Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-09
Was Payne Unfortunate,

SOME FACTS WHICH SHOW THAT HR ENJOYED FAIR
SHARE OF THE GOOD THINGS OF THE woRLD-rHs
STORIES ABOUT HIS LUCKLESS POVERTY AND HOW
THEY MAY HAVE ORIGINATED.
There Is one question regarding Payne upon
which there Will probably always be division OF
opinion. A sort of sentimental exaggeration of
the homeessness OF the author OF the song OF home
INDUCED In by many writer's. has caused the i'm
preston to prevail that he sun cred to an unusual
extent from poverty. 1t has been said that he
wrote "Home, Sweet Home' one cold night in
Somebody's house. To destroy so poetfcal an IL
fusion seems almost sacrilegious, but It does no
such HIM Ray as pesn 1
collected, that his path through life was
not that Of frlendless and penniless but inspired
VagaO0nd. The Idea that Payne was an outcast,
neglected by the world, and is only now receiving
tardy recognition OF his merit seems to be con-
fqted IN every Page Of his biography Many one
friendless wanderer, might envy the lot Of the
nearly always in the utmost poverty and wretc h
edness seems to be Afforded by the fact that he
was at one time temporarily imprisoned for debt
an attempt to compete with Drury Lane. This
season OF adversely was short The fact that he
was able to clear himself Of debt and gain his free
dom by the adaptation OF play, which he accom-
plished, 1t is safd in two days. demonstrates that
he commanded the means OF supplying all his
Bographer," in which sketch Of Payne's life was
recently published, said: "His supply OF money
was continuously low, ana
THE EXTENT OF HIS MISERY
by reason Of poverty viii never be known. Thata
man OF Payne's magnificent parts should assist
the enrichment OF inferior persons by diligence in
garrett, with hardly suf1clent means to feed and
clothe him, is a shameful record for which no
honor paid to his memory can make atOnement. A
RELIEF to his unfortunate condition found 1n his
acquaintance with Washington Irving, who is said
Paris, while Temporarily absent from them" The
same writer states That when Payne was first ap-
pointed consul to Tunis he sailed from New York.
creditors Payne own Complaints Of his poVe1te
can be better understood when 1t is considered,
that at home and abroad he associated with men
were expensive, and he regretted his inability
to entertain as he was entertained. His poverty
was comparative only, but may have been dts
To thousands who have been moved to pity BY the
tale Of his adversely the pronts which Payne real
11ed from his acting alone, when young man.
airy work he was a. well rewarded. On the whole,
as tho average dramattst actor, or writer of hts
ton OF managers to drive hard bargains, and, IKE
Just share OF the profits Yielded BY his produc-
tons
q statement Tar more absurd than that he was
homeless and poverty.stricken ne enjoyed the
81 e o Ing
guest atS every nresida Payne wss for
e snats n ns i n, sS.& S tom ana family eoos
DO quite sufncient for any ordinary ambition he
es no g @ g. ysn
r 11& Ia with eonSsn;saon ample enough a
E 1 n:1 1s ss b. KEY ssss :
These facts show that there was bright side TO
- Nfe On ths sthsr hand. thsss appears % -