The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-03-14
! HOWARD PAYNE.
Author of "Home Swes. Home"

Author of "Home Swes: Home"
PROF. J. II. Scarborough in Middleburg
School HERALD
mid pleasures and palaces tho we
may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place
like home"
In Oak Hill Cemetery, at Washing
ton, D. c., there is a handsome mar
BILE monument that marks the last
resting place of the author of Home
Sweet Home" A homeless wanderer
during life, he was taught by expe-
perience to feel the need of a place to
call his home. The subject of this
sketch expressed from his heart the
immortal lines that have thrilled the
inhabitants of both continents.
John Howard Payne was born
June 9th, 1871, in New York City.
His father was an educator and him
self taught his son the elements of
Educa ton but preferred to have his
| boy enter a store rather than the
theatrical profession. Young Payne
first published a little paper called
the "Thespian Mirror" and after
ward entered Union College, but ow-
ing to the poverty of his father, he
soon retired. At this time he was
about eighteen years old; he returned
to New York and made his first ap-
pearance on the stage. This was fol-
lowed by engagements in New Eng
land, the South and West. In 1913
he went to England, and during the
same year appeared in Drury Lane
Theatre, London. After remaining
an actor for several years he devoted
himself to literature, He was for a
short time editor of the "Opera
Glass;" theatrical journal published
in London. He composed several
dramas of merit, among which were
''Brutus" his masterpiece, and "Clari,
the Maid of Milan" which contained
CLONE, Sweet Home" This drama
was part of the manuscripts sold to
a London printer for thirty-two
pounds. The song was popular i'm
mediately, hundred Thousand cop
les being sold the first year, but not
one cent Of the proceeds went to the
author. 1t is related that while he
was in London, one wintry night he
was walking along the streets with
out even penny to buy his lodging,
and being attracted by the melOdious
strains of music from a window on
the opposite side of the street, he
stopped and listened as the familiar
strains Of "Home, Sweet Home" fell
upon his ear. That lady, surrounded
by all the comforts that wealth could
supply, little thought that the author
of those words was a homeless wan
derer on the street beneath her win
dow. This incident is an example of
the sufferings and hardships Payne
endured.
| While in Europe he passed part of
his time in London and part in Paris.
His literary work was failure as to
It's financial result. While at Paris
he formed the acquaintance of Wash
lngton Irving whose literary career
was more successful. This was some
relief to his unfortunate condition.
He returned to New York in 1881. and
made his home with a younger broth
er. He acted for some time as agent
for the Cherokee chief, John Ross.
and while with the Indians in Geor-
| Ola no orrnctn1 nv, n ~ l.
state militia, but was released after
temporary imprisonment. Hewas
appointed consul at Tunis in 1S41.
but was recalled during Folks adj
ministratiOn. He was reappOinted
by President Fillmore, and held the
position of consul to Tunis at the
time of his death. After many sad
wanderings and misfortunes, and
few blessings and joys, he died in a for
| eign land, an exile from home and
desolate even to the last. For thirty
years his remains slept in the dust of
ancient Carthage, but mo alien earth
snail claim Thy Wondering bones"
AS a tribute to Home. Sweet
Home Mr.. W. w. Corcoran had
his remains removed, in 1888, to this
| country for permanent burial.
Payne's life was not q success; he
died without accomplishing any thing
for himself or for humanity; he now
lives only in a song that was born Of
MS hOmelessness and poverty, vet
this song is a monument more last
ing than the marble erected over his
grave. His life is a sad story, but
bis poverty was doubtless owing to
his own improvidence. During
Payne's travels in the South he was
given benefit that cleared him one
thousand dollars. This was his final
dramatic experience, it is true: but q
man who could thus attract the peo
pie by his genius, ought to have pro-
vided himself competency. Yet his
life is like that of many other literary
characters who received but little re-
ward for their services Milton re-
ceived but thirty-eight pounds for his
paradise Lost Goldsmith was
often reduced to poverty; Samuel
Johnson wrote "RaSSelas'' to defray
the burial expenses of his mother:
and Homer, the greatest of Epic po-
cts, was forced to beg bread from the
cities that aftcrward contended for
the honor of being his birthplace.
We snbjOin the following poem by
Charles w. Hubner, on the removal
of the poets remains to Washington,
ID. c., for burial, March 1888:
It's WELL No alien earth shall claim
Thy mouldering bones. o child of Fame
fntombed in thy great mothers breast
In sacred slumber let them rest
mockery, must it be said
We crown our bards when thew are-leadp
And for a life neglect atone
with obsequy and carven stone?