Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-24
JOHN howard PAYNE.
ACCOUNT OF CHANGING ELS LAST REsT-
ING PLACE.
Description of Els Former Grave-Tht
Removal to Bis Native Land
Lines by Will Carleton.

A correspondent of the New York Trib.
,ae, writing from Tunis under date of
January 9Th. gives the following interest
ing account of the removal of the remains
of John Howard Payne from their former
resting place to America
To-day the remains of the author of
" Home, Sweet Home" left the shores of
Tunis on board a French steamer, 70 be
carried to Marseiiles, whence they ara to
be forwarded to America. Yesterday at
| 10 o'clock A. NJ. l went to the not unat-
tractive and decidedly neat Protestant
cemetery of st. George, situated on high,
well-surrounded ground within the city. l
was aereesbiy disappointed in the appear
auce 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 Furnishing and fragrant
rose. bushes, splendid clumps of heliotropes,
and hedges of brilliant carnation pinks and
geraniums, while the walks were clean and
smooth, and the stones and monuments
snowy white in the morning sun.
| should think the Enclosure con-
tanned about an acre, aud al
most in the center of it was the grave of
Payne. At the head Of the grave was
standing large and beautiful peppsr tree,
branches of which bent tenderly and droop-
ingly over the tomb. This, the finest and
noblest tree in the place, was planted
by one of Paype's truest and best friends
in Tunis-M. appellie-who was present
at the death and interment of the poet.
From NJ. Chappeliie and also Mr. Reade,
the British Consul, under whose direction
the disinterment took place, | learned much
of Paynes last days and sickness. The
narrative Of them is a painful one. Let it
suffice if l write what | heard touchingly
and heartily said by the two or three gen.
tlemen present at the exhumation who had
Familiarity known Payne, that his character
through disappointments, fancied loneliness
and long brooding had become of sad,
soft and delicate melancholy, that was,
while gentle and pitiful, at the same time
most winning ard beautiful. His illness
was long and painful one, but he had
most faithful and loving friends in NJ
Chappelie, NJ. Pisani, Mr.. Reade, Nine
Chappellie ian American born lady with an
American heart), and certain-now old
Arab dragoman, whose attachment to the
poet was deep and sincere. 1 saw this
honest man at the exhumation, wearing
his Arab costume, believing in the Mahom-
etan religion, but full of Christianlike hu-
manity. The Europeans present at the
grave on this sunny Friday morning were
about dozen in number, several Arab gen.
tlemen being also on the ground in their
rich and picturesque dress and turbans.
The coffin was reached by the workmen
at about u o'clock, and was carefully
lifted aud placed on the broad marble slab
which for thirty years had covered it, and
which bears the following inscription
E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Shield aud eag,e)
In memory Of Colonel John Howard Payne twice
Consul of the United States Of America for the city
and kingdom OF Tunis this stone is here placed by
grateful country. He died at the America Consul
late in this city after tedious illness April 1852
He born at the city of Boston, State of Massa-
chusetts, June s, 1872 His fame as poet and
oramaIist is well known wherever the English Ian
gusge is spoken, through his celebrated ballad of
Home, Sweet Home" and his popular tragedy of
" Brutus," and other similar productions.
Ga the four edges OF this slab is also
carved:
Sure, when thy gentle spirit fed
To realms beyond the azure dome,
With arms outstretched. Gods angel said,
Welcome to heavens Home, Sweet Home Z"
The coffin was badly rotted in spite of
the care taken by United States Consul
Fish, who several months ago incased it in
cement for its better preservation. A little
thread.like root OF the pepper. tree had
made its way into the grave and coffin,
and was just about to pass across the fore
head. Some Of our mother earth had got
in the coffin and mingled with the bones.
The whole skeleton was obtained and laid
reverently in a new coffin, which was COW
cred with lead, so.dered and sealed. This
was then placed in a neat, native hard
wood cofio, which was secured by locks
and keys, all then being put in the strong,
iron bound outside box. which bore the ad-
dress ITO U. S. Consul Taylor, Mar.
seilles, France"
At 8 o'clock in the afternoon the body
was taken to the small and simple Protest
ant church and placed near the pretty lit
! tie chancel window, on which are inscribed
| these words
To the Memory of
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE,
Author of '' Home Sweet Home"
This window was made IL England aud
placed here by few English.speakipg res
| idents OF Tunis, whose admiration and re-
spect for Payne were decided and sincere.
| Indeed, l found among the poets friends
an affectionste regard that was akin to en-
thusiasm. They grieved to lose the sacred
bones that had lain here for thirty long
years-the objects of their loving and
ceaseless care. When the body was car
ried into the church an English gentleman
at the little American made organ played
the air and sweet voiced American lady
sang the immortal song of the dead poet !;
and as the tender words tremulously
j. foated through and filled the holy place,
| hearts swelled, eyes were suffused, and
ga charm from the skies seemed to hallow
us there.
Tongue cannot tell nor pen describe the
effect of that song sung under the circum.
stances l have stated. Tae cleaning of the
coming evening had crep5 into the chapel
| and the :" din religious light that Paynes
poetic temperament could have under
/ stood and absorbed, bathed all, both living
aud dead, in it's mellow radiance. The twi-
/ light came on apace, and we left the poor
remains to lie there until the morrow,
| guarded By the faithful dragoman who in
! life. as in death, was stanch and faithful to
the last.
To-day the body was taken to the
Marina and put aboard boat and rowed
down the bay and out into the open, where
it was received on the French steamer,
which soon after was en- route to Mar
seillas Thus John Howard Payne left
Tunis TO be re- buried in the land he loved,
to sleep henceforth under the flag he
served SO well, not again, it is to be hoped,
to bs disturbed, but to lie dreamless and
TRANQUIL in the soil of his own Home,
| croo+ uo.,a Whiting tho nnmetarv RI.
day, found the marble slab replaced over
the now empty tomb, the debris removed,
and all about the grave looking as neat as
possible. Mr.. Reade-whose admirable
management of the elimination and com.
pliance with every wish and instruction of
! the United States Government in the mat
/ Il L i