The New York herald., 1875-07-20
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE.
His Career as Actor and
DramatiSt.
THE FAUST CLUB MEMORIAL.
Mr.. Gabriel Harrison's Tribute to
Payne's Genius.

edy OF "Brutus,n and other Dramatic WORKS
By Gabriel Harrison. Albany, n. y; joel Mun-
SELL
The Faust Club OF Brooklyn was organized IN
1872 or the purpose OF providing gathering place
IN that city for gentlemen belonging TO the sew
eral essions-auJhOrs, artists, actors, journal
lists and musicians. Out or the literary entertain
ments with which 1t was the custom OF the club to
delight its members arose the Payne Memorial,
and now this beautiful voume-a tribute to the
memory OIL The gifted and distinguished drama
tls--is another fruit OF the clubs endeavors. 1t
VIII be remembered that at the time the move
ment for the erection OF a suitable memorial to
Mr.. Payne was begun Mr. Gabriel Harrison, who
was in possession Of much valuable Information
relating TO the life and work OF the author OF
"Brutus" ana "Home, Sweet Home" reao pa
per before the club with the purpose OF ennsting
the sympathy and aid Of Its members
In behalf OF this object The material
at Mr.. Harrisons command was too CO.
pious to allow its embodiment in single
paper, aud hence the necessity for this volume.
The book is from the press or Munsell, OF Albany,
and IS beautiful specimen OF typography. II It's
literary merits were equal to the value OF its in
formation or the beauty of the printing, nothing
more would be LETT to be desired. The subject Is
one OF 8 ngular interest, and Howard Paynes as
sociations with most OF the greatest and best ac-
tors who ever .graced either the English or the
American stage were intimate and enduring.
The friend in his youth of Charles Brockden Brown,
the novelist, and OF Cooke the actor, whose re-
mains rest IN Trinity churchyard, Mr.. Payne was
the companion li,te later in lie OF John Kembe
and Edmund Kean, the elder Walack and the ell
der Booth, and OF many other actors and actresses
OF almost equal renown. His marked precocity.
mis- admitted talents and his evil fortune, even
when he was most fortunate, aside rom his really
great achievements, make him one OF the most
important figures OF his day, and the story OF his
struggles as an actor ana dlamatsL is the history
OF the stage botn Ia London aud New York during
the greater part Of the early half OF the century.
JOHN HOWARD PAYEE's CHILDHOOD.
In MIR. Harrlson's portrait OF this singular man
nothing is more interesting than his sketon OF
John Howard Payne's childhood. The son of
teacher at East Hampton, L. J., ne was taught
defamation and elocuton In his infancy, and
early evinced desire to go upon the stage. This
disposition was combated by his father, who was
then residing in Boston, ana the lad was sent TO
New York to enter o counting house. Here, when
only in his thirteenth year, he begun the pnblica-
tion OF Tie ThespiGn Mirror which met with such
success tnat the boy became som thing OF
literary lion and enlisted In his interest men
ike Charles Brockden Brown, the novelist,
under waose auspices he was sent to Union Col
lege TO be educated for the Bar. Just previous to
his departure for schenectady he reinquished the
publication Of the Mirror in a cara, which Mr..
Har ison reprints, and which We give as q sngu-
larly interesting specimen OF manly precocty and
sophomore bombast. 1t is as folows:-
TO THE PUBEc:-The editor OF the Tnespidn
Mirror respectfully acquaints his friends and sub
scriDers that. in consequence OF circumstances
that nave transpred since the publication of the
1ourtn number OF this miscellany, he mas resolved
TO renquish the editorial duties OF that WORK, in
order more particularly to devote himself TO
studies which may promote his future usefulness
III life, and mature, strengthen aud extend dis
position ior literature which has grown with his
earliest years. When the Mirror was commenced
IA This city 1t was under circumstances which have
since materially altered. From the interest
when some warm hearted friends (perhaps inju-
diciously) took in the edltor the work was
into public notice. Various were the sentiments
Of the community respecting 1t, and as various
was popular conjecture on tue enec 8 OF the mis-
directed exertions OF It's juvenile edtor. From a
wish TO render himself useful rather than orna-
mental in society plans were agitared Tor placing
when ne might cultivate a literary taste and di-
rect his views to oblecs which promise benefit
TO his country, satisfaction 10 MS friends and
utility and honor 10 himself
The WORK which he had heedlessly commenced
was considered by the judicous 9s the irulJ OF
Itch Tor scrobling, the materials Tor WHICH with
out a more extensive stock of ideas drawn from
the pure fountains of classical learning, would be
soon exhausted Tue patronage OF one, TO whom
ne feels obligation which he cannot express, has
placed within his reach advantages, the rejection
OF when would be the height oil Jolly aud lngrat-
ltude. collegiate education will, therefore, be
tue object OF his present pursuits, and tue study
OF the law the goal of MS mture exertlons Ap1
determined exclusively TO devote himself to these
important objects, he now declares his design OF
disseminating the Mirror after the publication or
this number (Which completes the original term
OF engegement), and o waiting patiently the
laurels OF fame untn science snail expand his
mind and crown his labor with lasting ana de-
served celebrity. He begs leave to express his
warmesJ' acknowledgements to those friends who
have encouraged m by their assistance in the
advancement OF the Mirror He is convinced that
1eehng or his real welfare, they viii approve the
step whlcn he has taken, ana ne assures them
that cherIshlng the most grateful sentiments, ne
Will never feel Tor himself more hanpy than In the
opportunity OF expressing the esJeem with which
ne Is their much obliged and very humble SER
want JOHN II. PAYNE.
Young Payne remained az college two or three
years. but his mother died in 1907, and at the same
time his father was reduced TO poverty. These
events neeessitated change in his plans in order
TO provide for the future, an IL was reluctantly
determined that he should be allowed to essay
the stage, for which he had AL along shown such
a determined inclination. His debut was made at
the old Park Theatre in this city, February 2i,
1909, as Young Norva, and was a decided success.
The boy's effort was surprise and the applause
was great. The newspapers were warm In his
praise He followed up his success by appearing
In other parts and was at once pronounced to pc
the rival OF Master Betty, the 'young Roscius" OF
England. letter written at the time says :-"I
have seen Master Payne IN Douglas; Zapnua,
Selim and Octavian, and may truly say think
him superior TO Master Betty In all. There was
Que scene OF his Zaphua whicn exhibited more
taste ard senslbiiity than have seen since the
days OF Garrick."
THEN AND NOW.
We have no desire to question the correctness
OF this estimate or TO deny to Mr.. Payne all those
great merits actor which his biographer I'm
putes TO him. There ls, however, one passage in
Blr. Harrlsons book Which we transfer to our col
umns Tor the purpose Of taking issue with It, In
speaking or the class OF people who were present
at the Ola Park Theatre at the time OF Master
payne's deout our author says:-
In those days critics and acl ors were OF more
austere character than tney are at the present
tme and IL was not 50 easy TO OBTAIN an oppOrtu-
nlty TO make first appearance upon the stage or TO
get the critics praise at any other PRICE tnan That
o. feal merit. In tn0se days, too, the theatre was
tne lashl0n. The opera was not known TO us, and
frequently the wealthy and the learned Gro 6ded
lhtO the best seats In the pit and IN boxes OF the