Evening star., 1937-04-04
Bv John Clasen Proctor.

most beloved and patriotic songs
L either made Washington their
home for a while or did the writing
for which they are so we'll remem-
bered. in this city, and, strange to
say, few people today could associate
the names of these writers with but
one composition each. The first OF
these, of course, in the order Of their
Importance, is John Howard Paynes
Home, Sweet Home; particularly 50
because Of its worldwide scope, and
its tendency to arouse in the human
breast q love, a longing for and an
appreciation of the fireside that no
other song has ever produced In the
same degree Of affection.
Then comes the patriotic anthem,
THE Star Spangled Banner" by
Francis Scott Key. and, lastly, THE
Battle Hymn OF the Republic" by
Julia Ward Howe.
Naturally, the District of Columbia
cannot claim these celebrated people
as having been born in the Nations
Capital. as we'll, as it would like TO,
but with the first two it can Claim
that they spent good deal of their
time here and, perhaps, may even have
obtained much of their inspiration
here AS to the latter. there IS no
question that rot only was the in
spiration for the Civil War hymn
obtained here, but that the song, itself,
was actually penned in this city,
OF JOHN HOWARD PAYNE it is
generally agreed he was born in
New York City, on June 8, 1892, his
father being we'll known educator.
Young Payne showed unusual lit
erary talent at the early age OF l3
and when IA, while clerk in mer-
camille house in New York, he secretly
edited the Thespian Mirror, and at
another time assisted Samuel Wood
worth, author of The Old Oaken
Bucket" in editing ch1ld's paper,
called The Fly" Shortly after this
he was offered gratis, and accepted,
result of the bankruptcy OF his father,
his education was interrupted and he
decided to 60 on the stage as the
best means of supporting his family,
his debut being made at the Park
Theater, New York, February "a, 1909,
in the same character in which w w.
Corcoran afterWard saw him, Wnen
playing in Washington.
After a tour of some of the larger
cities, including New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston
and New Orleans, he was persuaded TO
try his fortunes in London. Here for
q while he drew crowded houses, but
as ever with genius, his popularity ex-
cited q certain proportion OF envy
which soon detracted from his abil-
tty as a drawing card, and he went to
Paris, where he found the theatrical
atmosphere more inviting and con-
genial. Here he devoted much of his
time to the writing of dramas and
produced in rapid succession the trag-
edy OF "Brutus," "Therese, or the Or
phan of Geneva" an adaptation from
the French; "Virginius" and the cele-
brated operate drama "Clarl, the
Maid of Milan" which contained the
song Home, Sweet Home" for which
the authors name will ever be remem-
bered.
AS was frequently the case in years
gone by, and indeed not infrequent
even now, Payne received compare
lively little for his work, for the
operetta and a lot Of other manu-
scripts which he sold to Charles
Kemble OF the Covent Garden The
ater in London some time during the
latter part of 1922. or early in 1923,
brought him only s30 Kemble had it
produced at his theater on May 8,
1928, when it was played to crowded
houses for many nights by Miss Ann
Maria Tree, sister of Ellen Tree, and
her rendition of the celebrated song is
said to have been so sweet and beautl-
full that she afterWard secured a
wealthy husband,
CTRANGE to say, the song which
~ has immortalized Payns seems to
be the only thing worth while left to
us Of the play, though this, OF course,
will remain with us as long as love,
affection and home ties exist.
Some say 100000 copies were sold
by the publishers, while others place
the number Of copies printed at l,000,-
oOO However, whatever the number,
Payne did not share in the profits.
Indeed, as a financier he appears to
have been an ideal" successful" fail
ure, and though he made money, yet
he knew not how to keep even a part
of it, with the result that he was
generally broke and depending upon
friends for assistance.
pAYNE'S first visit to Washington
was in the Summer of 1909, when
Mr. Corcoran saw him as Young Nor
val in the tragedy Of Douglas" the
play in which he made his debut in
the old Park Theater, New York, on
February "a Of that year, The
theater here in which he then played
was the Washington Theater, opened
on Friday, November Is, 1904, and
which stood on the northeast corner
of c and Eleventh streets, the spot
now being occupied by the Internal
Revenue Building 1t was then the
only play house in Washington. On
April 10, 1920, it was completely
Quilted by fire, and year later the
ground and the walls still standing
we're bought by Lewis Carusi, who
rebuilt the structure and opened it in
1922 as the Washington City Assembly
Rooms
On January II, 1913, Payne sailed
for Europe and remained away from
.his country for 20 years. and it was
during this time that the operetts
"Clari, the Maid Of Milan" was first
produced in London, the date beine
May 8, 1928. During the meantime
on Wednesday, August 8. 1921, a new
theater was opened at the Nationa
Capital, which was also called thu
Washington Theater, and here, or
March 20, 1924, Payne's well-knowr
opera was presented, Mrs. Warint
singing Home, Sweet Home" Tht