The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-01-30
Ghoirs :MAsacsUnn,
From Chambers Edingburgh Journal.
"LA MARSEILLAISE;; !"
GENIUS, DESPAIR AND. TRiUMpII.
ny PERCY b. ST. JOHN.

It was during the early days OF the
great Revolution of 1889, in the year
1892, when young officer in delicate
health took up his quarters i'll the city
of Marseillcs ior the six months of his
leave of. absence. 1t seemed a strange
retirement for young man, for III the
town he knew no one, and in the depth
ofwinter Marscillcs was no tempting re-
s!aence. The officer lived in Il garnet
looking ont upon the street, which had
for its sole furniture harpsichord, a
bed, table, and chair. Little but
paper ever entered that apartment.
where food and fuel both were scarce;
yet the young nlan generally remained
indoors all day, assiduously wri,ing, or
rather dptting something on PAPER, an
occupation altcrnatcd with music.
@ Thus passed many months. The
young man grew thinner and paier,
and his leave of absence appeared likely
t9ashring no couvalcsccncc. But he
was handsome and interesting, DESPITE
his. sallow hue. Long hair, full beam.
ing eyes that spoke Of intelligence, and
even genius, frankncss of manner, all
prcposscsscd in his favor, and many a
smile and look of kindness camo to him
from beautiful eyes that he noticed not
,or cared to notice. In fact, he rarely
went out but at night, and then to walk
down by the booming sea, which made 4
kind Of MUSIC he seemed TO love.
Sometimes, it is true he would hank
about the theatre door when operas
were a6outto be played, and look with
longing eye within but he never entered
either his purse or his inclination failed
him. But he always examined with
care the name Of the piece and its au.
thor, and then walked away to the sea
shore, to muse and mediate.
Shortly after his arrival in Marscil-
les, he visited, one after another, all the
Inusic-sellcrs and publishers in the town
with a bundle of manuscripts i'll his
hand; but his reception was arpavcnuy
not very favor able, for he left them all
with a frownins air. and still with his
bundle Of manuscripts. Some had de-
eained him long time, as II estimating
the value OF the goods lie offered for sale;
but these were no more tempted
than the others to try the sale uses
character Of tic commodity. The
hoblc he lodged in had attached to it a
large garden. BY permission of the
landlord, the young man often selected
it for his evening walks, and, despite
tho cold, would sometimes sit and muse
in a rude and faded bower under wall
at ono Of the gables Here he would
occasionally even sing, in q low tone,
some of his own compositions. 1t hap
pcned once or twice that when he did
so n female head urotruded from win.
dow above him, seeming to listen. The
young man at length noticed this.
''Pardon, lady," said he, one even.
ing: perhaps | disturb you?'
s'Not at all" she replied; 81 am fond
of music, vc"y fond, and the airs you
hum are new to nc. Pray, if not y
rude question, whose are thew
s'Citoycnne,' he answered, diflidcnt-
1y,"thcy arc my own
s'InAccd!' cried tic lady. with ami
mation; "and you have never published
th6m?'
II shall never try -agdin, he mnr-
murea, uttering The last words i'll a low
and ,dcspairing tone, which, however,
reached the ears of the young woman.
A q Good night, citoycnn,' said she,
& |bl shc closed the window.
,Eheaeonposcr sighed, rose and went
at Is lake his usual walk by the sea-
cl.; there, before, the grandeur and
8 ;simity Of the ocean, and amid the
zzss S,nrlnnl nf.iis hclloMino Mnvcs. to for.