Evening star., 1951-05-20

pdIdIlVely llILle 1Or MS WORK, the
operetta, together with a lot Of
manuscripts which he sold to
Charles Kemble of the Covent
Garden Theater, in London, in
1925, brought him only ESQ. KEN
BILE 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 will ever remain
with us as long as love exists, was
first sung in the operetta by Miss
Tree, the eldest sister of Ellen
Tree. and her rendition is said
to have been so sweet and beau
tiful that she afterward secured
a wealthy husband.
1t is said that lover / million
copies of the song, Home, Sweet
Home were sold by the publish
ers, whose profits were said to
have exceeded 1000 guineas, not
a penny of which was given to
the author, who was also cheated
out OF the benefit which he was
to have received on the goth night
of the performance Of his play.
and was not even complimented
by the publishers with a copy of
| the song"
Was Always Broke"
During Mr.. Payne's residence in
Paris he roomed with Washington
Irving. who always remained his
admirer and steadfast supporter.
In 1882 Mr.. Payne returned to
this country and tried his hand
at publishing a literary periodical.
but with little success. He did not
know how to handle money, he
was always broke. and the cause
Iof much anxiety among his
friends. who were continually be-
ing called upon for assistance. A
good actor. an entertaining writer.
but a poor financier. OF him
some one has said that he had no
more thrift. or providence, or
capacity for taking care Of him
self than Harold Skimpole."
After he had f1oundered around
for nearly a decade, we find him
in Washington, in straitened cir
cumstances and seeking a diplo-
matte post. In this he at first
failed, when he was willing to
accept any respectable position
where the compensation would at
least pay his actual living ex-
penses.
First Sung Here in 1924
/ In Washington, Home, Sweet
Home" was sung for the first time
when 'Clari, or the Maid Of Mi
Ian" was given March 20. 1924, at
the Washington Theater, which
then stood on the south side Of
Louisiana avenue between John
Marshall place and Sixth street.
near the corner of Sixth. This
theater was completed about Au-
gust "a, 1921. and was the second
one of this name in Washington.
1t was destroyed by fire shortly
after the Civil War and portions
of its walls are still visible. My
esteemed fellow and former vice
president of the Association Of
Oldest Inhabitants, Washington
Topham, informed me with the
date as July, 1869, and says he
witnessed the destruction of the
theater. Miss Warren sang the
piece and received for her excel
lent rendition great applause. No
doubt the greatest reception the
piece ever received was also in
this city when it was sung by that
celebrated artist, Jenny Lind-the
Swedish Nightingale" as she was
called.
This took place during the div3s
first concert, December Is, 1850, in
a building specially constructed
for the purpose, on the site now
occupied by the National Theater.
John Howard Payne was in the
audience, having come here with
a view to being reinstated to his
position as Consul to Tunis, from
which he had been removed.
Others who were there to hear
the great songbird included the
President Of the United States
and his family, the president of
the Senate. Daniel Webster; Henry
Clay, Mr.. Crittenden, Gen. Scott,
Justices Of the United States Su-
preme Court and many Senators
and Representatives.
/ At the second concert, held on
the following day, December IT..
Miss Lind again made history
when she sang for the first time
in America, the national song.
Hail Columbia" accompanied by
Signor Benedict's powerful and
admirable orchestra.