The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-09-14
The IarseIlaise.
SEPTEMBER IA, 1870

This grand anthem to liberty which thrills the
heart like trump4t call to battle, at first known
- the Chant of The Army of the Rhine" Whrn
II was executed for the first time on the Grand
eopara t ouFn the enthusiasm was so intense
that hundreds Of volunteers offered themselves to
the service It. nbtes stir the sluggish blood
into action and how intense must be the effect upon
the enthusiastic temperament Of the people, who
in their hearts have ever cherished it, in spite of In
perisl DEGREES, a. the national hymn Carnot ex-
claimed to its author and composer Thy Narsei!aise
haa given a hundred thousand defenders to the Re.
public"
LamartHe gives the following history ot the origin
of the song
There young officer OF genius in the gar
raon at Strasbourg; his name Rouget de l'Ise.
He was born in Ions eSauterne, in that Jura country
OF imagination and energy, as are all mountainous
countries. This young man loved war as soldier,
and the revolution as thinker.
Much sought for on account of bis double talent
as musician and poet he frequented familiaEly the
house of Baron Dietrie, noble Alsatian, member
of the constitutional party, friend of Lafayette aid
mayor of Strasbourg. The wife of the baron and her
young friends shared the enthusiasm of the revoH-
tionary patriotism, which papitated to the frontiers
the irritation of body is most sensible at the
tremities. They loved the young officer; they i'll
spired bis art his poetry, his music
&C 1t was 1.-The winter OF 1892. Scarcity prevailed
in Strasboufg The table of Detric free to Rou-
get de rsle The young officer seated himself at it
morning and night, or brother of the family.
One day, there the table only some army
bread and some slices of ham. Diericl regarded de
PIsle with a sad serenity and said:
ca Abundance fails at our feasts, but what matters
it so long as enthusiasm prevails at civic fetes and
courage is not lacking in the hearts of cur soldiers?
7 hnttI
us have it, and let US drink to liberty and the country
Strasbourg should have some patriotic Offering and
De lIsle must find in these last drops hymn which
viii produce in the soul Of the people the intoxcaton
from which it sprung
So The young women applsuded, brought the wine
and filled the glasses of Detrcl and the Young officer
until the liquor exhausted
:" 1t was late the night was cold; aud de rIsIe was
iii dream. His heart moved, his head was ahame
The cold seized him; he entered slowly into his soil
Eary chamber, seeking for inspiration Instantly from
the soul of the citizen there burst the words and the
music of an air SO closely allied in their origin that be
could not himself tell whether notes or words were
first born separate the poetry from the music or the
sentiment from the expression. He sang all he wrote
nothing.
Overwhelmed with the sublime inspiration, be
slept with his head bowed his instrument and did
not awake till daylight.
THE song of the nig ht came slowyinto bis memory
like the impressions of dream He wrote down
words and notes, and to the home of Dietrich He
found him in the garden grating some winter plants
The wife OF the patriotic mayor had not vet risen
He awoke her, and called in some friends who, pas
sionate admirers Of music capable of executing
the composition Of de lIse At the first stroke their
faces paled at the second their tears ran aud at the
last, they broke into derum of enthusiasm Dietrich
his wife, the young officer threw themselves, weeping
passonately into each others arms; the HYMN of the
nation found Alas it was to become also the
hymn of terror The unfortunate Dietriul few
months LATER marched to the scafod to the sounds of
those notes born at his heathstone from the heart Of
his friend, and the voice of his wife.
I The new air, executed a few days later at Sras
bourg ran from city to city, and taken up BY the
popular orchestras The Marselaise reached to France
and there was named the Marseaise The old mother
of de lse, roralist and reigionis hearing some ru-
Fnors, wrote to her son: What is this revolutionary
hymn which is sung by horde of brgands, and with
which our name is mingled?
" De llsle himself prescribed federalist, heard
IL and shnddered as if it menace Of death IS
he fled through the lonely paths of Jura
" He was followed by the enthusiasm he had sown
behind him. He barely escaped death the weapon
turned against the hand that forgedt In its insanity
the revolution did not recognize its own voice."