John Howard Payne

i. mr [The collosal bost of John Howard Payne, presen tt ed to the city of Brooklyn by the Faust Club, and erected at Prospect Pulk, wis unveiled Sept 17, in the presence ofabout (5 000 people. Tlie following 8 ode to the author of " Home, Kweet Home," was l wrilten for the occusion, and read by Johu ü. Saxe, the poet 0 j To him who sang of " Home, Sweet Home," In strains so sweet tlie simple lay Has thrilled a million hearts, we come A natiou's grateiul debt to pay. ) Yet not for him the bust we raise ; Ah, no ! can lifeless lips prolong , Fame's trumpet voice ? The poet's praise ( Livea in the music of lus song : The noble dcad we fondly seek To honor with applauding breath ; Unheeded fall the words we speak, Upon "the dull, cold ear of of Death." Yet, not in vain the spoken word. Nor vain the monument we raise ; With quicker throbs our hearts are atirred, To catch the nobleness we praise ! Columbia's sons - we share in fame ; 'Tis for ourselvcs the bust we rear, That tliey who mark the graven name May kuow that. name to us is dear ; Dear as the home the exile seea - Tlie fairest spot beneath the sky- Where first upon a mother's knees He slept, and where he yearns to die. But not aione the lyric fire Was his ; the Drama's muse can teil His genius could a Kean iuspire; A Kenible owned his magie spell ; A Kean to " Brutus' " self so true, (As true to Art and Nature's laws) He seemed the man the poet drow, And sharud with him the towu's applause ! Kind heart and brave, with truth severo He drew, uncouscious, from his own ; O nature rare ! But pilgrims here Will oft'nest say, in pensive tone, With reverent face and lifted hand, " 'Twas he- by Fortune forced to roam- VVho, liomeless, in a foreign land So sweetly sang the joys of home ! " .