Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-14
PAUL HAYNE. THE POET.

From The Charleston Ne,Ds.

-
From the Charleston Nelbs.
lived near Mr.. Hayne for two years
after his removal TO Richmond county,
Georgia, and, though but youth, such
were the peculiar personal traits OF the
poet that they made lasting and most
pleasant impression upon my mind. Mr..
Hayne's simple biography IS that he was
born Jan. l, 1881, in Charleston, >. &. He
was the son Of Lieut.. Paul IL. Hayne, OF
the United States navy, and nephew OF
that eminent Governor and Senator OF
south Carolina, Robert Y. Hayne. Thus
it viii be seen that he came from dlstln-
Euiehed aud historic family. In person
Mr.. Hayne was of slight, almost ethereal,
build. His hair was as black as raven ;
wing, his complexion pale, his eyes black
as Dis nalr, and MS mouth denOtlng gem
tlaness and sweetness. | well remember
how his sad smile would fit forth like a
benedictiOn wnen the slightest courtesy
was SHOWN him by strangers, or even the
dusky servants Of his household. His
voice was gentle as the warm south wind
which soughed through the long pines that
stood like sentinels around his little cot
tage. HIS manner was that of one who
cOmmuned constantly with nature in her
sweetest moods. In fact, often have /
seen him, sitting apart like some hermit
Of thought, holding converse with the
flowers, the humble shrubbery, the birds,
the wind, utterly ObliVious of the great,
practical things OF life. And in this with
drawal was TO be discovered the peculiar
traits 10 which have referred.
Mr.. Iavne, to so back and give bit
more OF his history, abandoned his lite
rary pureuits when the war broke out and
entered the army on the staff Of GOV.
Plckens, OF South Carolina. But his deli
cate constitution could not Withstand the
terrible realities OF army life and, With
health broken down, he sought once more
the peaceful society of the muses.. Out IN
rhythmic verse he poured his love OF his
native land and of the cause which is
now happily lost forever. His "War
Poems we're an inspiration to the sol
diers of the southland, and by many a
campfire were read with swelling emo
lions. The war over and peace again
regnant over that torn and bleeding land,
Mr.. Hayne found himself, tor the first
time, facing the grim wolf Of poverty.
That war had swept away his princely
income and left him Vert poor. He had
nothing save his resplendent genius and
his store OF learning. South Carolina had
been worse despOled by Sherman than
any State In the South, and 50 this gifted
man crossed the river and settled ON
little barren, sterile sandhil!, few miles
from Augusta on the line of the Georgia
railroad. A more iorbiddIng, uninVitIng,
desUlate spot he could not have found.
HIS lite cottage, if so sweet name can
he applied to Il miserable little shell Of a
house raining three small rooms, WAS
situated some two hundred yards from Ia
plato IN atthe railroad track, too insignii-
cant to even be Chrstened. Around his
hons there waga " ifn WI - q n sand CANA
BILE only of giving life to the scrubby black
jack and the yellow pitch pine. Had the
poet been compelled to support himself
and wife and babies from the fruits of the
soil he would have labored IN vain, for
vegetation could never be made to spring
up and come to fruitage in that sandy bed.
Mrs. Hayne was fit helpmeet tor her
poet husband. she was "A gracious, ten
der woman and bravely bore her share OF
the pititul struggle against actual want.
Turning his attention at once to literary
pursuits, this brave vet timid man sent
from out his sparsely furnished study the
children of his brain. His poems found
nesting places within the covers Of Serb
ner's Magazine and other Northern peri
odicals. But be IL said for the sake OF the
truth Of history the price paid for these
poems was 50 small as 10 cause the cry of
shame upon the publishers who took ad-
robbed him OF his just dues. just think
of one OF Haynes most exquisite poems
bringing back to him only So! No wonder
that there was a sad tenderness running
through all his songs. Indeed, misfortune
had chastened him and suffering waited
upon him. But there he lived aud toiled
aud murmured not. Aud now, it may be,
his sutferin % will cause such c0ntrition
as shall lead those who wronged him to
n "A
But | must tell somewhat of the per-
sonal characteristics of the man. In the
hrst place, Mr.. Hayne was The most i'm
proVldent of mOrtals. He knew actually
nothing of the value of money. Born and
reared in atlluence he had never known
what IL was to want for anything. He
bad no neighbOrs save here and there
Veritable Georgia cracker, ilhterate but
kind of heart, and few hands at saw
mill. He wanted no neighbOrs. though
when one of the uncouih residents would
stroll by his nome be was sure TO be
stopped by Mr.. Hayne and y friendly chat
ensued. lie knew nothing OF the practi-
cal affairs Of lite. To illustrate: One day
my brother found him working in his little
garden. knowing the sterilty OF the patch
my brother suggested to Mr.. Hayne that
it would be good thing II he would send
down to the sawmill and get some of the
muck which had accumulated against u
pile OF slabs and spread it over the garden.
Mr.. Hayne politely thanked my brothe.
for the donation and said he would send
down for the muck At once. He did so,
but the 10 i'll hands filled the air with laugh
ter when they saw diminutiye negro boy
shutting along with peck measure in
when to get the needed muck. There were
many otner equally as ludicrous illustra-
tiOns OF this lack OF practical common
sense daily displayed.
But the man, the poet. was loved not
only by all who knew MIN personally, but
10y all VINO read his tender, beautiful, fra
grant poems, and over the grave and
around the name of Paul Ii. Hayne will
ever hover the affection of all who loved
genius with genteuess. n spOtless life and
an ending as royal in the brightness OF its
fame as the glow OF sunset IN rich sep
tGmber DAYS. Here he bore the cross
over there he wears the crown.