Evening star., 1951-05-20
Our Home Sweet Home
Immortal Song First Heard at Washington
Theoter on louisiunu Avenue Near Sixth
By John Cloaett Proctor

1NNAACAOuo lC1ClGIlCcS nave OeeI
made to w. w. Corcoran and his
philanthropic activities, but the
bringing to this country of the
body OF John Howard Payne, and
his burial in Oak Hill Cemetery
was surely one of the most laud-
able ones.
His grave bears this epitaph:
In memory of
Co.. John Howard Payne.
T,Dice Consul Of
the United States of America for
the city and kingdom OF Tunis.
This stone is here placed by a
grateful country.
He died at the American
Consulate. this city; after q
tedious illness,
April 1St. 1852.
He 1DaS born in the city of
Boston. State OF Massachusetts.
His tame as a poet and drnmdtiSt
Well kno1Un lDhereuer the English :
language is understood through
his celebrated ballad of
Home, StDeet Home"
and his popular tragedy of
"BrutuS"
and other similar productions.
Corcoran had been away from
home; had crossed and recrossee
the Atlantic, and no doubt beer
IhomeSick - knew what it mean
while on the high seas, to. use the
words of the author of the mos
touching song, Home. Sweet
Home" who died in far-of Africa
far from the attachments o1
youth from his kindred and lovec
ones, far from his own country
his shrine of American freedom
Indeed, it would only seem natu-
raj if Mr.. Corcoran had upon these
voyages repeated to himself the
beautiful words Of the author.
Corcoran Remembered Him
It is quite evident that Mr.. Cor.
coran had given the idea of bring
ing the body of John Howard
Payne to this country long ano
deliberate thought, since Payne
had died in Tunis many years
before the philanthropist hac
concluded to provide for it. A.
IA matter of fact. Corcoran was
most likely, personally acquainted
with the -author whom he
had seen here at the Washington
Theater.
Many years later, when ne hae
become one of the oldest resi-.
dents Of Washington, he retained
Ia vivid and fond recollection o1
seeing Mr.. Payne in his imper'
sonation at that time of the char.
acter Of Young Norval in thu
tragedy Of Douglas"
John Howard Payne was born
in New York City. June 9, 1892
and showed his literary talent a
the unusually early age o
l13. His father was a we'll
known educator. while his grand
father was a member of the Pro
vincial Assembly of Massachu
sets at a time when it took rea
bravery and character to per
form the duties of the office.
At IA, while a clerk in 6
mercantile house in New York, ht
secretly edited the Thespian Mir.
ror. Shortly after this he was of
fered gratis, and accepted, g
course at Union College, but as q
result of the bankruptcy of his
father. his education was inter-
rupted and he decided to go on
the stage as the best means OF
supporting his fathers family, his
debut being made at the Park
Theater. New York, February "a
1909. in the same character in
which Mr.. Corcoran afterward
saw him. when playing.
London Acclaimed Him
After a tour of some of the
larger cities besides New York
including Boston, Philadelphia
Baltimore. Charleston and New
Orleans, he was persuaded to try
his fortunes in London. Here, fo1
while, he drew crowded houses
but as ever with genius, his pop.
ularity excited a certain proper
ton of envy which soon detract-
ed from his ability as a drawing
card and he went to Paris, where
he found the atmosphere better
and more inviting. Here he de.
voted much of his time to the
writing of dramas and produced
in rapid succession the tragedy o1
"Brutus, " "ThereSe, or the Orphan
OF Geneva" an adaptation from
the French: "Virginius," and thu
celebrated operate drama, "Clari
or the Maid of Milan" which con.
tained the song Home, Swee
Home" for which the author
name will ever be remembered.