Origin of the Marsellaise Hymn."

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 29, 1 June 1870, Page 2

Origin of the Marsellaise Hymn."

—o— The national song of France, which is, perhaps, more vitally connected with the hearts of her people than that of any other nation, grew out of the stormy scenes of the Revolution. Its inpiration was drawn from those thrilling events which for sove. ral years convulsed France, and made all Europe tremble. It was composed.in the winter of 1792, by a young soldier named Rouget do Lisle, who was then stationed at a garrison in Strasburgh. This young man was born and reared in Sans le Sannier, the capital of Jura, a mountainous province in the east of France. He waa by nature both poet and musician, and,the wild surroundings of his childhood had ient their powerful aid to his imagination. When at Strasburg, his popular talents' made him the delight of the garrison, and many an otherwise slow and weary hour he beguiled with his attractive improvisations. He became intimately acquainted with a certain family in the city, and spent much time at the house. This family, although poor, were patriotic, and admired the martial talents of De Lisle. They were lovers of music, also, and encouraged the songs of the young dreamer. One day he waa seated at the dinner table of his friends, where the fare was humble and scant. The Revolution was already taking the bread from the people ; and here, and elsewhere, there was a scarcity of food. But there was one bottle of wine left in the cellar, which the host ordered to be brought, that he and De Lisle might drink to the liberty of France. Late at nigh t, the soldier, takim* his musical instrument with him, retired to his room. There, heated by the wine, and inspired by the stirring events of the Revolution, he composed the hymn which has ever since been the key-song of France. Our authority tells us that De Lisle, carried away by his inspiration, composed now the air, and then the words, passing from one to another, unconsciously, and combining the two so inseparably in his mind that he never knew which -was created first. Sleep overcame him at last, and his head fell upon his instrument. In th» morning, when he awoke from his slumbers, he only dimly remembered the experience of the previous night. Recalling. his production with difficulty, he transferred it from his brain to paper, and then rendered it with voice and harpsichord to hisastonished friends. It was the voice of France, and in a short time the stirring song was upon every lip. It was first sung, however, by the Marseillaise, a bund of savage men. sent by Barbarous to aid the Revolution at the capital. TJ is body, asit advanced towards Paris, spreading "consternation and terror everywhere, was heard to sing a new and strange song, ife was De Lislc's midnight dream. The men who first proclaimed it to the nation, amid the tears and blood they caused to flow, gave to it the name by which it has since been universally known. Afterwards, when its composer, who. although a Repulican, was prescribed a Royalist, was making his escape from the terrors of his country, he heard the echo of his own song among the hills of the Alps. Asking the guide what that hymn was called, he was told it was "The Marseillaise." The hymn was soon sung all over France, and became the inspiration of great and terrible deeds. It was destined to be the deathsong of thousands of Frenchmen—Republicans, like the Eepubilcan author, whose heads fell undei the axe of the guillotine. It was only a chance which saved DrLjsls himself from being borne to the scarmldjto the resounding strains of his own wonderful composition.