIEN IN PARTS. t draft of t ng Was probably writ- ten in Paris, where the poet did considerable literary work. The air, a an one, is said ve been first heard by or from the | s of a peasant girl, and suggested the words. | ious theories on this point. | »me of his wood, at East Ham . J., was always dear to the kely that he had it im mind when be ton of “Heme, Sweet Home” in “Chari” cided bit. Miss 1882, after an ab: end three years afterw: ‘hteen years, kes a tour of ington he sp duced into the Young George W. Talburtt, who is Fears of age, touk a fancy to the when Payne renewed the visit, some five years later, young Talburtz and he beeame attached to each other. It was during this later visit, it is claimed by Anacostians, that the final and present version of the famous song was arranged and written at the old T: burtt mansion. During this stay in Washin > ton, which lasted until 1542, the poet had much | leisure time at his disposal, which be largely devoted to literary work. He revised several of his earlier productions and was a regular eontribator to the pre: f the cit; ‘Yalourtt was in bis we # at this time and Was an enthusiastic lover of music, being Vocalist of some note. It 1s a matter of well established neighborhood tradition that the poet consulted him freely while revising the | e Talburtt family rh faintly express strong turbulent | display the furious passions, these defects were whieh glowed with anima- Amore extraordinary mixture of softness and intelligence were never associated in a human countenance and bis face was a true index of his heart.” | supplied by ane tion and inte! al attention on elo- ion and deck: ation, so that when a crisis his "s affairs confronted him he had in his ability to restore a lost for- 2 1405 untoward circumstances dis d the elder Payne's fortune. his creditors ing everything that he possessed. The 4 Man how saw his opportunity and em- «it. It was the turning point in his life. at ouce resolved to take to the stage and his g tic talents in a supreme er fortune for his father Tie bestowed spe and at the sume time a reputation for himeel® now received from his father and other nds, who were previously opposed to such consent to follow the inclinations of heart. EN IN PAYNP'S EAST HAMPTON HOME. Young Payne was eighteen years of age at this time aud was thus described by one of his contemporaries: “ @ countenance of nocommon order, ature bestowe: ures him and though was a roundness and fairn motions oF DEBUT ON THE STAGE. His first appearance on a public stage was in the old Park Theater, New York, on the 24th of February, 1809, in the ¢ Norcal inthe tragedy of * cess was complete, the critics being warm in their praises of bis effort. His engagement in New York proved so flattering that he visited leading cities in the north and south, ever: where being greeted with enthusiastic audi- Douglass.” His suc- song, and that they sang it together to a piano | ences. His repertoire included these charac- accompaniment ia the old house. T Plano used be them was until reeentiy in the | pos m of § Talb: sw eu Capitol Hill, who vouches for this fact It! Ke is also said that Daniel Webster and William L. Mares, who were frie: and adwirers of the poet, accompanied Lim oa more than one of his ‘visits to Talburtt» Here I will let Anacostia’s conneetion with the production of the immortal lyrie rest, with the parting assertion, founded upon an bouest Sigi e old | ters: tow, now living | Zaphna in “Rome: Alecander in “Alexander the Gi | Hasse Young Norval in “Douglass,” Octavias in lountaineer,” Frederick ia “Lovers’ Vows,” lahomet.” Hamiet in “Hamlet,” oda in “Pizarro,” Tancreg in “Tancrea and ismund,” Achmet i “Barbar and Ji et,” Kugar in “4 i Lear,” a in ‘Jane Shore.” in favor of g were written here, but I do hold that there is good reason for believing that the final or recent version of it was written in the Talburtt ouse or under the old chestnut tree in the garden. which but haracter of Young Jord Orestes ia “Dia tressed Mother,” Lothair in “Adelgitba” and Venoui in “Venn.” 4 Boston paper paid this tribute to bis genius at this time: “In force of genius and taste in belles letters there are few actors on the stage who can claim competition with him. This is not flattery; and, if it were, it would not be pernicious to him, who has so uniformly been quoted as rare ‘instance of intellectual pre- cocity. But his successful application even of these thrifty and uncommon properties of mind to the profession of the stage will excite some wonder when it is known that he has had no dramatic preceptor in the artifice; that his word and his action have been disciplined by his own judgment, and that he steps before the public full grown, like Minerva, without being indebted to Jupiter's head for his origin.” YOUNG PATNE A LIO¥. Young Payne was now (1813) the lion of the day and was dubbed “The American Roscins.”” Having captured America, he aspired to the conquest of England. Arriving at Liverpool at a time (during the war of 1812) when the re- ception given Americans there was not of the most friendly nature, our hero was marched to Prison, where he languished for fourteen days. Icannot, within the limits of an aper article.follow Leg closely during bis eighteen busy and eventful years of residence abroad. As actor and dramatic writer he attained great distinction in England, a country that has al- ways excelled in histrionic lore. He was the first native American actor and dramatist to attract the attention of Englishmen, and he was on intimate terms with many of the leading literary men of Great Britain and France. He was one of Charles Lamb's particular favorites, and Coleridge and the great French actor, ‘Talma, showed him distinguished attention. WIS CAREER ABROAD AS AN ACTOR. The following characters were personated by Payne in Great Britain, as well as those before mentioned as having bees previously taken by him in the United States, viz: Count Lunenberg in “Adelaide,” Jager in ‘Venice Preser' Reuben Glenroy in Town and Country,” Petru chio in “Katherine and Petruchio,” Biron in “Isabella,” Wyndham in “Koyal 'Oak” and Charles De Moor in “The Robbers.” While playing in Dublin