Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-20
BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR.


~ Their references have been
made to W., W. cOrcoran and
his generous and philan-
~ thropic activities, but omission
has purposely been made until
now Of his great patriotic act in bring
ing to this country from its foreign
resting place the body of John Howard
Payne. which now repoSes in Oak Hill
Cemetery.
No man without sentiment would
have ever undertaken such grand
work as this. But Corcoran had been
away from home; had crossed and re-
crossed the Atlantic, and no doubt
knew what it meant to be homesick-
knew what it meant, while on the high
seas, to dream of the words of the
author of the most touching song,
Home Sweet Home" who died in far
off Africa-far from the attachments
of youth. from his kindred and loved
ones, far from his own country-his
shrine of American freedom.
Indeed. it would only seem natural
II Mr.. Corcoran had upon these voyages
repeated to himself the beautiful words
of the author:
"Mid pleasures and palaces though we
Be it ever so humble, there's no place
like Home!
A charm from the sky seems to hallow
us there,
Which. seek through the world, is neer
met with elsewhere!
Home, Home sweet, sweet Home!
There's no place like Home!
There's no place like Homei
"An exile from Home, splendor dazzles
in vain!--
Oh give me my lowly matched cottage
again!
The birds singing gayly that came
at my call
Give me theml-and the peace of mind
dearer than all!
Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home
There's no place like Home!"
There's no place like Home!
1t is quite evident that Mr. Corco-
ran had given the idea of bringing the
body of John Howard Payne to this
country long and deliberate thought,
since Payne had died in Tunis many
years before the philanthropiSt had
concluded to provide for it. AS a
matter of fact, Corcoran was. most
likely, personally acquainted with the
actor-author whom he had seen here
at the Washington Theater.
Many years later, when he had be-
come one of the oldest residents of
Washington, he retained a vivid and
fond recollection of seeing Mr. Payne
in his impersopation at that time of
the character of Young Norval in the
tragedy of Douglas"
John HOWARD PAYNE was born in
showed his literary talent at the I'M
usually early age of Is. His father was
a well known educator, while his
grandfather was member of the Pro-
vincial Assembly of Massachusetts, at
a time when it took real bravery and
character to perform the duties of the
Office.
AT ID, while a clerk in a mercantile
house lin New York, he secretly edited
the Thespian Mirror. Shortly after
this he was offered gratis, and accepted,
a course at Union College, but as a
result of the bankruptcy of his father,
his education was interrupted and he
decided to go on the stage as the best
means of supporting his family. his
debut being made at the Park Theater,
New York, February "a, 1809 in the
same character in which Mr. Corcoran
afterward saw him.
After a tour of some of the larger
cities besides New York, including Bos-
OUl, FIlidQelpLlId, bdlCLIIlOTe, I11dTl6S-
ton and New Orleans, he was persuaded |
to try his fortunes in London. Here, |
for while, he drew crowded houses, |
but as ever with genius, his popularity |
excited a certain proportion of envy |
which soon detracted from his ability |
as a drawing card and he went to |
Paris, where he found the atmosphere |
better and more inviting. Here he |
devoted much of his time to the writ |
ing of dramas and produced in rapid |
succession the tragedy of "Brutus,' -
''Therese, or the Orphan of Geneva" an
adaptation from the French; Virgin
ius," and the celebrated operate drama,
"Clari, or the Maid of Milan" which
contained the song Home, Sweet
Home" for which the authors name
viii ever be remembered.
AS was frequently the case in years
gone by, and indeed not infrequent
even now, Payne received comparatively
little for his work, for the operetta to-
gether with lot of manuscripts which
he sold to Charles Kemble of the CO.
vent Garden Theater, in London, in
1925, brought him only 80 pounds
Kenlble Immediately had It produced
at that theater, where it was played to
crowded houses for many nights
The song, which is the only thing
left to us of the play and which no
doubt viii ever remain with us as long
as love exists, was first sung in the
operetta by Miss Tree the eldest sis
ter OF Ellen Tree, and her rendition
Is said to have been so sweet and beau