The Newtown bee., 1879-04-22
The MarSeIIaise.

Ue MiTSelldISes
 The new French government has lost no time in proving its truly republican character by adopting, as the national air, tie far-f famed but hitherto much for bidden Marseillaise"
 This brilliant, fervent, soul-stirring war-song was composed, as most readers doubtless know, by a young artillery of ficer named Rouget de Lisle, about ninety years ago. Rouget was from Marseilles, which circumstance gave his song its name, and he composed it one night in 1793 at Strasbourg, where he was posted. Having been at supper with some brother officers, he strolled into the garden for and down there that the spirited words and thrilling melody occurred to him. The time was just ripe for such song. The bloody French Revolution had oc- cured. France was a republic, Louis XVI. had just been beheaded, and near lyall Europe, full-armed, was leagued against France and her democratic gov ernment. The Republican army was at the frontier of the Rhine, struggling
 
 the emperOrs and kings
 The Marseillaisen was, therefore both a waf-song and song ofliberty i; while it called on the French soldier in clarion notes to fight to the death for his country, it also sang hatred to tyrants. death to despotisms, and the praises of liberty, equality and fraternity.
 No song was ever written that so in spired armed hosts, or so wrought vast, -blooded multitudes to frenzy. It may be almost said that the Marseil- laise" won many victories, and was worth thousands of men to the French, in their encounter with the allies.
 But when Napoleon became consul, and then emperor, he feared this paan of freedom. His was despotism. It would not do to have his people singing about liberty and shouting death to tyrants, of whom he, indeed, was the greatest and most absolute. So he forbade it's, being not only played by bands, but sung in the streets and houses, under the heaviest penalties; and the Marseillaise" was not heard in France, except in remote and secret places, as long as he ruled.
 The sovereigns that succeeded him were quite as unwilling that the people should be stirred up by this frantic song of liberty, and both Charles X. and Louis Philippe continued to suppress it, and to punish those who dared to utter it.
 Of course Napolean III. would not al- low it to be heard, for his empire was only less despotic than that of his uncle, and its revolutionary and deGlocratic strains would have been actually danger ous to the safety of his throne.
 Three times only during the seventy years that elapsed between the rise of the power of the first Napoleon and the downfall of the third Napolean did this grand martial air burst forth and intoxicate the French people with its fiery inspiration. Once, for a revolution of 1890 overturned the last of the Bourbons, Charles K; and once again when, in l8iS, his successor, Louis Philippe, was driven from Paris and his throne.
 The third time was memorable oc- casion. It was in 1870. just after war had been declared against Prussia. A great military fete was taking place at the palace of St. Cloud. Thousands of nobles, officers, soldiers and courtiers were gathered in its beautiful park and stately halls.
 Napoleon III, who had always before strongly forbidden the song, but who knew it's thrilling effect in stirring the ardor of the people and the valor of the troops, of a sudden gave signal to the bands, and with one accord they struck up the long -unheard Marseillaise. No pen can describe the scene that followed. It struck a deep chord in every French heart, and the regiments marched away for the seat of war as its defiant strains filled the air.-Youtt's Co1npaaaioaa.