he, with Daniel O'Connell and Charles Phillips, joined the Ma- sonic ordei inst appearance upon any stage was rmingham, England, in 1818, and he closed his career as an uctor in the part of Young Nor- vel, the ‘y character in which he made his debut in New York nine years before. His reasons for quitting the stage are given by one of his biographers, as follows: “As an actor he did not grow with his audience and lacked the genius to hold a place as a star upon the English stage.” PAYNE'S GRAVE AT TUNIS. In his youth he was handsome of face and symmetrical of form, but as years advanced upon him he became fleshy, and this portliness of person is assigned as another reason for his quitting the stage. DEVOTED TO DRAMATIC WRITING. Mr. Payne now devoted his time to dramatic writing and most of his literary labors were performed in Paris in adapting French plays to the English stage, becoming a constant, enthu- sinstio reader of the French dramatic pocts. Tt was during his residence in Paris that he made the acquaintance of Washington Irving, with whom he roomed for some time. Irving and he became fast friends. Asadramatist Payne met with good sue- cons, many of his plays being among the most popular of the day, and some of them outlived the author himself, notably his tragedy of “Brutus” and comedy of “Charles II,” which are upon the boards today, and with which have been associated the great actors Edmund Kean and Charles Kemble. Altogether he wrote sixty-three plays, which may be classi- fied as follows: Eleven tragedies, nine comedies, twenty-six dramas, seven operas and ten farces, Becoming dissatisfied with his progress and treatment abroad, Mr. Payne returned to the United States in 1832, arriving in New York on the 25th of July of that year. His friends and admirers in his native city gave him a grand reception and benefit, which netted him over 37,000. His own tragedy of “Brutus,” followed by Shakespeare's comedy of ‘Katherine and | Petruchio,” and concluding with his own com- | edy of “Charles II,” comprised the bill for the | evening. |" In Boston, Philadelphi | other American cities he wi received. New Orleans and ao flatteringly While living with his brother Thatcher in New York, after his return home, he wrote a Life of Christ, but it was nover published. ‘A FONDNESS FOR JOURNALISM. Payne always showed a fondness for journal- In 1849 the whigs again took charge of the government, and President Taylor, in 1851, re- appointed the poet to his former post, his’ old friend Webster again working in his behalf. But he did not long survive this appointment, having died at his post of duty on April 9, 1852, in the sixty-second year of his age. His remains were interred in the Protestant cemetery at Tunis, a modest monument beinj erected over his grave by friends and mirers. But Washington is now the” proud possessor of his remains, which were, through the mu- nificence of the late Mr. Corcoran, removed to Oak Hill cemetery on the 9th of June, 1683, The ceremonies attending the reinterment were such as are rarely bestowed upon man, President Arthur and the members of his cab- inet, military and civic societies and citizens eminent in all pursuits of life turning ont to do honor to the memory and genius of the, poet. The handsome monument erected over his re- mains stands immediately in front of tho chapel, near the main entrance. to the ceme- tery, and has the following inscribed thereon: ‘ jow author of ome, bareet Home,’ borg dae O, TDN died aps ), 1852. Erected A.'D. 1883." The above is on the south front. On the opposite side is this: “‘Sure, when thy gentle spirit fled To reais beyond the azure dome, With arms outstretched God's angels said, “Welcome to Heaven's Hor ‘Sweet Home.*” Afeature of the dedicatory services at the unveiling of the monument was the singing of “Home, Sweet Home” by a chorus of 100 voices, accompanied by the full Marine Band. ‘The monument was badly shattered a falling treo during the burri¢ane that visited us last November, but it will soon be repaired. PAYNE'S CHARACTERISTICS. Erroneous ideas prevail concerning Payne’ personal characteristics, The general impres- sion scems to be that he was a dissolute, care- Jess character: a wanderer without any’ social ties or ge aspirations. Such are not the facts. It would be dificult to point to a more preci or methodical porson than John Howard Payne was up to the declining years of his life. It true he was iinprovident, but improvidence,un- fortunate}; particula person, his penmanship was a model of neatness and his papers were kept in the best of order. During the early years of his eventful life his spirit was buoyant, but the reverses and disappointments attending is maturer years disturbed his better nature. i kat this pen picture from an old Tunisian Iriend: He was a small man, with a fine, intelligent face, but of a very scrious and melaneholy ex- pression. He spoke slowly, with great dignity of manner. He was highly educated and very well informed. His conversation was ex- tremely pleasant and interesting. Though rather cold and reserved in his manners, fe had a strong temper and will. The many ups and downs he had in his life have made him rather skeptical and'given him a strong touch of misanthropy, which increased in his latter years. Ho never spoke of his theatrical life efore me. Politics were the ordinary topics of his conversation, as it is generally with United States Americans. * * * Hoe spent nearly all his time in writing and studying. * *°* Ho had, in the last year of his life, be- come of very sedentary habits and very gloomy in his ideas. Iremember to have seen him many times sitting in his armchair, by a red- hot stove, drinking brandy and water ani looking very sad. He seemed tu have no ties left in the world.” And here is another picture from another friend's pen: “Hie expressive face, sad yoice and graceful manners grasped your attention and sympathy just as some beautiful child oF flower would. His conversation, highly inter- esting from its variety of subjects, would alwa} incline you to listen rather than to tlk. H memory was remarkable and his language was picturesque.” Having lost the object of his love Payne never