The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-08-17
ssLa Marselllalse."

.
The story of this grand composition,
the national hymn of France, possesses
thrilling interest To be brief, it was at
Strasbourg, In the last week of April,
1892, that, news of the Austrian declara-
ton of war having been received, the
Mayor, M. Frederick de Dietrich, in-
vited one of the numerous guests at his
table, Rouget de l'Isle, an officer of en-
gineers, aged thirty-two, to compose q
war song for the soldiers about to set
out to meet the enemy. The words and
music were written during the night,
and the song was given to an enthusi-
astic audience next day by M. Dietrich's
niece. The piece was given to band.
masters of the several regiments in gar
rison, and performed in public Sunday,
April 20, at the parade on the Place
| d'Armees. The words and music we're
printed Immediately on a half-sheet
quarto by Th. de Dannebach, printer at
Strasbourg-a publication which availed
Rouget de lIsle when subsequently his
claim of authorship was contested. The
song was popular; by the Goth of June
it had appeared in the Journal des De-
pGTtnaents Nertdionaatr. 1t spread to
Montpelier, and then to Marsoilles,
where q copy of the "Chant de guerre
de l'armee du Rhin''-to give it its
original title-was given to each of the
famous band of Marseilles, s'who knew
how to die" They brought the song to
Paris July 80, 1892, where it took the
name it has ever since retained. In his
book, published in 1896, Rouget de
lIsle calls it "Le chant des combats,
vulgarement 'l'hymne des Marseilles, y
and dedicates it "to the names of Syl-
vain Bailey, first Mayor of Paris" The
original version was addressed to Mar
shall Luckner, and q copy was sent to
Gretry at Paris, as the musician records
in his ''Memoirs." It was particular
ly unlucky song, for, apart from the
authors own troubles, his mother died
of grief, attributing the horrors of the
Reign of Terror to her sons verse, and
Mayor DIETRICH and Marshal Luckner
were guillotined.
The "Marseillaise" was first identi-
fed with the events Of the 10th of Au-
gust; ut the feast in imitation of those
ordered by Lycurgus, October IA, 1892,
the seventh stanzl was sung by chO-
rus of children. This additional verse
was long attributed to Marie-Joseph
Chenier, but in 184S u poet, Louis du
Bois, put in his claim to the author
ship--a claim that long received, but
was utterly unfounded. Tho seventh
verse was written by young priest,
Antoine Pe.sonneaux, professor Of
rhetoric at the College of Viennc Iserc).
Vienne WAS celebrating the feast of the
federation, July Il, 1902; the Mar3ei-
lais was there on their memorable
march to Paris, And the Professor
wrote the verse for his pupils, who sang
1t with immense effect as farewell to
the Marseillais next morning. Lucky
for PcssonneauX that he wrote it, for
some months after he was hauled before
the revolutionary tribunal ut Lyons,
where trials lasted but minute or so
and sentence was pronounced in silence.
PessonneauX' patriotism was admitted,
but he was II priest. s'Who are youP'
asked the Judge. "The Able Pesson-
neauX, author of the, last verse of :La
Marseillaise.' The Judge laid his
open hand upon the black cloth, guards,
jailers and citizens made way respect
fully, and the abbe passed out, free to 90
where he would. He died in little
parish in Duerphiny, March 8, 1856
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