Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-08-15

Ely LAMARTINE.

The Marseilles presents notes of the song OF
glory and the shrek of death, glorious as the one
funereal as like the other, assures the country
while it makes the citizen turn pale. This Is Its
history. There was then (at the time OF the
French revolution, 17SY young officer of the
artillery, in the garrison of Strasbure, named
Rouget dc Isle. He was born at Lous lie San
nier in the Jura, that country of rcvelry and en-
ercv. as mountainous countries always are. He
charmed with his music and verses the slow dull
garrison life. Much in request from his two
fold talent as musician and poet, he visited the
house of Dietrich, an Alsatian Patriot, ON init
mate terms. In the winter of 1892 there was a
scarcity in Strasburg. The house of Dietrich
was poor and the table humble, but there was
always welcome for Rougct de Isle. Once
when there only some course bread and sill
ces of ham on the table, Dietrich looking with
calm sadness said to him-''Plenty is not seen at
our fcasts but what matters if enthusiasm is not
wanting at our civic fetes, and courage in our
soldiers hearts. | have still bottle Of wine in
nv celer. '.Brng it, said he to his daughter,
s'and we will drink to liberty and our country.
Srasburg is shortly to have a patriotic ceremony,
and De Lislc must be inspired to produce one of
those hymns which conveys to the soul of the peo-
pie the enthusiasm which suggested it, They drank
De Isle was q dreamer-his heart was moved,
his head heated. He went staggering to his
chamber, endeavorinS by degrees to find inspira-
ration il the papitatons of his citizen heart; and
ON his small covecherd now composing the air
before the words, now the words before the air,
combining them so intimately in his mind that he
never could tell which was first produced, the air
or the words 50 impossible did he find it to sep
nrate the music from the poetry, and the feeling
from the impression. He sang everything
nothing. Overcome by the divine inspiration, his
head fell sleeping on his instrument, and he did
not awake till daylight. The song of the over
night returned to his memory, with difficulty, like
the recollections of dream. He wrote it down
and gave it to Dietrich, who called together some
musicians who were capable Of executing De
!.isc's composition. Dc Isle sang. At the first
all countenances turned pale, ut the second
tears flowed, at the last enthusiasm burst forth
The hymn Of the country was found. Alas, it was
destined to be the hymn Of terror. The unfor-
tunatc Dietrich went few months after to the
scafold to the sound of the notes first produced
al MS OWN hreslue, ana from the heart OF his
friend. The new song, some days after was cx-
ecuted at Strasburg. 1t few from city to. city.
Marseilles adopted it to be sung at the opening
and close Of the settings of its clubs. The Mar.
seais spread it all over France. Hence the
name of Marscillase. DE Lise himself heard it
and shuddered Mt its sound on his ears, while esca-
ping by some of the wild passes of the Alps as a
prescribed Royalist. ''What do they call that
hymn" he inquired of his guide. '.Thc Marscil-
mt III tb,,sl h.
learned the name of his own work. The arm
was turned arainst the hand that forrcd Il .