married. Gronor SiaatoNs, Sess ‘Written for The Evening star. ism and he now (1834) conceived the idea of starting an international literary periodical, which was to be published in London, the con- tributors to be both English and American. «In the prospectus he claimed that “literary labor in America can only be rendered a source of sure and permanent benefit to its followers and others through some connection with the pe- riodical press. Even abroad.” he continues, “this is widely though less exclusively the case. Byron him- self knew it and was ambitions of establishing a magazine with Shelley and Hunt. Scott was for along time at the head of an ‘Annual Register,’ and to the last was more or lesa con- cerned in less ponderous publications of the same class; and Campbell, Bulwer, Lockhart and numbers equally eminent in England, be- sides Jouy, Duval and others in France, and many who might be quoted in other parts of the world, look for their least precarious re- sources and means of usefulness, notwithrama- ing their popularity as makers of books, to their editorships of periodicals.” Se interested waa ho in this ‘scheme and so sanguine was he of its success that he aban- doned everything else and started on » per- sonal canvass of the country for subscribers. But the enterprise proved a failure, the ex- ted long list of subscribers not materializ~ Fig. Stopping at. Washington on his way north on this missicn he made the acquaini- ance of many eminent public men, amon; them being Daniel Webster, Henry Clay an William L. Marcy, who promised his enterprise substantial aid. It way during thie visit that he made the acquaintance of the Talburtt fam- ily, an acquaintance that ripened into « last- ing friendshi atinuing hie tour through the south and southwest, “he visited the famous Indian chief, John Ross. A peculiar phase of our i terminable Indian question was agitating the country at the time—the removal of the Chero- kees from Alabama and Georgia to the far west. The Indians opposed the scheme, and Payne, sympathizing with them in the stand they took, was reported to be a spy, working inimicably to the interests of the government, and he was arrested by the Georgia militia, He was soon released, however. In 1838 Payne again visited Washington, and through the influence of Webster and Maro: was appointed consul to Tunis, Africa, in I by President Tyler. During this visit he was frequently » guest of the Talb he and young George W. Talburtt being ‘com- anions. Reaching Tunis on bis official mission he be- came a t favorite at the court of the bey, In 1845 he was recalled by the Polk administra- I 7 visita We renews in 186) pe soul ve oshington acqt friends contributes to the city press, Robert Burns. BORN JANUARY 25, 1759, Brave singer of the olden days, So potent are thy matchless lays, No longer may our halting praise Add to thy measure. It rustic muse still fondiy deem ‘Thy name her most congenial theme, Be hers the pleasure. As oft we scan each glowing page, Instinct with all thy noble rage, ‘Thy sparkling wit, and wisdom sage, Affection tende A well-known voice we seem to hear, And fain would think thy spirit near, And homage render. How doth the old familiar tune Recall the banks of Bonnie Doon Where thou in many a bygone June Hasteate and pondered! ‘The gorse and heath still bloom as fair As when beside the winding Ayr ‘Thy footsteps wandered. Still merie and mavis haunt the woot, Where, sadly musing, thou hast stood, Or haply, swayed by lightsome mood, Attuned thy singing; Nor didst thou dream thy simply lay Would long survive its natal day, ‘Through ages ringing. Strong lover of thy native soll, *Twas thine tocrown lier sons of toil; ‘Thy aim oppression’s might to foil, True manhood cherish. Not yet, whate’er our mortal lot, Shall old acquaintance be forgot, Or friendship perish. We turn the leaf—Behold, a throng Of Highland clansmen mareh along, And loud swells Bruce's battie song, O'er bagpipes’ droning! Resistiess still thy magic art To freeach loyal Scottish heart, Such birthright owning. Not blameless was thy brief earth-life, But mid the stress of passions rife, Yet didst thou wage relentless strife 'Gainst Naunting error. ‘They heard no faint uncertain note Whom once thy trenchant satire smote, Inspiriug terror. Though child of nature from thy birth, Now plunged in grief, now mad with mirth, ‘To thee the cotter’s lowly hearth Became an altar. Well may her sons this lesson learn, ‘Wherever home-fires burn, And so exalt her! As glows the storm-scarred mountain height, Beneath the sun's unclouded light, So shines thy genius forth as bright While years are fleeting. From this far iste on fancy's wings ‘My muse her spray of heather brings, ‘Thy birthday greeting? . —Hewey 8. Weer, Nantucket, January 21, 1392. —-¢e——___. Solid Fog. From the Youns Man. The deleterious influence of fogs may be es timated from some results obtained from ex- amination and analysis last month at Kew Gar- dens. The director speaks of the leaves as be> ing covered with a substance like brown paint— “tarry-hydrocarbon"--which ean only be scraped off with a knife, Onanalysis this shows over 51 per cent of carbon and hydrocarbon, with 41 per cent of metallic iron, magnetic oxide of iron and mineral water. ‘Any one at allacquainted with the physiolagy of plants d animals can apprehend in a moment how uch a mixture must affect both the lungs of men and the lcaves—which are the lungs—of plants, as regards respiration. Strangely . the deposit appeared to be more marked at Kew than at Chelsea, ‘Again the Hat. From Life. was cheap stuff and the feat looked lar ‘he a done service totore™ tare you talking about? I asked you how you liked the play!" gpg choad ah ht barb ataa hots bad as to some the ribbon as itt ‘there,’ ll OFFICIAL CLIPPINGS. Scrap Books Made by the Different Presidents. GEN. HARRISON'S METHODS, Several Volumes Devoted to Different Topics— Andrew Johnson First Inaugurated the Practice of Keeping Newspaper Articles— Col. Lamont’s Valuable Record. ‘Waitten for The Evening Star. LTHOUGH OCCUPY- ing ® position of the highest dignity and im- portance the Presidents of the United States have never been above 22 feoling a