The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1907-03-21

More and more is the spirit to cher
ish and preserve historic spots and
buildings manifesting itself among
the American people, and as one after
another some building or place con-
nected with some noted individual or
| historic event is threatened with de-
struction and obliteration there Is
aroused a sentiment which crystallizes
into a movement for the preservation
| OF the same
Recently ir was reported that the
old cottage at East Hampton, L. l., i'm
mortalzed by John Howard Payne in
his worldfamous song, Home, Sweet
Home" was to be torn down to make
room for an addition to the Episcopal
church which adjoins it. But the
| thought of demolishing so precious
an old landmark is arousing much dis
cussion, both in and out of East Hamp-
ton, and it is probable that the agita-
tion will eliminate in a plan for the
permanent preservation of the historic
spot.
Home, Sweet Home" the most pop
ular song ever written at any time or
In any language, needs no word of
comment here. But the life of its
| gifted author is far too little known.
Who can tell the circumstances under
which it was written? And how many
persons are familiar with the strange,
brilliant and varied career of John
Howard Payne?
Poet, author, playwright, critic ac-
| tor, diplomatist, scholar; a man with
n gift for things military and things
dramatic; a wit, a student, a friend
of alien races as well as of all the dis
tinguished men of his day; a partisan
of Indians, comrade of neutral
princes, a companion of great actors
and writer's of all lands, a traveller, a
worker, a dreamer and the tenderest,
kindhest soul that ever was loved in
life or mourned in death; there are
few men cut on his pattern-the pat
tern of gay, gentle. handsome, gifted
Howard Payne.
On February "a, 1909, when he was
IS, he went on the stage, making his
first appearance as young Norval at
the Park theater. He played for some
time in America, being known by a
title he had gained during his early
critical work. The American Juvenile
Wonder" and then went to London,
where he acted with Miss O'Neill and
other wellknown players and did some
brilliant work
He not only had rare gift in this
direction, but he had in his youth eX-
| a,.aN lt,Nn hrA Of N-ixrt lo
character, and he possessed as well
the personality and fire that go with
the genuine poetic temperament AL
though he did brilliant work upon the
stage, it was in his play-writng that
his chief distinction was gained during
his 20 years in London. Some of his
plays reached fine dramatic heights
and a few of them remain celebrated
to this day. Notable among them all
is his "Brutus or the Fall of Tarquin,
in which Edmund Kean, Edwin For
rest and many other eminent actors
made great successes. Charles H., OF
the Merry Monarch" was great ia
vorite with Charles Kemble; "Ther
ese, or the Orphan of Geneva" had Q
long popularity, and Clair, the Maid
of Milan" Originally known as "An
gioletta") was renowned for two sea
sons, both because Nine. Tree, Ellen
Trees sister, made a great hit in il
and because Payne incorporated in il
his great song, Home, Sweet Home.
The words sprang into Payne's head
spontaneously. but the melody was
first suggested 10 him by Sicillan ali
which Sir Henry Bishop, the composer
OF all the music of Clair" made use
of. Payne's own story of finding thi:
melody is as follows.
Il first heard the air in
Italy. One beautiful morning a.
was strolling alone 'niC
some delightful scenery my at
tention was arrested by the swee
voice of a peasant girl who was car
rying a basket laden with flowers anC
vegetables. This plaintive air sh,
trilled out with so much sweetness
and simplicity that the melody a
once caught my fancy. l accosted her
and after few moments conversation
, ! asked the name of the song, whicl
, she could not give me. But having
, slight knowledge of music myself, | re
quested her to repeat the air. whicl
: she did. while ] jotted down the note
as best could. 1t was this air tha
suggested the chords of Home, Swee
Home both of which sent to Bisho