A Music-Seller's Opinion of France.
"I can generally tell, Sir, the state of public opinion by the songs I sell. In 1830 I sold thousands of Parisennes, I don't sell one now; and I don't think we've been asked for a single Marseillaise for these last three years. It is the same with Mourir pour la Patrie—no one cares for that now; and as for Vive Henri Quatre, not one copy has left my shop, I should say, since the day when the Duchesse de Berri was caught in a cupboard. The only song that is asked for at present is Partant pour la Syrie, and we don't sell many of those. Ah! Sir, it is a bad sign when the people don't sing! Many a revolution in France has been caused by a song, and more than one throne has been upset from the want of one!"