Washington telegraph., 1855-12-05
History OF the MarseEIres HYMN:

The Marsel!es presents notes of the soEg
of glory and the Shrek of death glorious
as the one, funeral like as the other; it assures
the country while it makes the citizen turn
pale. This is its history: There was then,
lat the time of the French Revolution.
1902 young officer of artillery, in the
garrison of Strasburg, named Rouget dc
Lisle. He was born at Louis lie Sannier;
in the Jura, that country of revelry and en-
ergy, as m )untain countries always are
He charmed with his music and verses the
SLOW dull garrison. Much in request from
his two-fold talent as musician and poet, he
visited the house of Deitrick, an Austrian
patriot on intimate terms. In the winter
of 1892, there was a scarcity in Strasburg.
The house Of Deitrick was poor, and the ia.
bic was humble, but there was welcome
for Rouget de Lisle, Once when there
was only some coarse bread and slices of
ham on the table, Deitrick looked with calm
sadness and said TO him: PLENTY is not
seen at our feasts. but what matter if enthu-
siasm is not wanting at our civic fetes, and
courage in our soldier hearts. | have still
of wine in my cellar Bring it," said he
to his daughter land we viii drink to lib
erty and our country. Strasburg is soon to
have patriotic ceremony, and De Lisle
must be inspired to produce one of those
hymns which convey to the souls of the
people the enthusiasm which suggested it,
They drank-De Lisle was a dreamer
his heart was moved his head was heated.
He went staggering to his chamber and en-
deavoring by degrees to find Inspiration in
the palpitations of his citizens heart, and
on the small harpschord. now composing
the air before the words, now composing the
words before the air. combining them so in
timately in his mind that he could never tell
which was first produced, the air or words.
50 impossible did be find it to separate the
music from the poetry, and the feeling from
the impression. He sang everything
wrote nothing. Overcome by the divine in
spiration, his head fell sleeping on his in
strument, and he did not awake till day.
light The song of the overnight returned
to his memory, with difficulty like the recol-
lection of dream He wrote Il down and
gave it to Deitrick, who called together
some musicians who were capable of exc
cutting De Li>e's composition. De Lisle
sang At the first verse all countenanccs
turned pale-at the last. enthusiasm burst
forth. The hymn Of the country was found
Alas it was destined to be the hymn of
terror. The unfortunate Dietrick went a
few months afterwards 10 the scaffod. to the
sounds of the notes first produced at his fire.
side and from the heart Of his friend
The new song, some weeks after, was
sung at Strasburg. 1t few from city to city.
Marseilles adopted it to be sung at the open
spread it all over France. Hence the name
of Marseilles.
De Lisle heard it and shuddered at its
sound on his ears. while escaping by the
wild passes of the Alps as prescribed
Royalist, What 60 they call that hymn?"
he inquired ofhis guide. The Marseilles.' .
answered the peasant. 1t was thus he learn
ed the name of his own work The arm
was turned against the hand that forged it.
LGmaztinc.