wholesome in- terest in what their S fellow citizens thought Qy/and said about them. \.No President down to Andrew Johnson’stime, é however, is known to ¢ . WS have systematically kept record of the comments passed by the press upon his administration. Mr. Johnson used to lay aside those newspapers in which he found anything that particularly caught his fancy, whether complimentary or otherwise, and when he had accumulated enough to make & volume of considerable size have them bound together. He also regarded the whole litera- ture of his office, so to speak, as his personal property. When’ he left the White House he caused all the papers he had collected—printed and written, bound and unbound, public and private in ‘character, including letters, dis patches, memoranda, proclamations and every- hing else which could be of the slightest use for political or historical parpores—to be bun- dled into wagons and carried off, no one knowa whither, It is prosumed that he had in view a literary work of some magnitude, consist- ing chietiy of » defonse of his administration, and that he gathered up these data on account of their value as original sources of informa- tion; but the effect of his action bas been to put historians of his era to incalculable trouble and annoyance and to confine their researches almost wholly to departmental records and the ld newspaper files stored here and there in Ubrarics. Bo thoroughly did he carry out his Pion that when President Grant came into the White House there was notascrap of paper the size of copper cent to be found in any desk or cupboard or drawer in the building. GEN. GRANT'S PRACTICE. Grant had a different practice. He did not care a great deal about the “‘cross roads” press, but he had more or less regard for public een- timent in the populous centers, as reflected in the tew newspapers of high standing east, west and south, and especially in New York city. Their editorial leaders were cut out by his orders and Inid on his dosk every day. After thus much of « tribute to the authority of journalism his mind would often feel so re- lieved that he would not give the matter another thought, and the .pile of chppings would be swept’ off and carried away in the waste basket unread. At other times he would lance them over to sec whut acts of ia administration those pesky editors had found to pick flaws in’ that day. On still other occasions, but — there most rare, he would carefully read through the whole lot and take enough interest in their statements to make some inquiries of his sub- ordinates concerning affairs mentioned in them. It is believed that his habit of commonly ignor- ing the newspapers and making up his mind for himself was largely the cnuso of the fact that so many of the conspiracies against the good repute of his administration reuched giant proportions before attracting his atten- tion-—the friondly warnings uttered by the press passing by him unnoticed till too late to check the growth of a scandal. PRESIDENT HAYES’ SCRAP BOOKS. It was President Hayes who first introduced into the White House the scrup books as we find them there today. He did not care for general discussions of the state of the country, but he wanted overy littlo scrap and item, either news or editorial, which referred to him or to Mrs. Hayes. When he retired from office he had to hire men by the day to box up his treasures and ship them to Fremont. Unless he has since destroyed them he has, perhaps all told, the most remarkable collection of per sonal memorabilia that was ever got together by any one in American public lite. President Garticld’s term in office was so short that he had hardly time to develop any definite plan for the preservation of the history of his administration or the popuiar comments onit. His executive clerks, however, under the direction of his private secretary, J. Stan- ley Brown, kept the scrap book system going, and when the break-up came in the fall of 1881 Mr. Brown took possession of the collected ma- terial in behalf of the executors and removed it to the President's old home. In President Arthur's term also the scrap books were kept up, although the President did not read a great deal that was written about him outside of his own state. He remained down to the day of his death very deeply inter- ested in the internal politics of New York. COL. LAMONY'S INDUSTRIOUS WORK. President Cleveland did not leave the cull- ing of his matter to the care of anybody who happened to find it convenient. Col. Lamont went through the heap of “executive exchanges” every day with his own hands, marking an arti- ele here and @ paragraph there, and having some one foliow him with a puir of shears and cut out what he had marked. The rest of the printed stuff was thrown away and only a part of whut was cut reached the President's o Many of the clippings did not go into the tall, but were filed away in the colonel’s desk drawers for a more ef- fective use. These were usually articles not intrinsically worth keeping, but contained a sneer or an attack from some poor devil of an editor who felt that the distribution of patron- age in his neighborhood had been made with shocking disregard of his personal interests. After tiring his broadside of censure the critic was very apt to conclade, ashe heard no re- sponse from the Executive M. that no one there had noticed it. Delusive fancy! There never was a scribbler so insignificant that some “dammed good-natured friend” —as the poct puts it—would not take the trouble to mark acopy of his nastiest fling and for- ward it eithor to the President or to the colonel. In the course of a few months journalsm at the cross roads having become extra hard sledding, the editor would begin to pine for a government salary, and would turn up in Washington with a pocket full of recom- mendations for appointment to some petty ottive which would at least keep bis family in shoes. Forgetful of the freedom with which he had been pouring out invective only a little while before, he had been transformed into the ‘most unequivocal friend and admirer of the administration, and an ordinary English vocab- ulary scarcely sufficed to put his encomiums into words as he