Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-03
MUSIC AND ART.
ORIGIN OF TEE NATIONAL kIa OF
FRANCE
Its Power aud Inspiration Among the
People-trt in America
Etc, Etc.

EXC GbGs
No other hymn or battie-sOsg says the
Musical Herald has ever done Tor a coun-
try what 1.-THE Marseillaize" has done for
France. Since it's glorious notes first rang
out upon the air, il has been Iuseparably
connected with the history of every political
movement, end it has reused TO enthusiasm
the sometimes sleeping energies of the
people. France Is now a republic, and
"The Aarssillaise" has been one OF the
most powerful instruments in making her
so. Upon this subject NJ. de Lamartine
gives the following: Thers was, IN 1892, a
young artillery officer in the garrison at
Strasoourg. His name was Rouget De
PIsle. He was born 10 Lousle- Sanliner, in
Jura, country Of thought and energy, as
are always the mountain towns This young
man loved war like a soldier, revolution like
philosopher. He charmed, by his music
and verses, the lazy Impotence Of the garri-
son. Ccurted for his double talent, for
his music and poetry, he frequented freely
the housa OF DIETRICH, patriot of Alsace.
and Mayor of Strssbourg. The wife and
young daughters of DIETRICH shared the en-
thusiasm for patriotism ana revolution,
which psipitated especially on the from
tiers. Tney admired the young officer !;
they inspired his heart, his poetry, his
music. They performed the first of his
musical inspirations, confident that his
genius wonld eventually make itself
known. 1t was the winter of 1892
Want reigned in Strasbourg The home
of DIETRICH was poor, the board frugsl,
but hospitable; for Reuget De iIsle,
the Young man, was seated there
morning aud evening, Ike son and
brother OF the family, One day, when
there had only been some bread aud some
slices OF smoked ham upon the table,
DIETRICH looked at De FI-le with sad
calm, and said Abundance fails as our
feasts, but what matter il enthusiasm
does not fail at cur civil feasts, and cour-'
age in cur soldiers hearts have still
one last bottle of wine in my cellar let Is
be brought " he said to one of his daugh-
tiers, " and we will drink to liberty and to
our country. Strssbourg ought have soon
a patr o lie celebration, and De PIsle should
draw M, with these last drops, one Of
those hymns which can carry to the souls
of the people the enthusiasm from whence
they spraDg" The young girls applauded,
brought the wine, filed the glasses Of their
old father and the young officer till the liq-
nor was exhausted. 1t was midnight, and
the cold without was intense. De fIsle
was thoughtful his heart was touched.
The cold seized him, and he entered his
solitary chamber tottering. He sought
slowly for inspiration, first in the palpita-
tien of his citizens soul, then upon the
KEYS of bis artists instrument, composing
first the air without the words, then the
words without the air, and associating
them IN such a way in his thoughts that he
was not able 80 tell himself whether notes
or verso were born first, and so that it was
impossible to separate the poetry from the
music, and the sentiment from the express
sion. He sang only, and wrote not at all.
Overcome with this divine inspiration, he
fell asleep with his head upon the instru.
ment. and did not wake till the morning
sun was bright. The songs of the night
before required to his memory vaguely, like
the impressions OF dream. He wrote them,
noted them, and hastened to the house OF
Dietrich. He found the latter in his garden,
digging with a spade, with his own
hands. the le.tuees for winter. The wife
and daughters Of the old patriot had not
yet arisen. Dietrich awakened them, and
called some friends who were as passion
ately fond Of music as himself, and capa-
bic Of executing the composition OF
De lIsle. The eldest daughter Of Diet.
rich played the accompaniment. R2uget
sang. At the FIRST verse the faces pated
at the second, tears flowed at the last
verses, the delirium of enthusiasm broke
forth. Dietrieh's wife, his daughters, the
father, the young officer, threw themselves
weeping into each others arms, The ma
tioual hymn was found. Alas it could
also be the hymn of terror The unfortun-
ate District was led, few months later,
to the scafold, to the sound of these very
notes born at his own fireside, in the heart
of his friend, and the voices OF his daugh-
ters. The new gong, performed some days
later at Skrasbonrg, flaw from town to
town among all the popular orehes-
tras. Marseillos adopted it in the COM
mencement of its career, and finally at the
meetings Of the clubs. The people of
Marseilles spread it throughout France,
while singing it on their route. From that
it came so have the name of The Mar
seillsise. The old mother of De PIsle,
royalist, and very pious, frightened at
these revsrbeFations Of her sons voice,
wrote him What is this revolutionary
hymn which is surg by horde of hrigands
who traverse France, and with which l
hear your name mingled ?" De FIsle him.
self, prescribed as a royalist, listened to
it, trembling, resounding as a menace of
death in his ears, while flying to hide him.
self in the lofty Alps. "What is this
hymn called p he asked his guide. "Tae
Marseillsise," replied the peasant. Il is
thus that he learned the name of his own
work He was followed by the enthusiasm
that he had left behind him. He hardly
escaped in death. The weapon turned
against the hand that had forged it. The
revolution, in a fit of insanity, knew no
longer her own voice,
The announcement of the fortnightly
Art Interchange, Tor 1883, claims that il
has been and viii be interested in no school
or clique, viii have no private projects to
further, and viii be, as heretofore, liberal
in eli It's views. Ii will continue to pre-
sent what is newest and best IN art with
out being blind TO the faults of fece'gn
work OF lavish 10 praise Of American Its
editors believe that the United States are
destined 60 become in the near future the
center Of the world of art, as France is to-
day. Tia purpose is expressed Ia the fol-
lowing creed: " To popularizs American
art TO teach the minor arts to dignity
decorative art to promote good taste in all
things to be a ffesh, pure, entertaining,
instructive, seryicesble art journal, fitted
for every household" While the right to
these claims and tie likelihood of the full
fillmens of sueh aspirations are conceded TO
this little fortnightiy, there are fields in art
which one might hope it would attempt if
the sinews vera provided. A great deal of
taste and Judgment sre shown in the ap
pearanos Of its pages, and the wood.cuts
are abundant and often excellent As a
chronicle of srs news and art gossip it has
merit; its book reviews are fair and in
good quantity, but the original intention
of the fortnightly has not been greatly
varied from. and it still remains a periodi-
cal for beginners in art only. II was to be
hoped inst is 1883 the Art Interchange
would, while retaining its present excellent
efforts in the lower spheres of art work,