Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-25

THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS CoMPosED-A PI.ANrA-
TON on THE EASTERN BRANCH WHERE PAYNE
HAD SELECTED A SITE FOR DwELLISa-A
STORY NOW TOLD FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Some things there are which by a common
instinct mankind hold sacred. Among these
are the scenes of heroic deeds, the precincts of
patriot graves. and the birthplace of sublime
thoughts in proof of which need only be men,
toned such names as Lexington, Mt Vernon,
and Independence hall. And within the Dis
trict of Columbia there is a spot which the
American people, if familiar with its associa-
lions, would not deem unworthy Of mention in
connection with those named.
Half century ago George W. Talburtt, then
young and unmarried was the owner by inher-
itance of plantation of 23l acres, lying just
across the east branch of the Potomac from
Washington, his fee simple domain touching
the river at point opposite the maynard.
Here he lived in elegant leisure, having about
100 slaves, and, to digress for moment, the
visitor may still see near his home a row of
graves, from which are pointed out the partic-
ular resting places of some more distinguished
| than their companions for humble virtues.
One is remembered as the ''colored nanny
OF person since raised to some eminence.
while another is reyered for an intimacy with
several family generations. This young man,
possessed of case and atfiuence, was
BOON COMPANION OF JOHN HOWARD PAYNE,
| whose dust has since become so sacred. The
old home still stands, as it then stood. in an
Eden bower on the bank of the river. and here.
under a venerable chestnut tree, sitting on a
rustic seat that encircled its trunk, Payne and
Talburtt used to drink their mint iulep, sing
their merry songs and talk of the lives they
were to lead. Talburtt had promised Payne
that whenever he wanted home it should be
built for him on the plantation, and they would
spend their bachelor lives together. Much of
the old plantation Is now within the modern
suburban village of Anacostia, and on an eleva-
ton that commands a view of the national
capitol and its surroundings which quite
ravlshes the eve with its beauty. stands the
! house. now owned and occupied by Mr.. H. A.
Griswold. built in fulfllment of this promise.
The site was selected by Payne himself before
departing on his foreign mission. but he never
returned to enjoy the home of which he sung;
and thus absolved from his vow of celibacy,
Mr.. Talburtt afterward married and himself
occupied the new house, in which children
were born to him, one of whom still resident
of the village, Is the mother of J. Harry Shan
non. widely known as the juvenile orator. But
the chief point of interest il yet to be told. for
notwithstanding the claim that Home, Sweet
Home" was written in Tunis or in a London
garnet,
THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT,
in the handwriting of the illustrious author
himself, and bearing his own interlneations, is
still i'll the possession of the family-Mr.
| Talburtt. having died in 1965-and it was on
the rustic seat under the chestnut tree, on the
bank of the east branch of the Potomac so
| near the mouth as to be practically on the main
river, and little more than a mile east of
south from the capitol building, that John
Howard Payne. with his own inspired genius
and an aid-de-camp of mint julep, drafted this
immortal composition. The rustic seat, held
attic of the old home; and the chestnut tree,
now partly dead, with its top cut away and
much of its bark Clipped off as mementoes,
still marks the birthplace of this song, that will
live while the English tongue is spoken or a
| matched roof covers the head of an humble in
habitant of earth.