The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-05-21

We behold here dark -colored, venerable
house, with garden in front, in which
laurel and sweet pine trees grow. An arch
crowns the front door. The windows, wide
and high, look in gloomy earnest down up
on the sea, and over tn the misty outlines of
the French shore beysnd the water. On
the brass plate over the "knock and ring"
we read the words "IIauteville House."
This building, erected years ago, when
England and France waged q relentless war
against each other, BY the daring captain Of
one Of the most successful privateers. has
been, for the last seven years, the residence
Of one of the noblest citizens of the French
nation. One Of the prescribed soldiers Of
the French Republic, who remained true TO
himself, true to revenge, to wrath, and to
grief-the poet, Victor Hugo-lives here I!
"Oh. you ought to see how old he has
growni Eleven years Of exile eleven
years of bitter grief at the misfortunes Of
his country eleven years OF deep longing
for his native home who can count their
long, weary hoursf Victor Hugo, the
greatest poet of France, the man whose ten.
der lyrics taught the French 10 weep--he
looks now every day from the nights Of an
English island over the sea towards his na.
tive land, of which he does not want to be a
citizen as long as the present Ceasas rules
oyer it. His hair has turned white; grief
and suffering have deeply furrowed his no.
bic features; hut his eye still bears that soft
inspired luster, and the eye is the mirror Of
the soul.
Victor Hugo lives now in seclusion at
Hautevillc House, surrounded by happy
domestic circle which fate, so cruel toward
him otherwise. has left him as palladium
and consolation in his many trials. His
cherished xife still lives-she whose loye he
once awakened by his inexpressible tender
lyrics; his daughter. generous and worthy
of her father. still is the staff and stay of
his age; with pride he looks upon his two
sons, Charles and Francis. one of whom, rs
an inspired Translator Of Shapespeare, has
won already fame and distinction. He still
loves children as Of old. Every Wednes-
day he gives dinner party to fifteen little
boys apd girls, selected among the poorest
Of the island. He takes pleasure in attend
ing himself to their little wants during the
meal. Thus, ss he says in one of his let
ters. he tries to make equality and frater-
nifty understood, if-only in bis immediate
neiehborhood" Some other French exilcs.
vha live on the island, often visit him they
have become members of his family Now
and then an old friend will come from
France to press his hard, and to cheer him
in his solitude.
The coup de'etat ruined Victor Hugo's
fortune I; he was scarcely able to save some
debris of his former wealth; and only the
greatest efforts enabled him at first to main
tain himself in the foreign country. Only
the four hundred thousand francs ne receiyr
ed for his recent book, Lies Miserables,'
made him rich man again, although. as be
deeply regrets, not rich enough to crafty
his charitable and benevolent inelnations to
their full extent. The purchase Of Haute.
vile House has procured him the inviolsble
rights Of an English citizen. His house is
his castle. and the Emperor Napoleon would
be unable now to drive fim from Guernsey,
as he before caused his expulsion first from
Belgium, next from Jersey. The great ex-
lie of Napoleon the Little" has thus known
to secure himself against fourth place Of
and he has at least the consol.
alton Of living now in the midst Of q people
half French, and IN full view Of the shores
Of his ardently beloved country.
Victor Hugo has dogs, birds. fowers-heI |
always loved them; in the solitude Of his
ba nishment he doubly loves them. Soon
he v III add to them horse and . carriage
to drive through the green meadows Of the
island through the gardenlike luxuriance
ofthe fields, and along the. shores Of the
roaring waves. For our poet is growing
old, and the walks On the sea-shore, which |
used to form the delight ofhis heart, can.
not be - far extended as he would like
And yet he is hale and hearty. and full Of
elastic vitality. II rise early" he wrote us
lately, ''work the whole day, and 60 early
10 bed. do not smoke, but eat roast
beef like an Englishman, and drink occas-
,ionally little beer, which," ss he adds
play yiully, ''does not prevent the Espans, an
journal Of Madrid. to assert
hat there is no Victor Hugo in existence,
ind that the true name Of the author of'Les
Iliserables' is Satan"
In favorable weather he works in his
beautiful garden. and his fauteuil there is
lat rock with charming view Of the sea-
Let us add. also. that Hugo loves the worth
md industrious little people in whose midst
ae lives, and that h,s affection is very gen.
,rally and ardently reciprocated. The in
,shitapts Of Guernsey, without exception,
,onor and love the great French exile, who
las been among them now. for over seven
1ears.
Your readers know why Victor Hugo
rad to leave France. Having in his youth
'onght the welfare Of bis country in the
support Of the Bourbon dynasty. be became
lfter the felonies and crimes Of the Restora-
ON, an ardent republican, and adhered to
his political faith ever since. Asa men,