The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-07-22

- known extreme poverty and inn
prisOnment for debt. So his homecoming was
all the sweeter because he came back to his
native land to receive the acclaim of his fell
low-Americans who honored the penniless COM
poser with great festivals in New York and in
Boston.
Since that day century ago the fame of
John Howard Payne has spread to all corners
of the world, for the song which he wrote, per-
haps more than any other ever written has a
universal appeal 1t has been translated into
every language and sung in every country IN
der the sun. Simple of melody and homely of
words though it may be- some Of the greatest
singers of all time have been proud to include
it in their repertoires, for it is the one song
which is sure to reach the heart of mankind, no
matter under what color of skin that heart
beats.
Because Payne's fame rests so securely upon
this one song, Americans are likely to forget
If indeed they know, at all-that he had other
claims TO distinction, any one of which would
entitle him to a place in the list of American
notables. At the age of twenty he was darling
of the New York stage, young actor who had
leaped into fame overnight. But the fame of
Payne, the actor, no greater than the fame
of Payne, the intimate friend of such literary
notables as Washington Irving, Sir Walter Scott,
Lord Byron and Thomas Moore and Of such
statesmen Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and
William L. Marcy.
He might have been remembered as one OF
the great playwrights of his time, for he was
the author of less than five operas, nine
farces, u dramas, six comedies and eight trag-
edies. But the chances are his name would have
passed into oblivion had it not been for a song
which he wrote for one of his operas That song
was Home Sweet Home"
In 1923 Payne, who was dividing his residence
between London and Paris and travelling all
over the Continent, wrote play which he later
converted into the opera called "Clari, or the
Maid of Milan" The music was written by
Sir Henry R. Bishop, composer and director of
music for the Theater Royal in London, but it
was Payne who gave Bishop the idea for the
music. He tells of his inspiration for this song
as follows:
At first heard the air in Italy. One beautiful
morning as / was strolling alone amid some
delightful scenery, my attention was arrested
by the sweet voice of peasant girl who was
carrying basket laden with flowers and vege-
tables This plaintive air she trilled with so
much sweetness and simplicity that the melody
at once caught my fancy. accosted her, and
after a few moments conversation asked for
the name of the song which she could not give
me, but having some slight knowledge of music
myself, barely enough for the purpose, 1
quested her TO repeat the air, which she did
while jotted down the notes best could.
1t was this air which suggested the words of
Home Sweet Home both Of which / sent to
Bishop at the time was preparing the opera.
Bishop happened to know the air well, and
adapted the music to the words"
The song was first sung by Anna Maria Tree
at the premiere of "Clari" at Covent garden in
London on May s. 1923. The song was an in
Simultaneous success More than 100000 copies
were issued by its publishers in London within
less than year after it was first sung there
and il yielded them a profit of more than half
a million dollars And yet the author of the
song received only mere pittance from this
sum. The publishers did not place his name
on the title page nor did they even send him
complimentary copy of his song which was so
soon TO become immortal! But this not
unusual experience for the composer. For
Payne's life had been series of successes and
failures, strange combination of affluence and
poverty alternately.
Payne was born at SO Pearl street in New
York city in 1871. the sixth child of William
Payne a school teacher. His mother was the
daughter of Jewish family, named Isaacs, who
lived in Easthampton. long Island 1t was this
peaceful Long Island community which was
"Home Sweet Home" to Payne during his boy
hood and there today stands the house which
he wrote the song. As matter of fact this
house was not owned by Payne's father but
was rented by him, while he was principal of
the Clinton academy in Easthampton. from the
Mulfords, family that was in continuous pos
session Of 1t from 1851 to 1910 when it was