The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-13
.uome. sweet Homo All about Sne
49,, Famous Song.
Fran, the Missouri Republican, II

america AZ vet has produced no cong writer +
~. -. MAS dome for her what Burns did LOT
scottan8. Moore for Ireland, and serange.
for E,ronce. Not even the popular enthusiasm
which shook the nation to its centre during
AZ. t.+e csv;, war could give birth at me
.yor,h, 70 any finer inspiration than John
f,rn,rn,s soni and "Rally Round the Flag
Rows y In "Maryland, my Maryland Were
coSnize a spark Of the same divine iire "h'cn
flashes forth in the Marseiliaise ana
"Scots wha hae Wi Wallace bled. Inc
country, therefore, owes no ordinary debt OF
rra,ttnde to John Howard PAYNE. VINO. II ne
did not write enough to entitie nim 10 re-
cognized place among the anthors OF th,s
class, has at least given US one song "hleh i
,lreaay beyond the reach OF chance or
-chanea--a household word sacred and secure
n fame is TO be estimated by widespread
ponularity, we had rather be the anthor o,
sHome, Sweet Home" than all the verses OF
Hest age TO the present hour. There is little
I'm the ballad when we subject 1T to critical
analysis. and yet this very simplicityi is the
precious gem which has snatched II from lot
retfn,ness, and blended tho familiar lines with
Tho hottest associations of the flreside. How
curious that this humble daisy, this " wee,
modest. crimson tipped flower" should grow
and blossom into fair renown when SO many
monarchs Of the forest lie prone in the dust,
unnoticed and unknown!
onire INIT brief ment ton. He was born in New
York June 0, 1892. and 1T an early age mani
tested decided literary and dramatic talent:
When only thirteen years OF age ne conducted
a small periodical called the IhrSpion Mirror,
which attracted the attention OF gentleman
named Seaman, who generously offered TO de-
fray the expenses of his education Mt Union
College.
Pecuniarv difficulties which involved his
father forced him to leave this institution be-
fore the completion of his studies, and in
order to support his impoverished family
PAYNE went npon the stage. making MS deb''f
Mt the Park Theatre, New York, February "a,
1909 in the character of "Young Norvel -
His success was so unmistakable that he con-
p tinued his new profession performing IN the
principal Eastern cities, and in 1873 went TO
England, where he received n cordial wei
come and became q great popular laVorlte
He remained abroad for nearly twenty years.
leading Bohemian life, and figuring alter
nately rs an actor, playwright, and manager,
gaining some reputation, but little money.
"Home Sweet Home" was penned in 4
garnet of the Palais ROYAL, Paris, when
moor PAYNE was SO utterly destitute and
friendess that he knew not where the next
DAYS dinner was coming from.
1t appeared originally in diminutire opera
called "Clar, the Maid of Milan" The
opera is seldom seen or heard of now, but The
song grows nearer and dearer TO us rs the
wears roll away, for " it is not of an age. but
for all time" More than once the unfortu-
nate author, walking the lonely streets Of
London or Paris amid the storm and darkness,
hungry, houseIess, and penniless, saw the
cheerful light cleaning through the windows
Of happy homes, and heard the music OF his
own song drifting out upon the gloomy night
to mock the wanderers heart with visions OF
comfort and of joy, whose blessed reality was
forever denied to him. "Home, Sweet
Home" was written by q homeless man.
In 1882 Payne returned TO this country, ana
after pursuing literary avocations with in
different success for q few years was finally
appointed Consul ut Tunis, where he died
June 3. 1852. One passage in his ill.starred
career tinges it with 4 hue OF melancholy ro-
nance, and perhaps explains the secret of his
restless, erratic career.
Maria Mayo, afterwards Mrs. General
Scott, was 4 quceny beauty in her yonlhlul
days whose charms of person and of mind
made her the acknowledged belle OF that Vene-
rable State whose soil has been no less pro-
Ific of fascinating women than of gallant
men. The legend prevails in Richmond thaf
Payne met Miss Mayo. and fell madiy in love
with her. The homage Of poet could hardly
be other than flattering even TO one whose
shrine was worshipped by scores of richer de-
votes, and possibly he mistook the smiles she
gave him for the evidence of reciprocated
passion but be this rs il may, the same old,
old story was enacted. He staked his happi-
ness his peace on woman's love. and-lost.
Thenceforth life had no attractions for him.
and he sought an exile to the barren shores OF
Africa rs welcome relief from the bitter
disappointment which had crushed out hope
and ambition here. The sands OF the desert
have long since covered the grave of John
Howard PAYNE, and the place where, "after
lfe's fltful fever he sleeps we'll" is unknown:
but "Home, Sweet Home,'' is q monument
which will carry his name and fame 10 re-
hottest posterity, and stand firm when eniges
Of marble and Of bronze shall have sunk into
indStinguishable decay.