The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-29

More and more is the spirit to cher
ish and preserve historic spots ant
buildings manifesting itself amoni
the American people, and as one afte
another some building or place con
nected with some noted individual ol
historic event is threatened with de
struction ard obliteration there Il
aroused a sentiment which crystallize:
into movement for the preservation
of the same.
Recently 1t was reported that the
old cottage at East Hampton, L. l., i'm
mortalized By John Howard Payne ii
his world-famous song. Home. Sweet
Home" was to be torn down to make
room for an addition to the Episcopal
church which adioins 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 1t is probable that the agita
tion will culminAte in plan for the
permanent preservation Of the historic
spot.
Home, Sweet Home" the most pop
ular song ever written at any time OF
In any language, needs no word oi
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 end 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 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. q traveller, a
worker, a dreamer and the tenderest
Hndlest 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 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 vivid mobile
character. and he possessed as well
the personality and fire that 90 with
the genuine poetic temperament. AL
though he did brilliant work upon the
stage, it was in his play-writlng 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 H., or
the Merry Monarch" was a great fa-
vorite with Charles Kemble; "Ther-
ese, or the Orphan Of Geneva" had a
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 it
and because Payne incorporated In =.
his great song, Home. Sweet Home
The words spsang into Payne head
spontaneously. but the melody was
first suggested to him by a sicilian 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 atrolling alone mid
some delightful scenery my at
tention was arrested by the sweet
voice Of a peasant girl who was car.
ryiDg basket laden with flowers and
vegetables This plaintive air she
trilled out with SO much sweetness
and simplicity that the melody at
once caught my fancy ! accosted her,
and after few moments conversation
] asked the name Of the song. which
she could not give me. But having
slight knowledge Of music myself, I re-
quested her to repeat the air, which
she did, while iotted down the notes
as best I could. It was this air that
suggested the chosds Of Home. Sweet
Home, both Of which sent 10 Blshnp