The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-12
THE HOME OF VICTOR HUGO.
From ae Ney York GALAXY.


out q flora worthy of the fairest isles of the
Adriatlc and Mediterranean. Biologists tell us
what revolution detached this Norman soil
from the Norman coast, and relate no " the sea-
invading the immense bay which separates
Caerbourg from Brest, only suffered those rocks
to remain which we're high and firm enough to
defend themselves, as on Mount Saint Michael,
against its wrath. Without need of science
the traveller easily finds the law for these con-
vulsions of nature, and their traces. Jersey and
Guernsey are only TO be reached by line of
small islands and rocks, almost on level with
The water, and scattered about, sometimes near
each other, and sometimes parted, like links of
rIven chain. As the traveller draws near, val
leys OF gorgeous green appear-cottaees, flowers
and meadows This IS Jersey.
Jersey and Guernsey are, to the curious eye
two gardens which the rocks hold suspended
above the sea; TO the thinker they are two
worlds, two micrOcosms. Has not each of them,
Ike the proudest continent its shores that look
upon the whole circle of the horizon? Coasts,
ports, plains, mountains, and valleys are all as
sembled in space that can be visited in one
day, from one end to the other. The climate is
delightful, the vegetation fairy-like, the sky is
harmonious marriage Of light with the sea,
whose pearly hues seem to tell US the secret
splendors OF ocean treasure Life there is bliss
full dream.
lfyou advance a few steps in this fair realm
OF Guernsey you will see manors that are created
by Protestant emigration, its pious, everything
souvenirs. In returning towards the city, you
VIII see superb walk through trees now seCu-
lar, legacy made to the city of Saint Pierre by
Frenchman, in 1888. If you descend towards
the sea large house will attract your eye, and
you Will see bed upon it the now famous
name:-"Hauteville House." And there grouped
round the same thought are Liberty Exile and
Poetry. Exile exile the only grief that tune
can never soften. If you ask me how it is en-
duTed, will reply, through duty.
Victor Hugos home is situated in the most
lovely spot that ever landscape painter dreamed
Of Placed upon height, 1t overlooks the city,
the fort, and the immense horizon of the sea,
where nothing seems to trammel the flight OF
even genius itself The house is celebrated IN
Guernsey where it eXcites lively curiosity
Wonders are related OF it, enhanced by the mys-
terry overhanglng threshold till now never
crossed by the Guernsey world; it is said to
contain furniture worthy OF an enchanter's
palace.
The apartments and galleries have been en-
tlrely constructed from designs by Victor Hugo;
he passed three years in drawing them. The
rarest curiosties, such as carved oak, belonging
70 the middle ages and the Renaissance, with
enamels, porcelain gathered together and
arranged in the most mastery manner, minge
with venetian and Florentne wonders. The
house within-ior externally it presents the
is rigid aspect peculiar to English houses
work OF art, the materials OF which are
masterpieces also. / will describe the house,
which is to reveal the master, who, indeed, re-
veals himself by tie notices and devices traced
upon the walls and furniture. Victor Hugo,
who loves to live in the past, has a mania for
antique furniture. 1t we now raise ruins and
primitive construction, il we Ieframe nscrip-
tons, restore statuary and OdsSO-reiiepO, we
should remember that "NoLre Dame de Parisn
and voyage sur les Bords du Rhinn helped us
to do so by giving us the rudIments of our
science.
Victor Hugos house is entered by vestibule,
the construction of which Immediately arrests
the eye. On the upper Intel is a bdSsOreieuO,
representing the principal subject of ''Notre
Dame de Paris" which is gilded and painted.
The effect IS charming; beauty seems to well
come you at the very entrance. The baSSO-
TeHeuO is accompanied by glass windows with
embossed panes, such as are to be found in
the cottages OF the Black Forest. On the right
and left, in carved oak, are two medallonS,
lett by David, alter Victor Hugo and his second
daughter. column in the purest style of the
Renaissance supports this entire mass, and adds
still more to the tranquil simplicity and severity
which mark the entrance.
rms VeslDule is lighted by the softened rays
which penetrate the small squares of glass,
forming char OSCurO, such as Rembrandt
loved. In this soft light a monumental door
is visible, that OF the diningroom. On a
panel is written:-"Love and Believe.n Above
one of the doors, and below statuete of the
Virgin, is a void that promises hospitality to
the visitor:-"Ave."
Let us accept our welcome and enter the bll-
lizard saloon, where we shall see many interest
ing pictures belonging to the family with geogra.
phlcal charts, and the poets designs framed in
borders of vanished fir. The strangeness of
these ink designs strikes the visitor Immediately,
They form ten fantastic pages, and are
heightened with sepia and touches of gold-leaf
IT is impossible to convey any idea of them.
There, as in all he undertakes, Hugo is power.
tul. Many will remember the sales of hls sketches
in 1852 ('Rue de la Tour d'Auvergne'), at the
time when his furniture was also sold.
These ten designs hanging upon the wall are
views OF spain, Brittany, the Rhine Jersey, and
Guernsey. On one is written:-"Burg of Hugo
eaele-head," and one rememners the verses of
the "Legende DIES SieCles,n
"He set the cities free: he came alone
To Hugo.eagle-head in cavern Home"
The frames, equally wonderful in execution,
are by the poet also. Among the pictures is the
crowning of the dead lnez de Castro. Upon the
frame is inscribed, "The Duke and Duchess of
Orleans to Victor HUGO"
HAUTEvILLE HOUSE.
From the blllardroom, the tapestry parlor is
entered. Here, as in the other rooms, the man.
tle-picce has been the principal object OF atten.
tion-and should not the family hearth be so ?
Imagine cathedral OF carved oak, which rising
vigorously from the floor, springs up to the cell
ing where its upper carving touches the tapes
try. The doorway corresponds to the fireplace;
the rosace Is a convex mirror, placed above the
mantel-piece; the central gable is a hrm entabla.
ture covered with fantastic foliage and deco
rated by arches of exquisite taste, in which the
Byzantine mlngles with ,he rocco; the two
towers are two counteriorts which repeat all the
ornamentation OF the entire mass. The coping
very imposing in its effect recalls the fronts
OF the houses in Antwerp and Bruges.
face appears amid the woodwork, vgor-
ously thrown out. 1t is that of a Bishop whose
crosier alone is gilded. ON each side OF it is
shield with the witty motto:-
"Crosler of wood bishop of gold"
"CrosieT OF gold, bishop of wood"
On two scrolls, representing rolled parchment.
gre inscribed the names of those whom Victor
Hugo looks upon as the principal poets of hu-
manity:-"Job, Isaiah, Homer, IEschylus
Lucretius, Dante Shakespeare, Moliere.n On
he 81 fha 4 -