San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-22
THE MARSEILLAISE,'
SONG AND AIR THE INSPIRATION
OF ROUGET DE LISLE.

Birth of a Giant Force More Mighty
Than Cannons and Bayonets-Origin OF
the Famous Song-Its Effect on the
Army.
On April 20, 1872, the national assembly Of
France voted for war with the emperor of
Austria 1t was a solemn moment, for it
was the opening of a struggle which was to
last for thirty years; struggle in which
France, single handed, would have to con-
tend against the armies of Europe If reason
had been alone consulted, there seemed no
hope of success.
Strasburg, in the month of April, 1872,
was in a condition typical of most of the
great towns throughout France Its streets,
its squares, were filled with people of all ages,
but chiefly with young men. The bells were
tolling, and mothers and sisters were hurry
ing to the churches, for the dread boom of
cannon was heard at intervals. But the new
hope, the new faith, rendered the young full
of joy, and fetes and banquets, singing, en-
bracing and handshaking were the order Of
the day.
The mayor of Strasburg entered with all
his heart into the popular feeling, and on the
day after the vote for war he entertained
some officers at his house Among them
came a young man from Franche Comte,
named Rouget de rIsle Born at Lans-le-
Saulnier, in the Jura, the son of a barrister
connected with the provincial parliament,
well educated, and already known as a poet
and musician, this young man of % repre-
sented the ardent and generous impulses that
distinguished the youth around him. Mayor
Dietrich's nieces and some other Alsatian
ladies who were present added to the enthu-
siasm Of the gathering. The wish was ut
tered that some poet might be inspired to
express in national song the intense feeling
which at the moment made France a people.
The host turned to Rouget de rIsle and urged
him to try to do this, and the company pres
ent joined in the appeal.
There is more than one account of the cir
cumstances which attended this request, but
a note is preserved in the Bibliotheque Ma
tionale at Paris, written by NJ. Delabarre, a
friend of Rouget de rIsle's, which is said to
give the facts as narrated on the poets own
authority:
IN. Dietrich appealed to him to compose
both words and music of the song required.
All concurred in the request, and about an
hour before midnight he returned home, and
finding his violin on his bed he took it up,
and, full of the idea of that which he was
requested to do, he began playing upon the
upper strings for fugue for the air. Be-
ieving himself to have found it, he immedi-
ateiy composed the words Trusting entirely
TO memory, and not committing anything to
paper, he went to bed. The next morning,
rising at 6, he fortunately recollected both
music and words. He took them himself to
NJ. Dietrich, to whom he submitted it, and
who was not little astonished at its very
prompt inspiration. He was in his garden,
and after a cursory perusal of the song he
said: Let us go into the drawing room, that
may try your air on the piano He was
struck with its beauty, aroused his wife, who
was still in bed, and directed that each of
the guests of the night before should be bid
den to breakfast, as he had something of i'm
portanCe to communicate to them. All came,
believing that he had already received news