approached the executiv. presence. But stay—Col. Lamont, though never having met the gentleman be- fore, had a marvelous — memory es, and was sure he had something in his drawer which would interest an applicant for office. The Ghagrined aspirant would then be confronted with his worst specimen of editorial vilification, and the curtain usually dropped at that point. As for the President himself, he would not have been able to swear inacourt of justice whether half the news- papers in the country were friendly or un- friendly to his sdministration. For the opinions of = Yery few he had the utmast reapect; the rest be could hardly recall by his assistants, Mr. Montgomery, an old news: Paper man who long ago mastered the art of exchange reading at ruilroad speed. His quick ate! whatever is worth looki: ond time. |The Presidont himself, morsover, bably reads more of the newspapers directly Etter publication tn Mr: Clevelandaiae He fell into the habit throu; F fs Hite if £ cx fF rE in the light of the verdict rendered by the his~ torians of his own era. DIFFERENT VOLUMES AND THEIR SUIVECTS. ‘The Harrison scrap-book library is divided between several subjects, the space devoted to each being a pretty trustworthy index of a relative proportion in which it bas filled the [ey hee ind or attracted the attention of the ident. Naturally “Political Topics” leads the list of titles, with nine thick volumes. Next follows “Social and Personal,” containing ac- counts of the dinners and receptions given by the White House family or in their honor, and bits of biographical chat and comment, filling a series of five volumes. Third in rank we find “Economic Questions, Tariff, Finance, &c.,” with four volumes; then comes “Po- litical Gossip and Conventions” with three, and “Pension Matters” with two; while civil service reform, the southern question, public land—including Indian rela- tions—the foreign policy of the United Sates, the New Orieans Italian episode, the political upheaval in Brazil, the Chilean imbroglio and the Keystone Bank scandal each has a single book to itself. THE STAR A FAVORITE. It will hardly surprise the readers of Tas Evesixa Stam to be told that their favorite newspaper is also the one which the President 8 to consult more than any other. Con- spicuons among the articles of more recent date carefully preserved for the study of coming Renerations are ‘The President's Day, Printed in Tux Bran of November 24; “The ‘hurch of the Covenant—the President Listens to an Excellent Sermon by Rev. Dr. Bartlett,” printed on November in editorial parae graph of December 7 on tho evidence found in the report of the civil service commission that the civil service law is well obeyed in the de- partments here; “The President's Christ- mas Gift—Nir. ‘Blaine Expected to Write « Letter Declining to Be a Presidential Candi- date,” printed on December 9; editorial para- graph on the President's order for the adoption of an efficiency record in the classified service, printed on December 10; “The Gay World— Christmas in the White’ House and Cabinet Homes,” on December 24; **Christmas at the White House,” on December 25; “Secrets of State—How Certain Important ‘Government Matters are Kept for the Public,” on December “Still Talking of War,” on December 28, and “A Happy New Year—DBrilliant Reception of President Harrison at the White House,” on the Ist of January. Is it possible for an administration togo very astray with such a weulth of good literature and counsel to draw upon? ae COMPARATIVE VITALITY. The Great and Mysterious Problem Why Some Live Longer Than Others, From the London Spectator. There are families, beyond doubt, as well as individuals, over whom disease seems to have no power, who are either exempt from illness or survive it as if it were butan emotion, who, apart from accident, always fulfill the ycars of the psalmist, and usually die only because the still unbroken machine has exhausted ite stock of motive power. Doctors, when called in to such persons, are always cheerful, assure the friends that there will bea rally soon, aud would like, if they dared for the credit of their craft, to administer as little medicine as possi- ble. They have not an idenas to the reason, unless it be “hereditary predisposition,” or, in a few cases, a cheerful temperament; but they know quite well that in such patients there is “recuperative power,” and as they like cures, partly out of kindness and partly from ecli- Interest, they are well content. And there are also families, as well as individuals, in whom the life lies low, about whose “attacks,” how- ever slight they may appear, the doctors always shake their heads, and of whom, w! among themselves, they will remark: Bianks have a constitutional habit of dying. Sueh people rarely live to be more than middle aged; they never attain old age, and when they die they die unexpectedly, most frequently in the first stage of convalescence, from what is called a “relupge.”. Something is wanting in them which furnishes their rivais with staying power, but then, what is the something? It certainly is not size, for giants die rather rapidly, and the men who are dear to insurance societies are usualiy of the medium build or even alittle under it, their weight in particular being for the most part slightly below average. Fatness is weakness more or less. And it 1s certainly also not iden- tical with physical strength, for athletes are scarcely ever long lived; women have, on the whole, if we deduct their mortality from chiid- bearing, more vitality than men, and very fee- ble men, in the athletic sense, constantly at- tend the tunerals of far stronger juniors. Nor | does the quality of vitality arise from any superior strength of brain. ‘he able often live long and often die young. ‘The great lawyers and theologians, meni of ab- gamekeepers and country clergymen, with neither of whom is the brain very active or often fatigued. The greatest living poet is as old and as healthy as Mr. Gladstone, and the last centenarian recorded, oF last but one. was a sort of respectable female tramp. Sir Moses Montefiore, who died at 101, was a most acute- minded min, and so was Henry Mertyn, the senior wrangler