The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-07-22
VdUneJ %o11unees,t in
Oa6J iH Cemetery NaahingtoaQe
% H4ss,s6 r-,s-S

sold to Gustave II. Buck of New York city,
While John Howard Payne was still very
young the family moved to Boston where his
formal education began. He a precocious
child but not an especially diligent scholar and
very early he developed passion for the stage
which alarmed his father. For in those days
actors had very low status in society and the
theater was considered veritable sink of in
iquity.
In Boston the elder Payne was a teacher of
elocution and the son inherited and learned all
that the elder Payne could offer. In his early
teens Payne constructed an amateur playhouse,
assisted by friend and they went in heavily
for private theatricals
Master Betty, actor of old England and then
in vogue for his interpretations of stage char
acters, became Payne's idol. 1t was his ambi-
ton one day to win even greater acclaim; and
the parents viewed this growing love for the
stage with alarm. 1t must be stopped. and so,
at thirteen, Payne was packed off to New York
to work in a counting house where his uncle,
until his death, had held desk.
Such an occupation held little interest for
Payne Perfunctorily remaining at work, he de-
voted his spare moments to publishing in
cret paper. known as the Thespan Mirror.
As the name indicates, it dealt with the stage,
and the bright and clever reviews of dramatcs
to be found in 1t caught the interest of New
Workers. William Coleman, editor of the Evening
Post, investigated the journal, and Payne's Sc
cret out.
why, it's a boy of ffteen!" excitedly COM
mented those who had wondered at the identity
of the Thespan Mirrors editor. Literary circles
ioniZed him, and so much success for one
young naturally began to 60 to Payne's head.
Interested friends decided that he must receive
more schooling, and patron was found to
finance him at Union college. Schenectady.
Up the Hudson he went and began new
He lived with the head of the institution one
Doctor Mott, and enthusiastically began another
paper, known as Pastime which was an i'm
mediate success. But poor Doctor Mott con-
fessed himself quite unable to discipline his
pupil properly. Payne often disappeared for
days at time and was otherwise unruly. He
was handsome; his talents had been recog-
nized, and he was eager to begin his stage ca
reer.
This opportunity came after the death Of his
mother, when his father fell into financial diff
culties. Payne left college and returned to
New York, seeking a role in the theater In 1909,
at the age of eighteen. he appeared as Norval
In Douglas" one of Master Betty's famous
roles and achieved astounding popularity. Audi
ences focked to see him, and the play encoun-
tered equal success In Boston, Philadelphia,
Richmond Charleston and Baltimore. Most of
the money he received went to pay his fathers
debts.
But despite this success Paynes father wished
him to give up the stage and the young man
acceeded to the elders wishes He consented
to found a school but it was dismal financial
failure so again Payne turned to the stage.
acting in Shakespearean drama In Boston and
elsewhere. Finally in January. 1913, accompan-
led by his brother. Payne sailed for London to
seek stage career there. But an unexpected
event delayed his theaterical debut abroad Eng
land and America we're then at war and Payne
was arrested as a spy and thrown into prison
1t was two weeks before his friends among
them Washington Irving, were able to secure