Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-02-06

/ ~'-S - FSiAe~ats va VIC t-OLtOft f>EUfu
| (publlshed in Baltimore ia one of his
late letters from Washington, gives the
following brief sketch Of one whose name
is as little known to the world as sim
sle emanation Of his genius is widely ap-
preciated:
AS | sit in my garnet here Gin Wash
ington) watching the course of great
men and the destiny of party, I meet Of
ten with strange contradictions in this e.
yentful life. The most remarkable was
that of j. Howard Payne author Of
"Sweet Home - | knew him personal
ly. He occupied the rooms under me
for some time, aud his conversation was
so captivating that have often spent
whole days in his apartment. He was
an applicant for office at the time-Con-
sui at Tunis-from which he had been
removed. What sad thing il was to
see the poor man subjected 10 the hui
initiation Of Office seeking. OF an even
ing we would walk along the streets,
looking in to the lighted parlors as we
passed. Once in while we would see
some family circle SO happy, and form
ing so beautiful group, that we would
both stop-and then pass silently on
On such occasions he would give me a
history Of his wanderings -his trials, and
all the cares incident to his sensitive ma
ture and poverty. GLOW often" said
he once, II have been in the heart of
Paris, Berlin, London, or some other CT
ty, and heard persons singing or the
hand organ playing "Sweet Home with
out shilling to buy the next meal or a
place to put ny head. The world has
literally sung ny song until every heart
is familiar with its melody. Yet, have
been wenderer from my boyhood. =
Ny country has turned me ruthlessly
from office, and in my old age | have to
submit TO humiliation Thus he would
complain Of his hapless lot. HIS only
wish was TO die in a foreign land Ito be
buried by strangers and sleep in obscu
rity.
I met him one day looking unusually
sad-"Have you got your Consulate z"
said I.
"Yes-and leave in week for Tu-
MS, shall never return"
The last expression was bot politi-
cal faith. Far from it. Poor Payne
his wish was realized. He died at Tu-
mis-. Whether his remains have been
brought to his native country, / know
not. They should be, and if none 9TH
ers will do it, let the homeless through
out the world give penny for monu-
ment to Payne. knew him, and will
give my penny. and for an Inscription the
following:
HERE LIES J. HowARp PAYNE,
The .du1hor Of "Sueet Home"
A wanderer in life--but whose song was sung
In every tongue,
And found an echo in every heart
NEVER HAD HOWE!
lie died IN q Foreign Lend.
It is singular fact that very few per-
sons In America know that the Author
OF "Home' was an American. If you
ask nine persons out Of ten, even mong
those who have any knowledge OF must
cal history, they will tell you Sir Henry
Bishop, or some such person, must have
the credit. The truth is, this song is al
most the only thing that Payne ever did
that is entitled to remembrance. The
author was maker Of melodramas, and
musical plays. 'sHome, Sweet Home"
was song in one of them. Payne did
not remain in the country to see the
piece performed, and the first time he
ever heard his own song sung was IN
the streets Of a great European city
Its pathetic appeal to a. sentiment which
exists in every human bosom, gives it
an immediate echo over the whole world
which has not nor ever will die away.
IICharges were some time ago pre-
ferred against Governor Ramsey, of
Minnesota, and Mr.. Sibley, delegate
from that Territory, of official miscon-
duct in the disbursement oil money to the