who turned missionary, and after a life of travel not unlike that of Sir Mowes died of exhaustion just seventy years younger. ‘There is a fancy abroad among the cultivated that very stupid men do not reach great age; butif they ask a few masters of work houses and the managers of the great charities the; would find that isan error. Nor ean the qual- ity be accurately traced to any conditions or method of life. The very old are often in- teneely vivacious, but they are often also very dull, occasionally almost imbecile. The rich, according to modern theories, ought to possess tho highest vitality; but as a’ matter of fact it belongs, taking all the world, to negroes who were slaves in the West India Islands, and in England to gamekeepers and excessively poor women. ‘The only facts we certainly know about habits as conducive to vitality are that free- dom from anxiety is favorable to it, probably by conserving the pumping power of the heart, aud that it is in a rather sing ular degree hereditary, the capacity of living surviving in many families the most violent changes in the habits of each generation, even the most vio- lent changes in ‘residential climates. Those who cling to life intensely often die early; while the indifferent live on till death seems tohave finished that furrow and yet passed them by. No; vitality is not synonymous with strength of will, though it must be, on the evidence, a non-material quality. It is more like a “git thun anything else, like that strangest of all capacities, the feeling for music, which must be in a measure spiritual, yet has absolutely no relation to mental force, being as often wanting in the ablest as in ‘the stupidest of mankiud. What is the source of the gift we none of us know, and probably never shall, for we cannot hope to accumulate more ex; ence than the great physicians have done, and they frankly confess that in every patient there is some quality making for death or survival that they can only recognize, without pretend- ing to understand it. —_+e-—___ Fanciful Names, From the New York Advertiser. Mr. John Wanamaker, the able Postmaster General who has afforded so many fresh facili- s for the transmission of mail matter, occa- sionally descends to details "and gives good ad- vice to letter writers concerning the safe and speedy sending of their letters to the desired destination, From the latest fatherly injunc- ban a) select the following sensible pare graph: Local names that are not those of the post offices where delivery is desired and nxmes of private country residences or villas should be carefully emitted from addresses of corre- spondence intended for prompt, trausmission by mail. Fanciful addit should not be ‘This will be a aad blow to the sweet girl; uates of Vassar who date their own notes “Podunk-on-the-Connectict and them to “Poughkeepsie-on- the Swamp,” normal acuteness, often reach a vast age, as do | ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS. Interesting Investigations Being Made by the | Some Agricultural Departwent INFLUENCE OF ELECTRICITY UPON THE COLOR AND PRODUCTIVENESS OF FLOWERS—OURING TOBACCO BY MEANS OF ELECTRICAL aPPLi- ANCES—WHAT WILL BE SEEN AT THE COMING worty's Fain, LECTRICITY IS ABOUT TO FIND A NEW employment in horticulture. Spring veg- etables are already being forced by its aid for market. There is no doubt that roses and other flowers can be made to bloom more plentifully and more profitably with its assistance. In short the discovery affords promise of possi- bilities not yet estimated. The Department of Agriculture has been ex- Perimenting in this direction for some time Past. It has been found that lettuce is particn- larly susceptible to the influence of the electric light, by means of which itean be grown for market in two-thirds the usual length of time. Other vegetables respond likewise in varying degrees. But everything depends upon the Proper regulating of the light, and how to do this can only be learned by careful study of the result produced under all sorts of conditions. The effect of the electricity being to hasten ma- turity, too much of it causes lettuce to run to seed before the edible te It must not be imagine employed for such purposes a sunlight. It is merely used in a supplementary shion. The green house that has the sun in e daytime is illuminated at night with are ‘hts, toward which the plants incline their nd flowers, ac Ppting quite innocently se artitictal counterfeits of the orb of day At was supposed hitherto that vegetables re- quired intervals of darkness for their health and development, just as animals necd sleep, but it has been shown that, supplied with electric rays, they will goon growing thriftily between sunset and daybreak. Staying up all night seems to do them no harm so long as the dissipation is properly regulated. OPAL GLOBES EMPLOYED. On the same principle that beer is selected by the prudent as a less demoralizing beverage than whisky the electric gardener emplo: opal globes to diminish the intensity of the light. When it is left baro and permitted to shed its unfiltered rays upon the plants the latter grow pale, run up quickly in sickly stalks and soon ‘die. Itremains to be d covered exactly how much electricity is ben ficial and during precisely what period of the development of the Vegetables it ought to be apy ‘The influence of electricity upon the color and productiveness of flowers has been shown to be extraordinary. Tulips expoved to its light have deeper and richer tints, flowering more freely and developing longer ‘stems and bigger leaves. Fuschias bloom earlier under like conditions. Petanias also bloom eurlier and more profusely, growing taller and more slender. Itis the same way with many other flowers, In fact, there is every reason for be- lieving that the electric light will be very profitably used in futuro as an adjunct to fore- ing establishments for both flowers and garden vegetables. Already one market gardener in ‘ew Jersey is employing it with a success which he reports as marvelous. Another surprising investigation which the iy pomp of Agriculture is conducting has to do with tobacco. CURING ToRACCO. An important part of the curing of tobacco