Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-20
PAYNE REMsNIsCENCEs.
Washington Post. |

oShAiksca oots
Nearly sixty years ago a young lad
still In his teens, was member of tn,
orchestra in the Drury Lane Theater
in London. His father had been q
musician before him, and so fully hae
he inherited his parents genius that
although young, he was an accomplished
player on the violincello. 1t was the
good fortune of this young lad, now an
old but rugged man Of seventy siyy-tc
play in the orchestra upon the occasion
when Home, Sweet Home" was first
rendered. The lad was Frederick N
Crouch, since famous AZ the author OF
Kathleen Mavourneen, Dermont As.
thore, and other songs. To a Post
reporter. who called upon him at his
residence in Baltimore, few days ago
he willingly related some "reminiscences
of that event.
The opera of Clari, the Maid of Mi
lan," said Professor Crouch, "was first
rehearsed for about six weeks before its
hrst presentation to the public. During
that time l was fortunate enough to be
almost daily thrown into the company
of Payne. Not only did l see him al
the theater, but / met him frequently at
the rooms of Philip Heinrich, familiarly
known as Father Heinrich This man
was New Yorker, a veritable Bohemian,
gifted with considerable musical talent,
but wild fellow like Gounod. Wethree
Payne, Heinrich and myself used to
write and compare notes together in
Heinrich's ROOM"
How did Payne impress your"
As a most quiet, gentle, inOffensive,
and unobtrusive man. He was always
thoughtful. As far as a young man, as
l was then, could judge. he was a sor-
rowful, melancholy man, He was of a
retiring disposition, and never went with
the gay crowds whose only object was
You remember, of course, the first
time that Home, Sweet Home was
sung?"
Perfectly we'll, although 80 many
years ago. was an executant in the
which on that occasion num-
bered seventy five pieces. The theater
was crowded from pit to dome. The
opera Was an Immense success, but its
main feature, as you can imagine, was
Payne's wonderful song. 1t made a
marked impression from the moment
when the first note was uttered. Miss
Stevens, afterward the Countess Essex,
sang it as | have heard no one else
since. have played in orchestras un-
der Balfe and R0ssini and Costa, and
have seen them weep while they beat
time with the baton, as some prima
donna melted the hearts of her audi
ence by singing Home, Sweet Heme.'
Yet never have heard it sung as Miss
Stevens sang it in the old Drury Lane
theater. While she was singing you could
have heard pin drop, as the saying is.
Madame Bishop, who, by the way, was a
school fellow of mine when she was sim
ply Anna Revere, came nearer to equaling
any one else / ever heard"
Where was Payne on the first
nightp"
~ did not see him at all that night,
but l suppose that he was in the green
room?"
"Do you think he realized what a
worldwide fame his words would at
tain?'
mo, do not. The popularity Of a
song is more or less a lottery. If you
can write words and music that strike
the common chords which are in every
mans nature, You have something that
will hold it's own against time. Thus it
ia with Home, Sweet Home Both
words and melody awaken a natural
feeling latent in every heart. Thus it
is--if You will not consider me egotistic
in referring to it-with Kathleen Ma
vourneen.' There is nothing in that song.
It's arrangement il simple, but it fits the
words. SO full Of good feeling and ex-
preston. 1t will be sung when Der
mont ASHORE. the composition Of which
cost an infinity 0f trouble. will have
been forgotten"