The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-22
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE
THE REMOVAL OF HIS REMAINS
PROM TUNIs TO HIS NATIVE LAND.
Ceremonies Which Were Held at the
Grave-InterestinE Facts About the
Authors Life I'm Africa
PHILADELPHIA Press.


consul since his appointment to that posi-
ton by President Arthur in Use. From
time to time have noticed extracts from
his consular reports in the newspapers.
which is apt 10 be the case on the rare
occasions when man OF education and
literary ability is appointed TO such a
position, but 1 particularly remembered his
connection with the removal OF John How
ard Payne's remains to this country from
Tunis at the instance Of Mr. Corcoran. OF
Washington.
Mr.. Worthington said that one OF the
earliest and most interesting duties he had
to perform consul was TO 20 10 Tunis
and exhame the body OF John Howard
Payne the author Of Home. Sweet
Home" This was on jan 5. 1855. Payne
had been the American consul at Tunls,
and died there in 1852. His body lay in St.
Georges Cemetery, in the heart of the
town of Tunis, for thirty-twO years. when
Mr.. Corcoran. the Washington banker OBJ
tanned permission from the State Depart
ment to take it up and bring it 10 Ameri-
Ca
when I arrived at Tunis" Mr.. Worth
ington continued. lit was noon-the ex-
humation was to take place about 1
o'clock. At the grave i found assembled
Sir Thomas F. Reade (the British consult
general, one or two gentlemen connect
ed with the American consulate and about
twenty other gentlemen, some OF them
Tunisians dressed in the costumes OF the
country. Among the latter was Paynes
old dragoman, who had been present at
his death and funeral.
There was nothing whatever left Of tho
body except the skeleton. and in removing
this skeleton from the grave 20 a coffin we.
had to put some of the earth in with H. as
the coffin in which the body had been
buried had crumbled away, the earth and
bones becoming mixed.
'In STOPPING over the grave I noticed
that the root OF a tree-a pepper tree-had
just begun TO creep over the forehead. This
L pulled away. and in so doing exposed a
piece of bone as white as ivory, which. to-
gether with branch OF the pepper tree, n
also obtained five or six brass buttons fromi
the uniform in which Payne had been
buried. one of which I sent 70 Mr.. Corco-'
ran, one to the Secretary OF State-in fact,i
l gave them all away, not keeping even
one for myself.
1.-The body was then taken to the nutIo
English Protestant Church at Tunis. where,
the coffin having been covered with an
American flag, we placed il on a table at
the foot OF the chancel and directly under
a window which had been erected TO
Payne's memory by English and American
residents, and on which was inscribed: =
=" TO the Memory of John Howard
Payne, Author Of ''IIome. Sweet Home
THE FINAL CEREMONIES.
This was just about sunset. The cere-
mony which took place was OF SIMPLE
nature. An English naval officer Ia cap
tain) played the air of Home. Sweet
Home on a little American melodeon
which stood there, and after considerable
urging l induced my wife to sing the
words. This she at last consented TO do.
and, standing there in the beautiful twi-
light, singing, helped to make one OF the
most pathetic scenes haze eYer-H4I1MAq-
Z "a d.
ually, as she began TO think how this little
scene might some day become historic her
voice trembled and trembled-which only
added pathos to the scene-until there was
not a dry eye In the church. Arabs, for
eigners and all were Yiping, away the
tears; IL was simply overwhelming
There we left the body all night. The
next day at noon We again assembled, when
the coffin containing all that was left or
Payne was carried TO the Mariana, whence
ii was put aboard a French ship bound for
Marseilles. IL was then transferred 10 a
ship coming direct TO the United states,
where ii was taken TO Washington and
buried
coran dedicated handsome monument
with appropriate ceremonies
The people of Tunis, as L learRed after
ward, felt aggrieved that even the old
tombstone which had covered the grave for
thirty odd years had been taker. away to
America. This was done by a mistake, Mr..
Corcoran wrote me, and when he was In
formed OF their feeling he at once author
lied NE TO have a monument put up over
the empty grave in Tunis. This L did
duplicating the one in Washington, except
instead of putting a bust, as on the WASH
ington monument, 1 had little group or
symbols cut for the top, one a ribbon, on
which were carved the first few notes of
Home, Sweet Home and the inscription
(from Mrs. Ray Riley Smiths poem, Some
time1 Then be content poor heart and the
others a lutte and book"
II suppose, Mr. worthington, you OBJ
tanned considerable information regarding
Paynes life in Tunis?"
PAYNE's LIFE IN TUNIs.
"Yes, / did: particularly from a Mr..
Alfred Chappilie, the present United States
vice consul in Tunis, he having been APP
pointed to that office within the past three
months. He knew Payne very well, and
was very kind to him. II was through Mr..
Chappillie, largely, that Payne was en-
abled to receive the assistance which made
| his last days comfortable, without Payne
knowing that il charity. He was
proud; ne fancied-and his friends led him
| TO believe-that the money he was living
I on was his own, whereas, as a matter OF
| fact. his friends were helping him He
| supposed il was money which had been
| saved for him out Of his own income.
| Tunis. which he had succeeded in getting
the Bey to let him occupy in his capacity
AS p servant of the United states. As he
began TO fail he stayed i'm the house q
| great deal, sitting in large chair, wei
| wrapped up, with hot fire burning-this,
too. in the hot climate to be found there
contenting himself with brandy and scla.
| He finally died OF exhaustion from inaDn-
| ity to eat or retain anything, and fveo
| on brandy altogether during the last few
| days of his life.
81 remember Mr.. Chappille's telling me
| once that Payne had described TO him how
| he came to write Home. Sweet Home"
| Mr.. Chappille's version was thiS-that
! Payne said he was one day in Paris walk
| ing in one of the streets. and sat down 20
| OF inconsistencies and fancied neglect. Not
| that he ever was neglected. That Il
| wrong idea, for Mr.. Payne was never
! neglected by his friends, and the prevail
| ing impression that Payne was an exile,
or even considered himself one, think
| he was feeling low-spirted there came the
| idea Of this little ballad OF his and he
unconsciousiy set IL 10 an old Sliician air,
| 1 think il was, or some air ne knew very
| well-he did not compose the music. you
| know. IL was aftsrward embodied In his
opera. 'Clari. the Maid Of Milan.
After Payne's death his books and
| papers We're left for years lying IN cor
| ner in boxes aud baskets. where they be-
came mildewed and more or less useless
through neglect, and Mr. Chappilie told
me that within the last few years they
had disappeared. nobody knowing Where
they We're 20 this day.
| Payne was very lOYable, thappillie said.
his character being a sweet one. lie was
very exacting, however, that his official
status should be recognized, and By those
! who came I'm contact with him officially ne
was, perhaps, thought too rigid; but per-
| sonally. I'm his own house or when dining
with friends he the soul OF charming
comradeshp He was most witty. quoted
from poems beautifully and with great
feeling, seeming TO be fond OF the pathetic
rather than the heroic.