is its fermentation, which occurs during the Process known as “bulking.” The leaves are packed closely together in large piles, and while the mass heats, the tobacco being said to “ ” and after the aromatic compound: contribute to its taste and odor # These phenomena of fermentation are caused by bacteria. Now, each sort of tobaceo has its own kind of bacteria, which give it aroma and flavor inci- dentally to feeding upon it. Here comes in a wonderful discovery, for it has been asce tained by experiment that poor tobacco whe inoculated with the longing to fine tobacco obtains the taste and quality of the latter. Thus by a operation it fs easy to transform infer into first-clai material for cigars wi nsumer m: readily be led to believe are from the Vuelta Abajo. ‘Thus far the matter has not passed beyond | the experimental stage. The triais were | formed by propagating colonies of ba | longing to tirst-quality tobacco in beet | then sprinkling the latter upon inferior leaves. | After these leaves been packed together and permitted to ferment they were have ail the bouquct and other desir ties of the fine brand. So complete results that expert judges were unable to tell the difference. They can undoubtedly be se- cured on a large scale at & small cost, perhaps decoction of juperior quality, transferring by | sistance is desired. ‘The notion that the differ- jence between aliichmond stogy and an im- ported Havana cigar is chiefly ouc of species in microbes is certainly calculated to be of inter- est to smokers. THE WORLD's Farm EXwrnrr. A relief model of Death valley twenty-five feet in length ix to be an interesting feature of at the world’s fair. shown Together with it wiil be imens of all the strange creatures government expedition collected there recently, such as horned toads, scorpions and snakes. ‘There will also be a display of the economic animals of the United States, mounted and stuffed. Besides a display of mounted bugs the ento- mologist division will show medals of growing economic plants of all sorts, mostly in pots and resembling real ones with amazing’ ac- curacy of imitation. Of these many have been airendy completed. Bach plant is repre- sented as attacke: its most destructive m- sect parasite, part of it being in a healthy condi- tion, while another portion is in process of being gobbied np. For example, on a tomato plant ia crawling a huge green caterpillar, nown a# the “tomato worm.” On a portion of a potato plant potato bugs are getting in their work, and clover, different kinds of vines and other growths are similarly displayed, sailed by their respective enemies. Au ent ol corn is being eaten by a boil worm, which is the same foe that attacks the cotton so fatally And, by the way, it has been recently disco: ered that cotton can be saved from this depre- dator by planting corn among it, because the boll worm prefers corn to cotton'and will for- sake the latter for the former. .__ A BACTERIOLOGICAL LABQRATORY. Tho bureau of animal industry will exhibita complete bacteriological laboratory in full operation, showing how the bacteria which Produce various diseases in beasts are Pro gated aud experimented with. It will aso make an interesting display of animal para- sites, from the trichina to the tapeworm. Like- wise this division will have on view a model barn and model poultry house, constructed by putting together suggestions which have been solicited from farmers all over the country. Agents of the department have been engaged in collecting samples of corn, wheat and other grains from state and county fairs in all parts of the United States, selecting those which have taken premiums as the best. Samples of wheat have been secured from Peace river,as {ar north of Winnipeg as Washington is south of it in lati- fade. The same plan is to be adopted respect. ing all other kinds of agriculturale products, and Mr. Tisdel, the explorer for the - ment of State, bas promised to contribute specimens of fibers, native tobacco and various other vegetable curiosities from South America. To keep the cereals from (eters they are stored in mouso-proof closets, with tar paper and moth balls to frighten away the bugs. ES IN, Written for Tue EvExrxe Stan. Ghall We Live Again? ‘Lasked the hills in vernal bloom, To tell me if beyond the tomb ‘The mind of man is full and free, ‘The heir to all eternity. asked the seas, that grandly roll ‘Their wrinkled brows from pole to pole, If far beyond their utmost shore ‘There is a life forever more. T asked the stars, that nightly shine As jewels in the crown divine, ‘If man shall live within their sphere, Devoid of all the dross that's here. 1 asked the sun, whose heavenly light ‘Shines somewhere always day and night, ‘To tell me if the soul of man Exists beyond this little span. ‘The hilis and seas, and stars and sun ‘Made glorious answer one by one, Proclaiming with a grand refrain— “God wills that man shall live again!” ‘Washington, D. C. by merely spraying the poor tobacco with «| this means the vegetable organixtns whose as- | the exhibit of the Department of Agriculture | KEEP YOUR TEMPER. Mlustrations of the Value of Seif-Com- trol Under Ditteultios “Oe OF THE FIRST REQUISITES fora statesman is control of his temper,” ‘said a Congressman to a Stan writer “It is of immense use in debate. I had the ad- vantage of an object lesson on the subject thie noon in @ restaurant on Poansylvania avenue, where I had dropped in for a bite. ‘The eating department of the establishment ie in the rear, ascended to from the floor of the bar room by two steps “While I was engaged in consuming « modest chicken eroquette, washed down with a gina of malt liquor, a colored servitor came rushing through, bearing aloft upon his extended palm waiter containing an elaborate meal. The Proprietor of the place stood close by the two steps [have mentioned manipulating the keys of acash register. He did not even look up from his occupation when the negro bearing the tray burried past himand tumbled bead- long over the steps “It was the most disastrous tumble that Lever witnessed. ‘Ihe waiter, with the dinner upon it, was flung by the shock directly ata muld- looking old gentleman seated at the