The Irish standard., 1900-12-29
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE,
Inc Wandering Minstrel, Who Wrote
"HOme, Sweet HOme.n


"Home, Sweet Home"
John Howard Payne was a gay and
dehonair Bohemian, a wandering min
strel. who, like the rowing singers OF
fair Provence. often had nothing hut
MS harp. or elegant and cXtrivagant
tastes, he lived much. too much. "'mid
pleasures and palaces" and vet his
personality was Il mosaic of fine i'm
pulses. His emotional and mental or
ganiZation. constructed rs il was on
the most liberal and exquisite scale
very few men held in common with
him. His love of nature. his bovisb
ueVotlon to the associations of child
hood, his happy temper and rapiiyat-
ing manners united to an exalted pa,r,
Otism combined to make him a charm
ing figure both in public and private
life, says Raphael S. Payne in the Bal
tilorc Mirror.
The author Of "lIonr, Sweet Home"
found himself one winter in Londnn
without friends and not II penny in his
purse. Like a philosopher he sought
to appcaS" the ran.s of hunger and
loneliness hy pccping in the windows
OF the rich, which revealed scenes of
happiness and good cheer.
III was Christmas Eve, the great city
was snow-rlad and the air instinct
with biting frost pnlsiny in front
OF Il beautiful mansion. aylow with
light and warmth. the hungry, shiver-
ing wnyfarcr watched with pathetic
interest the Illumination of the Christ
mas tree The beams from tn" wax
candles strcamcd upon the sidewalk
where lie stood and among the ever
green's he could see the little red hollv
berries, the toys and the joyous faces
of pretty children. Soon old Santa
Claus made his appearance. which was
the signal for dnncng singing and
shouts of glrc. When the gifts had
been distributed the m"rrimcnt sub
sided, and a lovely young "irl took her
seat at the piano and sang his imluor
-
the household Joined in the chorus.
Years after. when l'aynrs life had ii
nally become tranquil and free from
want, he told this story of that bitter
contrast to Il friend.
An actor as we'll as n poet, he VAS
known as the "Amrrican Noscius."
The late w. w. Curcurni. the plIilan-
thropst, who erected the monument
to Payne in this country. used to fire.
qucnt the thcntcrS in Washington
when mere boy to see his hero strut
In the buslin. "Whcnrvcr | could
raise twenty-five cents" Mr. Corcoran
once said, IL went to see and hear the
tragcdian." After a lapse Of seventy
five years the philanillrnpiSt had a
clear recollection of l'nynr'S appear
nnce and characteristics: his attitude
on the stage ana even infection Of his
voice, so indcliblc was the impression
he made upon him. He first saw the
actor In 1909, and again two years lat
or, when Payne fled from Georgetown
to Baltimore, where he made himself
conspicuous by defending n newspaper
office against the attacks Of Il mob. II
was not until invent y-iivc years after
that they formed an acquaintance.
They became warm friends ana saw
great deal of each other until Payne
was appointed consul to Tunis by the
government, where he died Arri! 8,
1852. The cpitaph upon the tomb
which marked his grave in Africa was
written by II. S. Chiffon. II man OF re-
fncmcnt and education, who was a
boon companion Of Washington Irving,
n. =. Willis and other literary men OF
that day.
CIintnn's beautiful lines ran thus:
Save when tiny gentle spirit fled
TO realms beyond the azure dome;
With arms outstrctched. Gods angels
Welcome to Heavens Home, Sweet
Homer
When the bartl's remains were re-
moved to America Mr.. Corcoran Sc
lcctcd the spot for their last resting
place 1t is n diamond shaped plot of
ground near the entrance to Oak Hill
cemetery, on the brow of hill over
looking the romantic valley of Rock
Creek, which is the line of demarka-
ton between Washington and George
town. a superb beech tree stands like
monument, before which distinguished
men have stood and shed tears and the
bitterest enemies shaken hands.
CALL UP MEAGHER & GO.