Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-21
TIT GoTzzaE MYTH THE cMLADoW T THE cHJRcH j7EEYE FALLING UPON IF

| c7EER4E FALLING UPON l More and more is the spirit to che
 fish and preserve historic spots an
 buildings manifesting itself anon
 the American people, and as one afte
 another some building or place COT
 nected with some noted individual o
 historic event is threatened with dt
 struction and obliteration there 1
 aroused sentiment which crystalline
 into a movement for the preservation ' of the same.
 Recently it was reported that tn { old cottage at East Hampton, L. l., i'm ! mortalized by John Howard Payne il
 his world-famous song, Home, Swee
 Home," was to be torn down to mak,
 room for an addition to the Episcopa
 church which adjoins it. But tn,
 thought of demolishing so precious
 an old landmark is arousing much dis
 cussion. both in and out of East Hamp
 ton. and 1t is probable that the agita
 tion will culminate in plan for ths
 permanent preservation of the historic
 spot
 Home, Sweet Home" the most pop
 ular song ever written at any time ol
 in any language. needs no word o1 comment here. But the life of its gifted author is far too little known Who can tell the circumstances under which 1t 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 gift for things military and things dramatic; wit, student, a friend of alien races as we'll as of all the dis tinguished men of his day; . partisan of Indians. comrade of neutral princes, a companion of great actors and writers of all lands, traveller. a worker, a dreamer and the tenderest. kindliest 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 24, 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 well-known players and did some brilliant work.
 He not only had rare gift in this direction, but he had in his youth ex- traordinary beauty of a vivid mobile character, and he possessed as we'll 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-writing that his chief distinction was gained during his 20 years in London. Some of his plays reached fine dramatic heights, and 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 IT., or the Merry Monarch" was a great fa- vorite with Charles Kemble; "Ther- csc. or the Orphan of Geneva" had a long popularity. and Clair. the Maid of Milan" (originally known as An gioletta'D was renowned for two sea- sons. both because Mme. Tree. Ellen Trees sister. made a great hit in it and because Payne incorporated in 1t his great song. Home. Sweet Home"
 The words sprang into Payne's head spontaneously. but the melody was first suggested to him by Sicillan air which Sir Henry Bishop. the composer of all the music of Clair" made use of. Payne's own story of finding this melody is as follows.
 T first heard the air in Italy. One beautiful morning as was strolling alone mid some delightful scenery my at- tention was arrested by the sweet | voice of a peasant girl who was car rying basket laden with flowers and | vegetables. This plaintive air she frilled out with so much sweetness and simplicity that the melody at once caught my fancy. I accosted her. md after few moments conversation asked the name of the song. which lhe could not give me. But having . slight knowledge of music myself. re 7uested her to repeat the air. which the did. while iotted down the notes Is best could It was this air that suggested the chords of Home. Sweet | h<r<h <-f