Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-03-21
Home at Last.

Men get fame in various ways; som'
by war, some by science. others by
eloquence and others by one thing OF
another but each in his own way ant
generally it is deserving way. But there
is to those who become famous as to those
who do not the same variety of method
One man comes to be known by contin'
uous line of work and another by some
single stroke of genius, ormayhap without
genius of fortune. Though chance seldom
brings fame to u man who has not by
years of preparation made himself ready
to improve the chance.
Bryant is an example of steady work
from youth to ripe age. His fame rests
on no single power but on a life thai
gave forth things worth reading and
remembering. And SO nearly all the poets
who have sung worthily and are remem
bered of the world. So TOO of the great
orators of whom Burke and Webster may
be taken as examples. They wrought
continuously and produced much.
The star Sirius shone for the ancients a'
we'll as for us, but meteoric lights gel
remembered as we'll as the fixed stars.
"Single Speech" Hamilton is known
character in the story of English speech
making, and is very likely to-day better
remembered than if that first and only
notable speech had been followed by
others of good quality.
So John Howard Payne will not want
for remembrance among poets, though his
fame rests almost solely on his song of
"Home, Sweet Home" In this he reached
the heart of all, and though to many the
author may have been unknown, it would
be hard to find the dullard who has not
known his song. Perhaps no one bit OF
good work has ever been more universally
known to the English speaking world than
this song of Payne's.
Payne was born in 1892, the 9th OF
June we believe, but whether in New
York or Boston is not certain. He was a
boy in Boston and that is pretty much all
that is known of his early life. He was
not "the man without a country" but he
has written himself as man without n
home. He was wanderer-a waif; and
perhaps for this very reason was brought
to the making of his song of home. The
song became famous while its author was
unknown.
Toward the close of his life he was
American consul at Tunis, in Africa, but
some way was discharged. After this one
Christmas eve in London, without friends,
he sought the streets to get what sense of
companionship he could from walking
them while others did. The wanderer
was attracted by the sight which he
obtained through uncurtained windows of
a family gathering. Stopping in his walk
and taking the liberty of taking pleasure
in seeing others happy, he saw a young
lady 60 to the piano and soon heard his
own song of home. 1t came to the ears
of its maker, then homeless wanderer.
Soon after this Payne was reappointed
consul at Tunis, and here he died some
thirty years ago. His body was buried
there and so was like to remain at rest
across the sea. But Mr.. Corcoran, the
Washington banker, lately determined
that he would have Payne's remains
brought to America and inferred near the
capitol of The nation.
This plan has been partially executed,
and the remains of the dead singer are
to arrive in New York Thursday
of this week. The final burial will not
take place till June 9th. when with appro
pirate ceremonies the final interment of
the poet will take place in his nalive land.