New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-05
PAUL OEKOULEDE.
THE FRENCH POETS FIERY AGITATION
IN VERSE AND POLITICS.
COMMON SOLDIER IN THE FRANCO PRu s5IAN
WAR AND HIS PICTURES OF WAR
AND REVENGE.
AND REVENGE;

Idul iptloulcdc, the FOUNDER OF the League OK
Patriots. who has recently been arrested in
Paris for melting revolts against the civic
authorities. Is a fiery agitator whose Champion
ship Of the army has been conducted in litera-
ture as well as in politics. His ability to write
in verse comes to him naturally enough by in
heritance. since ne is the nephew Of Frances
celebrated dramatic poet, Emile Angler. 1t was
said. ten years ago, during the Bouangist
element. that Derouledes Songs Of the Sol
der" CChants du Soldat) had the largest sale
Of any book in France 1t is a little volume Of
stirring patriotic verses. which appealed power
fully to the popular sentiment when it
issued, just after the FrancO-Prussian War and
It's literary merit was recognized when ii was
crowned" by the French Academy
As a soldier himself. DGroulede qualified
to write of military affairs in the true spirit OF
the camp. At the very outbreak of the war
with Prussia he and his brother enlisted IA pr-
Yates in an infantry regiment. They fought in
the terrible battle Of Sedan. on September l.
| 1870 when Paul Derouede distinguished him
self by saving his brothers life, although ha
had received severe wounds Of his own at tho
time. He was among the prisoners taken by the
enemy, and placed by them in a hospital at
Brcslau to recover from his injuries. From
here, however, he managed to escape. and
army, and fought with bravery through the
campaigns Of the Loire and Of the East After
the capituation Of Paris he took part in The
second siege of that city against the Commune
He had reached the rank Of Lieutenant and had
| been decorated with the Cross Of the Legion Of
Honor when, account Of severe fall from
his horse, his health was so much impaired that
he was obliged to quit the service
In the year following the war he published the
! Chants du Soldat," and three years later a
| second volume, entitled "NOuvcaux Chants du
| Sodat" Two more books Of poems OF the same
nature were Marches ct SOnneries" published
by him in 1SS1 and "Refrains Mtaircs," in
| 1883 He has done other literary work. but
these are his chief productions relating solely to
military life.
So far as could be ascertained by recent in
quiries no TRANSACTIONS Of D6roul6de's soldier
songs have appeared in this country. Indeed. it
is difficult to render them at all satisfactorily
into English. for the peculiar swing and music
Of the French verse are easily lost among thu
English words But attempt to translate
typical example from the Chants du Soldat"
"A la BaIonnette"-is given below
A BAYONET CHARGE
Their battery faced US, halfway up the hill,
In open country. but with thick woods near;
! Boys. take those guns; they harass US at Will"
Said tie ch eff, ana cheering ever loud and shrl,
| The XouaVes started, like fleet footed deer.
mo firing comrades now, you understand;
It's 'bayonets and a charge like none before"
\ rain of shells cut short the gay command.
| Full speed, DO honor to our little bandi'
Death claims his own, but the rest press on the
more.
Aimed at our mems red caps above the grass.
| The Prussan cannon crash and roar in vain;
Through hell Of fire the charging lines must
pass.
But no shot is heard from the scarlet. moving
mass.
Which looks like field Of peoples through the
grain
O matchless conflict Struggle without peeri
Victors. as well as vanquishei, reel and fall
! Harki It's the buglc high ana sweet and Sleart
onward they rush like a swarm of bees, and here
Their force is frightful and their blows appal
with sabre and rhe-butt the lines advance.
FEELING. cutting. killing but dying too!
Freeing the battery horses IL they prance.
And. merry dancers Of the grim DEAN dance
Testing the while. with laugh and wild halooi
At last the ground is clear the fight is fought
The furious tumut is abruptly queied;
But when they pause to note the havoc "rougnI
O mournful rollcall. Triumph dearly bought!
Nine men are left. with ten guns to be heidi
"Rv Cod" the sergeant cried "a droll affair!
/ Wen laugh at this in camp. when we've mors
time"
Then. swiftly. with their rifles raised in air.
! driving the frightened horses back, each pair
Is yoked again: Now, for the downward
climb"
Thoy started Night had fallen. dark and stili;
| few dull rumbIings sounded yet afar.
| nut iovful end Of their victorious skill,
| I'm the valley there below the corpse strewn HUI
| Their campfire twnked, like u shining star.