The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-09-02
+" The Marseillaise."

laise" is worthy one, for it has led
French troops to victory under republics
and under an empire, while during the
reign of Louis Philippe it was heard often
thus showing that it belongs to oil classes.
Let me tell of its origin, though some
of you may already have heard the story.
France was in danger, her people we're
called to arms and they responded nobly,
In the house of the mayor of Strasburg
friendly dinner was going on, at which
men swore to die for liberty against the
allied kings of Europe.
Some one spoke of those heroic songs
that stimulate the ardor of the soldier,
and lamented because France had not one
such. Rouget de Lisle, an officer of en-.
gineers, was at the table; it was known
he dabbled at poetry and music, and the
mayor asked him to compose new march
for his fellows. He set about the work
Immediately.
The night was superb. He took down
his violin, played and sang. Air and
words came both at the same time; the
subject transported him. 1t was as if the
soul of La Patrie was passing into his
own, as if through his mouth liberty was
uttering her enthusiasm and her generous
anger. He wrote, be sang, he lmprovised,
but IT was the soul of France that dictated.
In the morning six verses we're completed,
and, vibrating with patriotic excitement,
he read the "War Song of the Army OF
the Rhne"-its first title-tO his friends,
who became electrified by the manly &C.
cents.
The new hymn was sent TO Luckner,
commander of the army of the Rhine, who
distributed manuscripts of it throughout
Alsace, and it was executed on the public
square of Strasburg. Thence it travelled
over France aud south to Marsellles,
which town told it to her volunteers and
they sang it when they entered Paris on
Aug. 10, 1909, when they took Tuileries.
That is how it got the name that will
cling to it forever. 1t was played in the
army, and generals said it was worth TO-
900 men. Copies of 1.-THE Marseillaise"
were ordered when acquisitions were
made for weapons.
The aristocratic captain was desolate at
having contributed the part which "The
Marseillaise" had taken in overthrowing
the monarchy, for he never intended his
hymn should be republican anthem.
Later on when prescribed as royalist,
he was fleeing over the Alps and heard
its strains.
"What is that hymn called2" he asked
his guide.
The peasant replied: "The Marseil-
laise," and it was thus he first heard the
name of his own great composition.
''The Marseillaise" became the national
hymn of the first republic, and it remained
so under the first empire. Napole on had
such admiration for the hymn that he
prohibited its being performed except on
grand occasions, just as the '''Te Daum"
is only sung when there has been a bril-
liant victory.
At St. Helena he said: "The imperial
guard always marches to the tune of
1.-THE Marseillaise." No wonder they
won battles. Forbidden under the Re-
storatiou, the song came into favor again
with Louis Philippe. Because of hearing
1t sung at Republican manifestations, the
government of the second empire prohib-
tied its execution, but in 1870, the day
war was declared, an order. was issued
authorizing its use, and the troops went
out singing 1.-THE Marseillaise."
More than this, managers of places of
amusement were invited to perform it
and when Nine. Mary Sasse sang it at the
Theatre Franchise women wept and men
were wild with excitement. Her wonder
full voice sang the words in way that
raised the morale of the population and
provoked them to patriotic enthusiasm
Chicago Herald.