New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-11
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE.
THE EXILE COMING HOME AT LAST.

JOHN HOWARD PAYNE.
THE EXILE COMING HOME AT LAST
(FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
TUNIs, January 8.
To-day the remains of the author of " Home
Sweet Home left The shores of Tunis on board
French steamer, to be carried to Marsees
whe nee they are to be forwarded to America. Yes
terday, at 10 o'clock a. M, went to the not unat
tractive and decidedly neat Protestant Cemetery of
ST. George, situated on high, vali-surouhded
ground within the city. ! was agreeaby dlsap-
p ointed in the appearance of this Gods Acre as
had read in American newspapers that Payne's
grave was neglected one, in neglected burial
ground On the contrary, the grounds were planted
with nourlshng and fragrant rose-bushes, splendid
clumps of heliotropes and hedges of brilliant car
| nation pInks and geraDiums, while the walks were
clean and smooth, and the stones and monuments
sno Wy white IN the morning sun. l should think
the Enclosure contained about an acre, and
almost in the centre of 1t was the grave
of Payne. At the head of the grave was standing
larle and beautiful pepper tree, branches of which
bent te nGerly and GIOopnRly over the tomb. Ibis
the finest and nobest tree in the place, was planted
by one Of Pavne's truest and best friends in unls-
NJ. Chappelh6-whO was present at the death and
mterment OF the poet From NJ. ChaPpelIe aud a. so
Mr. Reade the British Consul, under whose rec
tons the disInterment took place. learned much of
Pavnes last days and sickness. The narrative OF
them is a painful one. Let it suffice If write what
| heard touchiugy and heartily said BY the two or
three gentlemen present 1t the eXhumaton who had
famIliaTly known Payne, that his character through
6i.apponm fancie loneliness and long brood
ing had he ONE OF q sad. soft ald delicate melan-
choy that was, while gentle and pltiful
at the same time most winning and beautiful. His
illness WIS a 10 G and painful one but he had most
tat hful and owing friends in NJ Chappele, NJ
Pisani Mr. eade Nine. ChappelliG ian American
born lady with American neartl, and certain
now old-Arab dragOman whose attachment to
the poet deep and sincere. saw this honest
man At the exhumation, wearing his Arab cos ume,
believing in the MahOmetan rel glon, but full OF
Chr'stke hlmaniy III. Europeans present at the
grave on this sunny Friday morning W re about
dozen IN numb r, severai Arab gentlemen bengaiSo
on no ground In their rich and picturesque dress
and tul bans.
II o'clock ana was carefully lifted and Ced on
thu b Dad marble slab winch for thirty years mad
covered it, and which bears the following inscrlp-
ton:
"E PLURIBUs UNUH.
Shield and esge).
Consul II the United a'es OF Am roa for tho CITY aud
Kingdom ~ run this st.ur IL here placed by grateful
ter tedious Hines. April ls 1882 He was born At the
CIV Of otou.s'tc OF Na'sachuse T.. June stL lID2 rs
s.b iansase is .poEcn through hi' celebrated Ballad
Of Home, Sweet Home and his popuar tragedy OF
Brutus and other similar productions"
On tine four edges Of this slab is also carved:
"surc, when thy gentle spirit hed
Wit arm. out.trctchcd COR, angel said,
Welcome TO Heavens Home. sweet Home"
The cplll WAS badly rotfed IN spite Of tho care
taken by United : 'ate' Consul FIN. who several
mouths ago incasrd il IN cement for is better pres
efvat1n. A little thread-lIk root OF the pepper
tree had made = way into The grave and coffin,
and was just about 10 pass across the forehea l..
Some IF mother earth had got IN the coffin and
m nged with HE bones The whole skeleton was
obtained and lai r"vcrenty IN new coffin, which
vas covered with lead ollernd and scaled. TINS
wa, then placed IN neat, native. hardwood cOthn,
which secured hy locks and keys all then lelng
put IA The stron, iron-bound outside box. which
bore the address: " To u. ). Consul Taylor. Mar
,rill-s, France
AZ ! o'clock in the afternoon the body was taken
10 tho small and simple Protestant church and
placed near he pretty httle chancel window, on
which are inscribed these wordsi
ITO the Memory of
JOHN Howard PAYNE.
Author Of Home. Sweet Home"
THIS window was made in England and placed
here by few En- speaking residents OF Iunls
whose aimiTat n aud respect Tor Payne were de-
cdrd and sincere. Indeed, ] found among the
poets friends aft -ciOnato regard that was akin
to enthu u. They g1eved to lose the sacred
bones that hal lam here for thirty long yearS-the
object Of their lovi q aud cels.l'ss care. When Tho
body was carried into the church an English gem
tlrrnan at the little American-nadc organ played
-
immortal song of the dead poet; and As the tender
words trum lousy nOated through and hlled the
holy place, hearts sweled, eyes were sullu ed anu
"a char from the skic, secmei TO hallOw us there
Tongue cannot tell nor pen describe TN" euect OF
that som sung under the circumstances | have
stated. The Gaming OF tbs coming evening had
cropt into he chapel and the " Olm re- 1gous llgll
that Payncs poetic temperament colld nave under
stood and absorbed, bathed all, both living and
dead In l \ mellow radiance. The twilight came on
apace and we lift the poor romans 10 lilo there until
me morrow guarded by the faithful dragoman vino
in Ii Q, In death, was stanch and faithful 10
the last.
aboard uoat aud rowed down the bay and out INTO
the open, where IT. receNet on the french
steamer. which after was Ell route 10 Marscllcs
Illus John Howard PAYNE left luns To he re- buried
IN he land he loved Ia sleep hencef0rth under the
flag nc served we'll not again, II Is 10 be hoped 10
be disturbed but 10 lie dreanless and tranqnln tne
soil OF his Home, Sweet Home. visiting inc
cemetery to-day, found the marble slap rep!aced
over the now empty tomb, the debris removed, ana
all about the grave Looking "a neat III possible. MT
Read--whosr admirable management or the eA-
humatiOn and compliance with every WISH ana III
structou OF tho United States Government IN the
matter cannot he too highly cOmmended-sald TO
me: We shall phi back tGe slab with its lnScrip-
ton adding thereto the Tact and dato or the re-
moyal of the bod, to the United states, ana shall
then Teli glOusly preserve and Keep pure ana clear
the marble that marked his grave with more
tnan quarter of II century ago but deeper clearer
than carved cptaph. we shall cherish the memory of
poor Payne in our heart of hearts,"
---
COMING HONE Ar LAST
From HUperS Weekly
The banishmcnt was Over0ng,
But il viii soon be past;
The man who wrote iomos sweetest song
Is coming home at last!