Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-20
For THE EVENING star.
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE.


pbllanthropst. W. W. Corcoran for the trans
portatlon Of the remains of John Howard PAYNE
from Africa, where he died to be reinterred in
the beautiful cemetery In Georgetown dedicated
to the public BY Mr. COrcOran under BETTING
monument erected to bis memory at Mr.. Cor
corans expense, has already LETT TuDis for the
United States. In view of this event. various
publications have appeared from time to time
Illustrative of the life and character of the author
of the immortal song Of Home Sweet Home -
and possibly few words from myself as to nv
knowledge and recollection Of him. may not be
unacceptable i'm the light of the circumst ances
and associations under which he was appointed
and which led to his appointment as consul to
Tunis
During the administration of President TYLER
men of science and polite letters were much at
tracted to Washington. The President himself
had been reared and educated in asOcietywhich,
Ike that of the best DAYS of Rome did not re-
gard the graceS of literature a. detracting from
mental masCulinity in regard either to the pro-
fessiOns or to public affairs. Men of culture and
genius continually assembled lin the parlors OF
GreenWay, the home residence of his father
the patriot, the bosom friend of jefferson and
Henry, and the relative of Monroe-the man
VINO during the long struggle for Independence
was either member or speaker OF the house OF
BurGesses of Virginia; and who, as SUCH after
the struggle was over. was the author and
mover of the resolution under which the conven-
ton assembled at Annapolis TO adopt the Con-
stitUtiOn of the United States becoming then
one of the Supreme Judges and governor of the
state. and finally-during tie war of 1Si2-l4.
United States Judge of Admiralty, in which
Capacity his life terminated.
Here it was that Burke became inspired to
write The history OF Virginia. receiving from the
lips OF the patriot sage much of the matter he
wrote Here too. Writ was moved to the pre-
paration of his Life of Henry" receiving from
the pen OF his patron the speeches of Henry con-
tanned in tie work written out from memory.
Here. also. assembled the lovers of music and
poetry. and here were written and sung many
b'auiiluf lyrics aud songs. among the rest THE
Sweet Rose of the Dar@le."
Within the hospitable doors of Greenway,
also. the deyOtccs of freedom from all lands
were welcomed. and none more warmly than
Lord Ireland and others among the refugee
Irish patriots of 1913. No wonder that the
urbanfties of refined culture and association
and the polished tastes of his eariy life. COM
Dlned with the intellectual vigOr in relation to
public concerns that marked the companOnship
OF his Father among the Founders of the Re
public from whose lips he learned. as we'll as
having been the pupil direct OF Edmund RAN
Constitution. the Attorney General of Washing
ton. and the Secretary of State under Jefferson.
should have followed and been attendant upon
him in the Presidential mansion.
NO wonder he should have shown that high
appreciation OF men of science. art and letters
that induced him to appoint Everett as minister
to England. Gushing to China, Ley to Sweden
Bache rs superintendent of the coast survey.
Maury TO the Charge of the National Obserya-
tory. Fremont as the Pathfinder" across the
trackless continent, E. X. Kane to the navy
with MS mental vision fixed on the poles of the
earth, the author OF the tragedy of .Cortes: or
the Conquest of Mexico" UNSURPASSED in this
country. and his brother. who wrote the famous
song lis SAID that Absence COnquers Love. ~
TO places in the departments at Washington; the
exquisite deilneator OF THE Sketch Book as
ambassador To Spain. and PAYNE whose touch
ny Tyre attuned to the words of Home Sweet
Home, has thrilled the human heart through
Out the world as consul to TuniS.
My brother Mr.. Robert Tyler and myself had
Imbiped similar tastes and pursuits. and it was
AT TINS time that he composed his poems of
AhasueraS. and death; or. MedOra's Dream ~
winch deserve to be regarded as among the
foremost productions OF American literature,
Dut the editions of which he purchased I'm and
destroyed, finding that his pecuniary circum-
stances and the cares of q growing family Conn
PEELED him to the line of the law with which the
reputation OF poet was Incompatible Not
only oelles-ietfres, but history government and
the sciences. associated with both political and
physical philosophy. chiefly the latter, engaged
my attention, apart from my duties as private
secretary. My address before the societies of
" iillam and Mary. on The Life and Character
OF benjamin franklin. and my novelties in
the Southern Literary Messenger had already at
tracted some notice. But now my disauisition
on The Original Principles or Forces of
Nature delivered in the convention
Oh the most noted scientists of the nation. held
under the auspices of the National Institute ~
and presided over by ex-Presdent John Quincy
Adams. attracted TO me no little regard from
Henry. MctuOch. Espy. Draper Sliman Bache
anu haury as wen as that OF inventors. among
,he itter Oh iayi0r who perfected the diving
Dell aS introduced in naval works OF course
We found between Us, congenial spirits on every
hinu. and usually introduced them to the notice
OF the president.
TIE HOMELESS AUTHOR OF SWEET HOME.
lt was thus that We formed the acquaintance
OF John Howard Payne. and introduced him in
TIE social draWlng-roOmS or the Presidential
Mansion He was medium-sizad man. always
care. III and neat in his dress, as gentle "a a
woman, modest in his bearing OF delicate septi
meats, and mild OF srccch. | had known him
Tor months and seen much OF hiin before I eyer
suspected that ne was restricted i'm his means.
NJ length. however. it 50 happened that I Oh
ts.iicd from MN an expression that was thor
Ou-li! lnlofiiiing rs to his pecunary condition
HI 'iStiii1 MN at Ills lodgings had ALWAYS been
STRUCK WITH MS tdinesS and vet with the entire
absence OF everything luxurious about him I
noticed further. that he never seemed To indrlue
III any personal! eXpeGd ures This led mo
hhaiY- without effen:e to draw from him some
ihdc;tch OF hrs condition. Then it came in
this manner and in these words:
VT IEitr 1t has cost me more Diplomacy
silict nave been in Washington To CONCEAL my
poverty than would be necessary to conduct the
lort.-5h affairs 01 the government"
Ih's was enough. ard if was not Ionr before
he was honnat cd confirmed and commissioned
a' cohsni To Iunis- Ii required little persua-
SION To induce my father to appoint him While
NY grandfather was governor of Virpinia and
my iathcr was student at law in the office off
Edmund kandolph, Payne then on the the
atrical boards as The Young Americas Roscus''
visited Richmond. and Governor TYLER was so
lnu'h pleased with him as to extend to him an
INV tatioi TO dinner at the gubernatorIaI man
sion WIN distinguished company especially
invited 20 meet hi;a- President Tyier wa, tbus
ALREADY prepared TO yield willing ear tn the
petitiDnS oi my brother and myself in his behalf
Tor foreign appointment
IN tiie recent interesting sketch by Mr. Ford
III the baltimore Sun. after detailing TO some
extent the part Payne played during 1872 in thr
war netWet'n Great Britain and the United STATES
u Is stated that III June. 1913 he proceed ID ts
I"hd"h, liayiii@ Just completed his DIST wear
ana aiie'. at iiury Lane and other theaters with
aDuiidti.t success, but reiinquslled the sta re-
iur literary pursuits with the ven prohncino
bruius' or, the Fall OF Taraun" In 1877. and
t"at SIX or seven Years later surrounded py
penury. In an attic in Paris faint and i'll for TIA.