nearest table. Itstruck him fairly in the teeth, ax he was opening his mouth fora Lite, and knocked him into a heap, while the dishes were ecat- tered broadeast on every side “Not less than ten minutes were required to pick up the fra the dishes and to gather togeth Mean- mhtie the bas looked up from bis cash rogister, conunued ive manner. After collect * aud having restored the injured old ¢) nan to hin seat the col ored servitor approached the proprictor with an humble mien and eaid If you please, sir, I fell down, _ The proprictor did not for # moment discon- tinue his operations on the cash register, but, looking up brie plied * “The —- you dia!” “Whereupon be proceeded with bis empley- ment as beiore. RESTRAINT UNDER DIVFICULTIES. “Repressed indignation ix an interesting phase of human { Such restraint is frequently required in good society, I had the pleasuro of attending a m o'clock tea at a house mue one day last we in soon aft Tony that be hada ¢ going too far, but I te that he had nmmts- hisarm.’ On this we- count it doubtless was that, in bowing to the ladies right and loft, he caught his foot in the leg of the wicker tea table and upset the whole affair—sptrit lamp, cups, sancers, sugar bowl, cream pitcher and all. The disaster was most lamentably complete. And yet the hostess was obliged to coutrol her wrath and to accept apologics with a smiling demeanor, saving that accident was really of no moment whatever. ATE ACCIDENTS. “On one occasion at a dinner party where I was present the host had three ducks to carve. Most dificult birds they are to dissect, as I daresay you are aware. Incidentally to the operation he managed to shoot one of them fairly into the lap of the lady at his right. What did she do? Simply looked pleasant and said that it didn mattor. At evening reception last winter I saw. near! half a pint of ice cream resting upon the shoulder of an uuconscious genticman who was talking toa pretty young woman. Somebody had dep od it th in passing and had fled on without meking any remark. What do you suppose he felt hike saying when he perceived | the circumstance? Yet he must have refrained from uttering ai © swear words which doubtless occurred to his mind. “Wid you ever fall down on the fee real hard? Perbaps you remenber how unsatisfying is the | sympathy which you @ under such eon- ditions, “I onco ‘saw a tat man tumble one He fell fairly on the extremity of his dit must have been very painful, © one came Up tnd asked: id 4: hurt vou at man looked up angrily and replied: ‘Do you suppore I did it tor any health? DUT THR LETTER NEVER CAME. “I once knew a man who, wheaeverhe got angry at anybody, would invariably say ‘Pll write bim a letter, air! IU write bim & letter!" hen be would go home and indite a fero- cious epistle to the party wi had done him the injury, and. in speaking of the matter later on, ald say need not hesit takably a ‘bun< | He riting of the letter, expressing his feclings freely and in de- tail, relieved is mind entirely, and then he jalways tore it up. That I regard as an exeel- dent method of ge ting rid of choler, 48 A TEST OF HUMAN NaTURR. “How many meu have you ever played ecards ‘With who could lose their money with equanim- ity? The amount in question dovs not so much matter. It is rare to find any one who will serve @ cheerful frame of mind during a ior | streak of unsuccessful play at pokor, though re is no such good n nature a4 poker. A person who his temper at y is seldom met win. If be has any thean little thaits he is sure to show them over the cards and chips | You can judge his character with « fair | of accuracy by the way he plays his hands, and particularly by the coutrol be has over hituself when losing.” —— PROFITS OF THE GAMBLERS, Millions Secured From Thelr Victims t= New Vork City. Although the industrial specialists of the fed- eral census bureau have been on their rounds and taken their notes of what goes to make up the commercial greatness of the metropolis, tuys the New York Herald, and although the municipal tax assessors have long ago made up their minds as to what proportion of the city's thirty odd millions of taxes shall be borne by each branch of business activity between the North and East rivers, and although the fed- eral enumerators and the police enumerators have finished and the state's enuroerators are about to begin their work in the count of Man- hattan’s swarming beads, a great industry of this city—one might almost say the greatest ingle industry—and its thousands of oting operatives bas been and would still be were not for the efforts of the Herald systematically, not to say shamefully, neglected, hat industry is the industry of It is a bald, harsh kind of s word, but our vo- cabulary has notas yet been enriched by ite euphemistic successor. It is the industry which cators to the desire in man for easy-got- ten wealth, which is as much a part of his being as his desire for food or drink. The shope or counting houses, or whatever you choose to call them, of¢ the dealers in chance are almost as open to the public as those of the dealers in shoes or huts, hardware or crockery. Their | existence is jast as much recognized as that of the theater or the church. Yet now here—not in the tax books, nor the census returns, nor in any place of ‘registration provided by fed~ eral, state or municipal government—ecap the imquiring citizen find the slightest trace of « tingle statistic by which be may measure the Growth of this vast industry. ‘The Herald has been at work to supply the want. gh 4 = ‘it bas Pay are startling. It fin for instance, the fits of pool selling in the city of New fork alone are almost as lange us the profits of the sugar trust throughout the country. It finds that the profits of faro would be much larger if the business could be conducted as regu- — See cee Ghoevtnnanss, annual ot two great branc! gaming industry. In the term faro are inciuded roulette, hazard and all games requiring ® “layout,” and of “pound games,” euch as It must be said, however, jou as reflected in the law a es Se Sars ee it has toward pool selling, is conducted arose and went out, The sexton followed them, ‘and ins few minutes returned to bis eat