Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-25

poet has not been ungrateful; for the portrait
which he gives to the citizen king in ''Les
Miserables" is the most minute and Just, and
at the same time the most f1atterng analysis
of his character that has ever appeared.
When the monarchy was at an end, Victor
Hugo was with the republic, and received
the high compliment of being sent into the
assembly as the representative of the
city of Paris. Here he identified him
self with the party which called itself the
supporters of order. He would not cast in his
lot with the extreme party; on the contrary,
he deemed it to he his duty to hold aloof from
those whowere called ''redrepublicans = new
ertheless we find him opposing the prosecu-
ton of Louis Blanc and Caussidiere, and re-
fusing to declare that General Cavaignac de-
served well of his country.
The coup d'etnt of December, 1851, met
with a determined and unconquerable oppo-
nent in Victor Hugo He displayed great
personal courage on the occasion, and escap-
ed from the hands of Louis Napoleon not
without great difficulty. Since that he has
lived in voluntary eXile sterny refusing to
avail himself of the opportunities which have
been offered him to return to France. After
his escape he betook himself to Belgium; but
truth cOmpels us to record that he, with many
of his friends, was driven thence and forced
to take refuge in Great Britain, the only
great powerful asylum of the exile. At first
he took up his residence in Jersey, but a dis
pute came about between him and the civil
authorities of that island, who, to their dis
grace be it remembered drove him forth to
seek refuge in the neighboring and sister
shores of Guernsey. Here he still lives, sur
rounded by his wife and family. II occupies
Hauteville House, pretty residence with a
charming garden, standing on the high ground
over St. Peters Port.
Since 1851 Victor Hugo has published sew
eral smaller works, such as Napoleon lie Pc
tit Gan energetic attack upon Louis Napo-
leon), "Les Chatiments," and "Les Contem-
plations." This last volume of poetry, was
published in Paris, but, as if to repay the de-
termined hostility which lie has manifested
towards itself, the imp, rial government has
opposed Victor Hugo's attempts to influence
his countrymen, A dramatic version of ''Les
Miserablcs," recently prepared by Charles
Hugo, the eldest son of the poet, has been in
terdicted the French STAGE and even a por-
trait, prepared for administration and intend
ed to accompany an account of the Brussels
banquet, has been suppressed by the censor
ship. Such petty hosulities may be taken as
proofs OF the power Of the poet or the little
ness OF his opponents-very possibly of both.
The appearance of "LeS Misrrables," and
its astonishing and unparalleled success, is
the GROWING event of Victor IIugo's literary
career. 1t is not likely he will produce such
another work, and it is indeed enough glory
for one man to have given birth to what may
be considered the greatest work of the mag
ination which the century has produced. Like
all great human works, it has its faults anC
its beauties are great and commanding. A.
comprehensive survey Of mortal misery, as
the glance Of an almost superhuman eye
gazing with an immortal pity over the vast
sea of human sorrow, the age has not pro-
duced the like.
Of his private career much need not be
said. Victor Hugo was married in 1922 to
Mile. Foucher. He has two sons-Charles
Victor and Francois Victor The former
wrote in his fathers journal L'Eyenement,
and in consequence of his article on capital
punishment was sentenced to two months inn
prisonment, which he underwent at the Con
ciergerie. Francois Victor has produced
several works, notably, book on the islanC
of Jersey, its monuments and history, and
translation of Shakespeare, which is now ap
pearing, and which is the only good transla
ton Of the glorious bard that any Frenchmar
has made.