“Chuck that gun over there, too,” said Van Nesten, with just an authoritative twang to his voice. The burglar, giving him another quick look, complied.
The burglar stood a little awkwardly.
“Well, let’s get out of here,” said Van Nesten, springing up. “It’s getting hot.”
Together they traveled over the roof toward the fire-escape.
ORIGIN OF “THE MARSEILLAISE.”
The Romantic Circumstances Attending the Writing of France’s National Anthem By a Young Artillery Officer.
Probably no national hymn has ever roused the frenzy of patriotic enthusiasm which always attends the singing of “The Marseillaise.” The bloody deeds of the French Revolution were all accompanied to the music of this inspiring song, and curiously enough, it seems to fire the hearts of the people when they are actuated by widely different motives.
The origin of the song is interesting and would seem to indicate that it was indeed an inspiration in the true sense of the word. Lamartine gives the story in his “Histoire des Girondins.”
In the garrison of Strasburg was quartered a young artillery officer, named Rouget de Lisle, a native of Louis de Salnier, in the Jura. He had a great taste for music and poetry, and often entertained his comrades during their long and tedious hours in the garrison. Sought after for his musical and poetical talent, he was a frequent and familiar guest at the house of one Dietrich, an Alsatian patriot, Mayor of Strasburg.
The winter of 1792 was a period of great scarcity at Strasburg. The house of Dietrich was poor, his table was frugal, but a seat was always open to Rouget de Lisle.