Wichita eagle., 1888-05-27
"THE MARSEILLAISE.'
SONG AND Air THE INSPIRATION
OF ROuGET De l'iSlE.


Than Cannons and Bayonets-orisin OF
the Famous song-Its Eject on the
Army.
On April %, 17sa, the national assembly OF
France voted for war with the emperor OF
Austria Il was q solemn moment. for il
was the opening OF 8 struggle which was to
last for thirty years; a struggle IN which
France, single handed, would have 20 con-
tend against the armies OF Europe. II reason
had been alone consulted, there SEEMED no
hope of success.
Strasburg, In the month of April, 1e92.
was in a condition typical of aiost Of tho
great towns throughout Francs. Its streets,
its squares, were filed with people of isges.
but chiefly with young use1- The bells were
tolliug. and mothers asId sisters were hurry
ing 20 the churches, for the dread boom Of
cannon was beard ct intervals. But the new
hope, the new faith, rendered she Young fun
Of joy, and feies and banquetS, singing, en-
fbracing and handshaking were the order Of
the day.
The mayor of StraSburS entered with all
his heart into the popular feeling, and on shs
day after the vote for war be entertained
some officers az his house. Among them
came young man from Francois Comte,
named Rouget de rIsleA Born at Lans-le-
Saulnier, in the Jura, the son OF a b2rriSter
connected with the provincial parliament,
well educated. and already known SIS a poes
and musician, this young man Of Is repre-
sented the ardent and generous impulses that
distinguished the yoa.h around him Mayor
Dietrlch's nieees and some other AlSatian
ladies who were present added 10 the enthu-
siasrn Of the gathering. The wish was Ut
tered that some poet might be inspired 10
express in n national song the intense feeling
which AZ the moment made France a people.
The host turned 10 Rouget de fisle and urged
him 10 try TO do this, and the company pres
ent joined in tho appeal.
There is more than one account Of the cir
cumstances which attended this request, but
u note is preserved in the BIhliotheQue Ma
tionale at Paris, written by M, Delaharre, a
friend OF Roeget de fishes, which is said To
give the facts Is narrated on the poets own
authority:
IN Dietrich appealed 20 him b compose
both words and music of the song required
All concurred in the request, and about an
hour before midnight be returned home, and
finding his violin on his bed he took il I'd,
and full OF the idea OF that which he was
requested 10 do, he began playing upon the
upper strings for a fugue for the air. Be-
beving himself TO have found IL, he iusnledi,-
ately composed the words. Trusting entirely
TO memory, and not committing anything 10
paper, he went 10 bed. The next morning,
rising at 9. be fortunately recollected both
music and words. He took them himsalf Co
NJ. Dietrich, to whom he submitted il, and
who was not httie astonishod 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 bis wife, who
was still IN bed, and directed that each OF
the guests of the night before should be hid
den 10 breakfast as he had something of i'm
portance TO communicate 20 them. All came,
believing THAI be had already received news
Of blows struck In the war from Gems. Lack
uer and Lafayette. He would not satisfy
their curiosity on the point until they had
breakfasted Then he sang the hymn heart
lily, and 10 produced immediate admiratsonn
According to Michelet's version, some one
had said that "AlloIs" should be the key note
of the hymn; and now. US the posi- entered
the room. he came singing the strophei
Aions enfants de Ia patrio,
The friends listened with ever increasing
emotion; it seemed, both words and music, ~
a flash Of light from heaven; il expressed. In
way characteristic OF true inspiration,
the feeling of every heart. France had no. .
only realized her unity, but found the gift Of
speech.
The song, once sung, passed like wfldfrs
from mouth 20 mouth, and in two months
was all aver France. The poet called 10
"Hymn Of the Army Of the Rhine,u and he
sent il the same day to Gen. Luckner, who
was at the head Of this portion Of the French
troops Il was immediately printed ca .
half sheet in oblong quarto. and those who
could not obtain a copy made one for them
selves. The orchestras at the theatres gave
it, and the band Of tho national guard played
it on the following Sunday.
Who composed the musicf Undoubtesiiy.
as We have said, music and ver~e were Of ono
and the same inspiration Germany has
claimed the music taken from mass by
HOFFMAN, but research has been unable 20
find the mas in question, or that such IA com
poser ever lived The point Is settled by The
fact that in the original inpTss.ion. dssiiosted
TO Luckner, and published 4 Strnsbgrg in
17g2. the music Is there, and that conteIn-
poraries who knew k0uget de ffxle zsy that /.
was he himself who composed IL. II would
be difficult 70 find national ode oiled With a
patriotic fervor moro intense, bat the munio
Il undoubtedly. superior 10 the words. and
venture % say the most inspiring The msdsra
world possesses.
The Austrian emperor had made ttrso de-
mapds. Submission 20 the fin. two would
have reduced France % a fsf Of the eInpir.
The third WINS It'll more odioss, for II ulsant
@ return 70 tho old order 81 things
The answer came IN this Hymn OF the
Army Of the Rhine"
In June, iTy2, It wus sung % tae volunteers
departing from MarseiIIss, and 20 each vzz
given q copy Tires days after the nari-
festo vas iSsoed, tie famous 's5iH huntnst,
who knew bow 10 dis, snssret PARA singing
wha. had now become TIN hyfsn u the rsvo-
luton Hepccforth IL vas called tho "Hyma =
OF thu karzeiilsise." and casa ksfas8y tks
" Earsefilatse.- II did a. oncs terrible end
effective work: Tor % IT. strains tie Triirriss
were taken and TIE PreDoh raonaxchy over
thrown Vslny and Js,n~pFs. followed. zysd
the invasson collapsed wha; The ode did IN
hattie may be SEEN by demand Of one Il ths
generals. "5sDi TIE 900 rssa
ADD COPY az TIE 'MArselllaise. '~--Ie1sgrs
Hour.
Over~orksd LeesmotIse Knxfneers.