Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-29
Victor IIugo,s Humanity.

Victor HugO's Humanity.
On the 18th OF May, 1889, which was Sum
day, towards two o'clock in the afternoon. NJ .
Victor Hugo, talking in his balcony in the
Place Royale, heard IA report; it was the in
surrectlon Of which NJ. M. Barbes and Blan-
qul were the chiefs. The instruction was
quickly suppressed; NJ: Banqui escaped and
ND himself in the house OF the sculptor, Da-
vld; M. Barbes was taken and tried by the
Chamber OF Peers. NJ. Victor Hugo was
present at the sitting; the open eye of the ac-
cuSed, his firm bearing, ha dignitied counte-
nance, aud his appearance OF extreme youth
interested him extremely. The next day at
the opera, where they were playing an act of
ESmeraLdG, he entered the orchestra to hear
''lair DIES clocheS.' Peer of France. NJ. de
Saint Priest, took a seat near him. When
the act was over they began to converse
NV have just finished IL task which is al
ways mourntul," said M. de SAINT Priest
I'VE have sentenced a man to DEATH"
'Barbes is sentenced"
'And he will be executed, for the ministers
demand it,
"When?"
Probably tomorrow morning. You know
tl'at there is no appeal from the Chamber of
Peers"
M. Victor Hugo left the peer, went upon
the stage, and assembled to he office The
manager was absent. He found upon his table
blotter upon which were some caricatures
drawn with pen. NJ Nourritt with il cask
Tor belly, Mademoiselle Falcon with match
es for legs, NJ. LcyaSseur dressed as ii porter
ess, etc. He took piece OF paper and wrote
these lines:
.'Par vOtre ange Rnvolee ainsi qu'une colombo
Par royal enfant, doux ct lrele roseau!
Nface encore uhe tois! grace au nom de la tombe?
GracO au nom du berceau!n
0, by thine Angel dove-lile flown away.
And by this roy III clid's sweet fragile bloom
Pardon, yet pardon, by It's cradle / pray!
And By her silent tomb!
He put these lines in one of those gray en-
Yelopes which are used for the bills OF the
theatre, sealed it with Il big red wafer and
went to the Tuileries. He gave the letter to
the porter asking him to carry it Immediately.
The porter replied that it was too late for the
king to get it that day, but that it should be
sent to him i'll the morning. NJ Victor Hugo
explained that it concerned the life OF man,
who was to be executed in the morning; tic II
the porter called his wife to keep the gate,
and went to the chatecu. M. Victor Hugo
chose to wait his return. After twenty MN
utes the porter retured.
''MonSieur," said he, 'the king has read
your letter, but you did well to write your
name upon the envelope. 1t appears that NJ
France dHoudetot, who is the aide DEF camp
on duty, knows Monsiur; he was about to
throw the letter on the table, when he saw
your name. Then he took your letter direct
ly, and the usher saw through the glass door
that the king read it,"
M. Victor Hugo breathed more freely next
morning, on learning that the execution had
not taken place. The king had generously
resisted his ministry. The ministers, one of
whom was Gen. Cubieres, afterwards CON
demned by the chamber of peers, not, howev-
er, for political cause, returned to the
charge during the day. Louis Philippe stood
firm. M, Victor Hugo received from him
this response THE pardon is granted |
have only to obtain it,
The condemned man was saved.-Life of
Victor Hugo.