The Portland daily press., 1872-01-08
The Authorship of ''Home, Sweet Home."

Lord Haughton writes to the London Ath-
euaeum:-In reference to the authorship of
the popular ballad, "Home, Sweet Homep'
the following anecdote may be interesting to
your musical readers: was residing at Mi
Ian with my family at the time of the produc-
ton of the opera of Gamma Bolena" We
were very intimate with Madame Paste. 1
well remember her calling one day, and tell
ing us she was very much discontented with
her share in the partition OF the last scene of
the opera, and she added, ''You English
have SO many beautiful airs which you sing
among yourselves, that am sure you could
help me-" My mother, who was very fine
musician, mentioned "Home, Sweet Homer'
as song which its own air and words, and
Miss Paton's singing, had made very popular
in England. She sang it, and Madame Pasta
sitting down to the pianoforte, said, '1t will
do, am sure it will do" Donizetti adopted
it accordingly, and thanked us for having got
him out of his difficulty. As to the author
ship, not having any musical books about me,
can only express vague remembrance that
it appeared first in a collection of foreign
songs, with English words. The music, / be-
lieve, was arranged by Bishop, and the words
were either by Baily or Thomas Moore The
air wrs Sicilian, and / particularly remember
saying to Madame Pasta that it was curious
that an italian air should get back to its
''home' through an English medium.
Lord Haughton is entirely mistaken as to
the authorship of "Home, Sweet Home."-
John Howard Payne, an American, was the
author of the popular and never to be forgot
ten song.-PREss.
A WnLFUL BRIDE.-Not long since at
the little church around the corner, the
church of the TRANSPORTATION, the only
daughter of Lester Wallack was duly made
Mrs. Arthur Sewell. Not without difficulty
however. The bride is quite young, consid-
cred pretty and all the world lin New York;
knows she has peculiarities peculiarly her
own. During the solemnities of a bridal cer-
emony it was supposed she would forego the
ways and manners that have made her con-
spicuous in her fathers theatre, and in pnb-
lie generally. Unfounded supposition! The
bridal cortege arrived, passed up the long COW
cred passage to the vestibule, halted, and no
peal of organ fell on Florence's ear. "What,"
screamed the bride with church full of peo-
pie in front and crowd of guests pressing in
behind, "No music? l won't be married
without music" Several ladies here filled
the open door behind the bridal party The
ushers were sent lying after an organlst.
The bride in streaming white silk, flowing
veil and orange wreath, turned upon the
crowd motioning them back. She cried, "you
can't come in here now, till 1 pass into
church. Keep the door somebody" Her
father tried to calm her. Her proposed hus-
band ventured word but she shut him up
summarily. No organist was found and the
disappointed damsel reluctantly went up the
aisle and was married. As she passed out Of
church, she spied Tom Baker, the leader Of
the orchestra at Wallack's, and sung out,
''Here, what's the reason 1 had no music ?''
Unabashed, the gallant Baker replied, 'Why
didn't you let me know. Pd' had the
whole orchestra here" Pve seen blushing
brides, agitated brides, but if Miss Wallack
had been getting married every day for five
years she couldn't have been a more selfpos-
sessed and easy-acting bride than she proved
herself-Ney York Letter to ST. Louis Re
publican.