The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-18
Cease awhile, clarion.
Clarion loud and shrill

Cease awhile clarion
Clarion loud and shrill.
Lease lef the warrior voice be heard =
but they soon passed. Soon, however. no
| neais familiar notes and his heart beats as
iouu as those clarion notes. II is trou-
bddours song, taking up the line he finishes
a. and hears again the joyful response from
ms ms comrades. We can not dwell longer on
tniS theme so full or suggestions. The song
OF the troubadonrs at longth died out or re-
n iiha,n concealed from the world in It's ia
, sSrl1e 9"nntS when some choice spirits at
tempted to kndie once more the divine
SPARK, and hence the origin of the jeux
iiorauN, or flower games.
lhe Joux tlorauX are first recorded In the
Fourteenth century and consisted nj first of
seven troubadours and chancellor. the ID
]eot neing to provide poetica contests for the
purpose OF elevating the low condition of trol-
paaour poetry. To this end seven OF the more
progressive troubadours Of Toulouse under the
name OF Sept Troubadours de Tolos.l conferred
together and determined to give the degree
OF doctor and bachelor and tn their gardens
ana palaces to teach the laws of love. or flow
ers OF the 'Gayia sciencia."
In 1913 they sent letter In verse 10 oil
the poets of the language doc inviting them
To meet ut Toulouse on the list OF May 1924,
TO poetic festival whore the composer of
the best poem should receive violet made of
me gold, rarely chased and beautiful The
celebrated troubadour Armand Vidul de Cas-
telnandary, Spaniard by birth. won the
The capetoules. or magistrates. Of the city
oHereu IN future TO furnish this GOLDEN prize
Vloiet. In order TO increase the interest nj
ready awakened In this new function and also
to make 1t yet more brilliant yearly festival.
Two other prizes were added to the violet tho
eEiahtlne lwild rose) and pansy, both OF
which We're to be of silver. The second year
OF the celebration the association became tho
tonsistorl de Ia Gayia Scensa. with chan
eei i ana seven mantenedoes. and in 1865 the
Byzantine was offered for the best slryentes.
Kind of poem which permitted JSeat scope
of thought and expression and served as a
vehicle of attack upon the clergy and anitliuaI
A tmurlRClQl I'll fnr tl.
best love song, and so on, until prize was
given for the best production upon all sub
and chiyalry.
In some OF the contests two or more trou-
badours took opposing sides of a chosen sub
jeet and frequently those were entirely ak
temporary when first one aud then another
composed a stanzn and so on. Alternating unta
each ore had filled In the space aud all had
submitted to several Judges. which was called |
the court of love- when the fortunate trOu-
bacour was given the merted prize. To give !
encouragement TO the younger members, a |
pink rose of silver was given as the first |
prize, together with the title Of bachelor and |
to the winner OF all three prizes the title of |
doctor and mister was given.
At this period there was an lntermisson OF |
near quarter OF n century. during which |
time little or nothing was done to keep alive |
this worthy institution aud the college OF the |
gay science almost became extinct. But In |
1850 Clemence lsaure. a wealthy and talented |
OF Toulouse. lent her strong personality |
and enthusiasm to its renaissance and her ef- |
forts and endowments mark new era In the |
life Of the institution. The lover Of Clemence |
Isaure had been killed IN the war against
in Germany and to this noble lady
was given the privilege OF naming the aBso-
citation and by her 4 was given the name Of
Jeux Floraux and from this time 1t became
an academy.
Four other prizes were then added to those
already given, viz; An amaranth of gold OF
about 10 cents, One for the best ode. and a
violet Of silver, 20 liyres. for an essay In
prose which was not more than fifteen min
ltes long and silver phnsy valued at 200
yres for an eologue a pastoral composition.
n which shepherds are Introduced conyersing
.ogether. Other subjects were treated upon.
reminded the lovers Of the approach OF The
lawn; and the balada and danza, which were
sung during the dance,
They were particularly clever in their man.
Ter Of ridiculing the clergy and the practices
If the church. by which they called forth
he III VIII OF Innocent ~. who issued bull
ieretics, forbidding its use by students From
hese prosecutions the troubadoure took refuge
n the court Of Aragon and Catalonia, whore
or a time they kept the language alive but
n the course OF half century II hid sue
umbcd 10 prevailing dialects, But Provenral
S the first Of the Roman languages 10 receive
treatment and the troubadours
we're ambitious 10 give exDression 10 their
'oetic thoughts In this language.
,ewhchlng charms Of chlyalry and romance.
lf se happy, llght-hearted. hut persistent. |
were patiently aud fearlessly lay
ng the fourdaticnh for the future good II
,oetry and prose IN France. There can be
at little doubt that most Of the old heroic |
'allads, az well as many meirical romanees
we're composed by the tnoubs1curs. these oral
tinerant poets whose songs extended through
nut the world That grand old opera. III
'royatore" which apDeals 70 our highest emo |
ions OF pleasure. has for It's hero a trou-
adour
In 1894 the Jeux Fioraux was permanently
feeted into an academy. but the liberal be-
b 9afq by Ciemence lsaure were after
n sad feature 10 the infringement OF the
Institution. For. II lack OF money had pre-
ntsrprise excess OF II now In t.ie opposite
lTectlon caused weakening Of the society
10 revenues derived from the last will and |
estament OF It's noble paironess were shame
rssly squandered In fensts and rich gifts 20 |
Members: so that Saionbcr Of Toulouse beggbd
King Louis XIV 10 change the socety's meth
ds, which was done under the name which