The Arkansas banner., 1849-11-20

and now iu that solitary, dismal garrett he had laid him down to diei and poverty, and misery. genius and death, were huddlrd close together.
 Meanwhile, amid blaze of light, the evenings s amusement had begun at the theatre. A new opera from Paris was to be played, and the prima donna was the young, lovely, and worshipped Ciaudine the Jenny Lind of that time and place. The house was crowded and the first act succeeded beyond all expectation, the audience were in ecsiacy.
 "She Is . jewel !" said M Dupont, who, from n private box, admired the great supporter of his te- atre. roar of applause from the pit delighted at this instant the good mans ears. Claudine called before the curtain. was lowing to the audience - But what is thisl Instead of going off, she has just signed to the orchestra to play. She Is about to show her gratitude to the audience in verse. NJ. Dupont rubs his hands, and repeats twice between his teeth, ." She is a jewell" But with ease and rapdity the band has commenced playing an m. known air, and the next moment M Dupont is standing up with Il strange wild look Flushed and stlil was every breath; the audience looked each other; not a word Of commu nication takes place; men shudder, or rather tremble with emotion But the hrst sianza is ended; and then frantic shout starting Of all to their feet, wild shriek of de- light, cry ofN thousand voices laundering the eho- rus, shows how the song has electrified them
 M. Dupont frowned, for the air and the song were not new to him; it the " Song of the Army of the Rhine' he had refused that morning! But Ciandine proceeds: again the audience Is hushed in death-like silence; and the musicians, reused to an unusual degree of enthusiasm, played admirably; and Claudine, still suging with all the purity feel ing, and energy of her admirable voice, plunged her eyes into every corner of the house-iu van At each eoupiet the enthusiasm of the people be- came greater, the anxiety of the singer more inc tense. Al length, she concluded, and never did ap. plause more hearty, more tremendous, more up- roarous, greet the voice of public songssress The excitable population of MarseIlles seemed mad
 When silence was restored, CIaudine spoke: "Ci- toyens and citoyennes :" she exclaimed, "ths song is both written and composed by young aud un. known man, who has in vain sought to put his compositions before the public Every body has refused them. For myself, thought this the grea- test musical effort of modern times; and as such practlsed it to-day; and, unknown to manager or author, and the band prepared this surprise. But the author is not here. Poor and despairng, he is at home lamentng his unappreciated efforts Let us awake him; let him learn that the generous peo. pie of Marseilles can understand and feel great sic. Come, let all who have hearts follow me, and chaunt the mighty song as we go" And Claudine, stepping the orchestra, landed in the pitt and bareheaded, light dressed as she rushed towards the door, followed by every spectator and by the musicians, who, however, put on their hats, aud even threw a cloak and cap the excited and gene rous songstress.
 Meanwhile the composers dreadful resolve was being carried out. The horrid fumes of the char. coal filled the room; soon they began to consume and exhaust the pure air, and the wreched youth
 
 haustion and despair kindled kind of madness in his brain: wild shapes danced around him; his many songs seemed sung together by coarse, husky voices. that made their sound punishment; and then the blasted atmosphere expressing his chest darkening his vision, his room seemed tenaned by rNyriads of internal and defoFmed beings. Then gain he closed his eyes, and soft memory, stealing in upon him. showed him happy visions of his yOuth of his mother. of love, and hope, and joy; of green fields, and the mnrmurng brooks which l.. l E- Ill. IL l.. Al. yonng thought that death must be come, and that he must be on the threshold of another world. But awful shout. tremendous clamor, burst on his ear thousand voices roar beneath his win dow. The young man starts from his drcam-what is that he hearsl
 | "Aux armies citoyens,
 Eormcz bataillons," etc. "What is this1" he cries. My song of the Rhine"'
 l He listens. A beautiful and clear voice is sing. ing; it is still his song, and then the terrible chorus is taken up by the peoples and the poor composers | first wish is gained he feels that he is famous. | But he is dying, choked, siihed with charcoal
 He lies senseess, fainting on his bed but hope and | joy give him strength. He rises, falls rather than | darts across the room, his sword in hand One blow shivers the pan.s of his windows to atoms; the bro ken glass lets in the cool breeze and the spen did song. Both give life to ihe young man and | when Claudine entered the room the composer able to stand. In ten minutes he had su2ped in the p0rters lodge, dressed, and come out to be borne in triumph to the theatre, where that night he heard, amid renewed applause, his glorious song sung between every act, and each time gaining | newed iaurels.
 Ten days later, Rouget de L'Tsle was married to Claudine, the prima donna of Marseilles; and the young composer in gratitude to her and her coun- trynen, changed the name of his song, and called it by the name it is still known by-"Ike Marsei- iaise!"