Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-10-09
NUMBER 81.
",A0ME SWEET HONE"

''.AAAE, SWEET HONE"
Unyef1'"S az the Bronze bust Of .yol, ,
| Howard Payne ut Prospect Park.
From the N. Y. World Of Sunday.
Tic bronze bust Of John Howard
Payne YVES formally ,s,,uveilea at Pros
pcct Park yesterday afternoon. S,
great was the crowd that il seemed a.
'thoaeh all Brooklyn had gathered t.
do homage to the me1r nry .of tn.
author OF C Home, Sweet Home.
The statue is presented by the Faus
Club, of Brooklyn, an organization
composed of prominent journalists aad
actors. 1t il placed in one of the
most popular pertions of the park, AMI
ITS elevated position renders it very
conspicuous amid SURROUNDING objects,
A'large body of Brooklyn public sch ool
pupils were furnished with seats on the
platform, and rendered with touching
pathos the familiar time which
has made the name of Payne uni.
Versaily loved. Upon the platform, in
addition to members of the Club, were
seated Wilkie Collins, the famous Eng.
lish novelist, and Mayor Powell. The
ceremonies began with the rendering
of Rossini's Semiramis " by the Park
band. The President of the Club, with
few brief remarks, formally presented
the bust to the Park Commissioners.
The work WAS then unveiled by the
sculptor, and was greeted with hearty
cheers. The bust is we'll executed.
and shows the head and face of q man
whose features denote the genuine
simplicity and intellectual power. which
the life of Payne so fitly embodied
After the unwilling Mr.. J. s. T. Stran.
ahan, President of the Park Commits
sion, stepped forward, and in behalf of
the citizens of Brooklyn accepted the
gift. He said:
John Howard Payne, though 4 man
of brilliant inspirations and lofty
gen us, did not in life, except within q
limited circle, command the attention
he deserved. Unlike bis contehnpo.
raries and companions, Irving, Morris,
Willis, Cooper and others, whose names
have 80 long been familiar to the popu.
lar ear, he was for the most part un.
known. perhaps I might. say even
neglected by his countrymen. The
duty imposed on me is mainly accom-
plished in receiving ut your hands this
bust, so finely located, surrounded, by
and associated with his scenes OF pas
toral life, and by its very situation sug-
costing the quiet and repose to which,
though va,nly sought by him, he gave
expression in his tenderest strains.
You have, gentlemen of the Fault
Club, evinced delicate and appreci
ating discrimination is selecting John
How .rd Payne as the man who
deserves this commemorative honor.
His name hereafter will be more famil-
lar to the people.
Thr immortal melody of Payne was
then sung by the school children, the
audience joining in the chorus. Mr..
John G. SAKE then reclted the follow
ing ode, written for the occasion by
To him who sang of "Homc, sweet home,"
:. In strains so sweet the simple lay
Has thrilled million hearts, We come
A nations grateful debt to pay.
Yet, not for him the bust VIC raiec
Fame's trumpet voice? The poets praise
Lives in the music Of his sonSl
The noble dead VIC fondIy seek
10 honor with applaufing breath;
Usheeded fall the words we speak,
Upon s. the dull, cold earth of DEATH"
Yet, not in vain the srokcn word;
Nor vain the monument we raise
With quicker throbs our ncarts are stirred
To catch the nobleness we pralse!.
Columbia's sons-we share his fame;
Ills for ourselves the bust We rear,
That they who M ark the craven name
May know the name to us is dear;
Dear rs the home the exile secs.
The fairest spot beneath the sky
Where, first-upon mothers knees
He slept, and where he yearns to die.
But not alono the lyric fire
Was hts the Dramas muse can tell
His genius coull q lean inspire:
4 Kemble owned his magic spell
A Kean. to " Brutus," self go true
(As true to art and Natures laws),
He seemed the man tie poet drew,
And shared with him the towns applause
Kind hearts and brave, with truth severe
He drew, unconscious from his own
o nature rare! But pilgrims here
Will oft'nest say, in penslve tone,
! With reverent face and lifted hand,
"'rwas he--by Fortune for:ed to roam
Who, homeless in foreign land,
So sweetly sang the joys Of homer
The poem was delivered with marked
effect, and its close was greeted will
loud applause. The band then played
Strauss's gallop, "Clear the Track,
and Corporation Counsel De Witt pro
ceeded to deliver the Grafton of thu
occasion.
At the conclusion of Mr.. De Witt
remarks the children sang the " Flal
of the Free" and the vast assembling
again joined in the strains of Home
Sweet Home" This closed the specia
ceremonies, the regular Saturday after
noon concert bringing the day to
close: