TO DAY IN HISTORY

Southland Times, Issue 20539, 16 July 1928, Page 6

TO DAY IN HISTORY

JULY 16. Born: Carneades, founder of the “New Academy” school of philosophy, at Cyrene, 217 8.C.; Joseph Wilton, sculptor, at London, 1722; Sir Joshua Reynolds, painter, at Plympton, Devonshire, 1723; Captain Raokl Amundsen, Arctic explorer, 1872. Died: Anne Askew, martyred at Smithfield, 1546; Tommaso Aniello (Masonietto), revolutionarv leader, murdered by the populace at Naples, 1647; Francois le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois, Chancellor of France, at Paris, 1691; Dr. Thomas Yalden, poet, 1736; Peter 111 Czar of Russia, husband of the Empress Catherine, strangled, 1762; Margaret Fuller ‘ Ossoli, American authoress, perished at sea, 1850; Pierre Jean de Beranger, French lyrical poet, at Parks 1857; Czar Nicholas II murdered by Bob sheviks 1918. DE BERANGER. Notwithstanding the “de" prefixed to his name, the illustrious French songster was of the humblest French origin. In youth the natural energies of his intellect led him to authorship; but he was at first like to starve by it, and had at onf moment serious thought of enlisting as a soldier in the expedition to Egypt, when he was succoured by the generosity of Lucien Bonaparte, who conferred on him the income he was entitled to as a member of the Institute. It was not without cause, and a cause honourable to his feelings, that Beranger was ever afterwards a jealous Bonupartist. Beranger is, without doubt, the most popular poet of France, men of literature, citizens, workmen, peasants, everybody in fact, sing his songs. Yet his modesty was never spoiled by flattery; when a professor of high standing spoke in his presence of his immortal works, he replied, “My dear friend, I really believe 'that I am overpraised; permit me to doubt the immortality of my poems. At the opening of my career the French song had no other pretension than to enliven a dessert. 1 asked if it would not be possible to raise its tone and use it as the interpreter of the ideas and feelings of a generous nation. At a dinner given by M. Lafitte, where Benjamin Constant was present, I sang one of my first songs, when the latter declared that a new horizon was opened to poetry. This encouraged me to persevere.” The circumstances of the times favoured the poet; he never ceased to sing the glories of France, and particularly of the Empire. Yet he is most truly himself in those little dramas, where, placing a single person on the scene, he expressed the national feeling, such as “Le Vieux Sergent,” “Le Roi d’lvetot”; whilst he was said to be the only man who knew how to make riches popular, he had another secret how to render his own poverty almost as inexhaustible in kindnesses as the rich. He would never receive anything and lived to the last on the profits of his works, leaving his small fortune to be divided among a few poor and old friends. ROYAL VISIT TO MERCHANT TAILORS’ HALL. On the 16th of July, 1607, James 1., accompanied by Henry, Prince of Wales, visited the Merchant Tailors’ Company of London at their hall in Threadneedle street. The records of the company contain several interesting notices of this Royal visit. A short time previous to its taking place, a meeting was held to consult how the king could be best entertained; and Alderman Sir John Swynnerton was entreated “to confer with Mr Benjamin Jonson, the poet, about a speech to be made to welcome his Majesty, and for music and other inventions.” From the same source we also glean the following account of the entertainment : “At the upper end of the hall there was a chair of estate where his Majesty sat; and a very proper child, well-spoken, being clothed like an Angel of Gladness, with a taper of frankinscense burning in his hand, delivered a short speech, containing eighteen verses, devised by Mr Ben Jonson, which pleased his Majesty marvellously well. And upon either side of the hall, in the windows near the upper end, were galleries made for music, in either of which were seven singular choice musicians playing on their lutes, and in the ship which did hang aloft in the hall, were three rare men and very skilful, who sung to his Majesty; wherein it is to be remembered that the multitude and noise was so great, that the lutes or songs could scarcely be heard or understood. And then his Majesty went up into the King’s chamber where he dined alone at a table which was provided only for his Majesty, in which chamber were placed a very rich pair of organs, whereon Mr John Bull, doctor of music and brother of this company, did play all the dinner time. “After dinner James was presented with a purse of gold ; but on being shown a list of the eight kings and other great men who had been members of the company, he declined to add his name to it ; stating that he already belonged lo another guild, but that his son, the Prince of Wales, should at once become a Merchant Tailnr. Then all descended to the great hall, wher« the Prince, having dined, was presented with a purse of gold, and a garland put on- his head, he was made free of the com pany amidst loud acclamations of joy. During this ceremony the king stood in a new window nlade for the purpose, “beholding all with a gracious kingly aspect.” “After all which, his Majesty came down to the great hall, and sitting on the chair of estate, did hear a melodious song of farewell by the three rare men in the shin, being apparelled in watchet (blue) silk, like seamen, which song so pleased his majesty, that he caused it to be sung three times over.”