The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-10-01
The Marseiiles Hymn,

This woIld.renovned song OF Liberty is
thas pictured, in It's origin, in De Lamar
tines History olthe Girondists:
There was young officer Of artillery in
the garrison at StanSburg. named Rougct de
LjSlc. He was born at Lonsic- Saunier. in
the JIra. that country Of revere and ener-
gy. as mountainous countries always are
This Young man loved W ar like a soldier
the Revolution like thinker. lie charmed
with his verse and music the slow. dull gar
riSon life. Much inreqrtS; from his two
fold talent rs musician and poet. he visited
the house Of Dietrich, an Alsetian patriot,
(maire Of StraSbourr,) on intimate terms,
DietIick'S wife and young daughters shared
in his patriotic feelings, fer the Revolution
was advancing towards the frontiers. Just as
the affections OF the body always commence
at the extremities. They were very partial
10 the young officer, and inspired his heart,
his poetry and his music. They executed
the first Of his IDEAS hardly developed, con-
fdauteS oithe earliest flight ofgcnus.
1t was in the winter Of 1872, and there was
scarcity in SnaSburC. The house Of Die
trick as poor and the table humble: but
there was always welcome for Rouget de
Lislc. This young officer was there from
morning I'LL night, Ike n son or brother Of
the family. One day, when there was only
some coarse bread and slices of ham on the
table. Dietrich. looked with calm sadness n,
De LiSle, said 10 him, .'Plenty is not seen
at our icastS; but what matter if cnthuSi-
aSm is not wanting at our civic icteS aud
courage in our soldiers hearts. | have
still bottle of wine left in my cellar
Bling il. he added, addressing one of hi,
daughters, ''aud we will drink TO liberty and
our country. StraSburg is shortly TO have {
patriotic ceremony. and De LiSle must b(
inspired by these last drops 10 produce one
of those hymns which convey 10 the soul o
the people the enthusiasm which suggested
it, The young girls applaudcd. ietcho,
the wine, filed the glasses oithcir old latho
and the wine was exhausted. 1t WAS mid
night and very cold. De Lslc was n dream.
cr ; his heart was moved. his head heated
/ The cold seized ON him. and he went >tagger
ing to his lonely chamber. cndCavoTing, by
+ degrees, 10 find inspiration in the p0lpaiatiol
OF his citizen heart: and en- his small clavi
cord, new cCmI Csirg the air before III,
words, and now the words before the mir
combining th,m so intimately in his mind
that he could never tell which was first pro-
duccd, the mir or words. so impossible did h
/ lind i, to scpcra,c the poetry rom the music
and the feeling from the impression. He sun.
every thing--v rotc nothing.
/ Overcome by his divine inspiration, hi
/ head fell sleeping on his instrument aud HI
did not awake until daylight. The song O
the overnight returned to his memory wit
dilticult., like the recollection Of drram.-
/ He wrote it down and then ran 10 Dietrich
/ Ifc found him in his garden. His wife an,
daughters had not yet risen. Dlctricl
aroused them, called together some of hi
friends as fond as himself Of music. aud ca
pablo oil executing De Isles composition
Dietrick's eldest daughter nccompanc
them, Roucct sang. At tho first verse a
countenamces turned pale, at the secou
tears flowed, at the last enthusiasm bur'
forth. The hymn Of the country was found
Alas It was destined 10 be the hymn otter
ror. The unfortunate Dietrich went
few months afterto the scail0ld nj the SCUM
the notes produced at his own freSdC
from tie heart Of bis friend and the voices c
his daushters.
The new son-, executed some DAYS arter
wards Mt Strn >burc, few from city to city
iurvcry public orchestra. MarscilicS adol'