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Show THE MARSEILLAISE. low Rnnsftt lie Mute Cain to Write th a National Hymn of Trance. This idea of celebrating "The Marseillaise" Marseil-laise" is worthy one, for it has led " rench troojw to victory under republics ind under an empire, while during the reign of Louis Philippe it was heard often, thus showing that it belongs to all classes. Let me tell of its origin, though some of you may already have heard the story. Franco was in danger, her people were called to arms and they responded nobly. In tho house of the mayor of Htrasburg a friendly dinner was going on, at which men swore to dio for hlierty against the allied kings of Europe. Home one spoke of those heroic songs that stimulate the ardor of tho soldier, and lamented because be-cause France bad not one such. Rouget do Lisle, an officer of engineers, was at the table; it was known he dabbled at poetry and music, and tho mayor asked him to compose a new march for his fellows. fel-lows. IIo set about tho work immediately. immedi-ately. The night was superb. IIo took down his violin, played and sang. Air and words came both at the sauio time; the subject transported him. It was as if the soul (d La I'atrie was passing into his own, as if through his mouth liberty was uttering her enthusiasm and her generous anger. He wrote, he sang, h improvised, but it was the soul of France that dictated. In tho morning six verses were completed, and, vibrating vibrat-ing with patriotic excitement, ho read tho "War Song of tho Army of tho Hhine" its first titleto his friends, who becamu electrifiod by tho manly ao- cents. The new hymn w.iS sent to Lnekner, commander of tho Army of tho Rhine, who distributed manuscripts of it throughout Alsace, and it was executed on tho public square of Strasburg. 1 hence it traveled over franca and south to Marseilles, which town told it to her volunteers, and they sang it when they entered Paris on that 10th. of August, Au-gust, 1702, when they took the Tuileries. That was how it got the name that will cling to it forever. It was played in the army, ami generals said it wan worth 10.000 men. Copies of "The Marseillaise" Marseil-laise" were ordered wlwn requisitions were made out for weapons. The aristocratic captain was desolate lit having contributed the part which "The Marseillaise!' had taken in overthrowing over-throwing the monarchy, for he never in? tended his hymn should bo a republican nntheni. Later on. when proscribed iw a royalist, he was flawing over tho Alps and heaid its. strains. "What is that hymn called?" be ai ked his guide. The peasant replied, "The Marseillaise," and it was thus bo first learned the name of his own great composition. "The Marseillaise" Mar-seillaise" became the national hymn of the First Republic, and it remained so under un-der the First Empire. Napoleon had such admiration for the hymn that he prohibited pro-hibited its being performed except on grand occasions, just as the "To Deum" is only sung when thero has been a brilliant brill-iant victory. At St. Helena he said, "The imperial guard always marched to the tune of 'The Marseillaise.'" No wonder they won battles, r orbidden under the restoration, res-toration, the song came into favor again with Louis Philippe. Becanse of hearing hear-ing it sung at republican manifestations the government of the Beoond Empire prohibited its execntion, but in 1870, the day war wa.v declared, an order was issued anthorimiig its use, and the troops went out singing "The Marseillaise." More than this, managers of places of amusement were invitod to perform it, and when Mme. Marie Hasse sang it at tho Theatre Francaise women wept and men were wild with excitement. Her wonderful roiee sang the words in a way that raised the morale of the population popu-lation and provoked them to patriotic enthusiasm. Paris Cor. Chicago Herald. |