The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-30
The Daily News.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 80, 1866.
Victor Hugo I'm English.
- From the NJ. Y. Evening Post.1

- tFTont the ". Y. Evening Iostl
The following observations on HARrERs trayesty
Of ''Les Trayailleurs dc Ia Mer," from tho pen
Of Con. G. CuusERET:
originality IN literature than Victor Huge; no man
has remained more completely himself Like
Victor Hugo or dislike him, accept or reject him,
declare him to be the regenerator OF the French
language or its dcstroycr-all that is moro
matter Of taste individual appreciation; parties
are divided. refrain h from a placing myself II on
Hugo. All tho writer's who were young in his
youth and number OF those who have followed,
have sought to initiate him without success Like
Raphael and Rembrandt in the world of art, he
has remained apart-a typo to be respected, il
not admired, and which it is indecorous to dis
figure by any manner of trapestisSemea.
This, however, has been done, voluntarily or in
voluntarily, by tho translator Of tho edition of
the 'Trayailleurs de la Mer," published in Eng
Brothers. Either through haste ignorance Of the
French language, or an honest desire to outdo
Hugo and correct him, he has presented that
clad in the translator's CLOTHES.
Being acquainted with English in France is
a about the I. same thing as what is called knowing
whether Victor Hugo. though ignorant Of Eng
Ish, would consent that pate d'oie should by
translated Hat-foot. Pate dole in French meano
of the eyes Il do not give this explanation for any
over thirty as the cartilage Of the foot of goose
terminates at at at its tibia It is by an analogous
]
ferent forest paths radiating towarda i common
centre. In English, cro,o's foot is the term used
to qualify this result Of advancing years. Victor
Hugo in comparing the pate dole Of Rantaine-
craven upon his face by every vice-to vultures
claw, uses powerful image, and carves the SEM
blance of his own thought upon the tablet Of the
foot of Rantaine to vultures claw, can discover
only double plaitude-that OF tho TRANSLATION and
that OF ; hsntaiae's anita organ of loeomotion.
Entire Ines four or five at time, containing
beautiful ROmDtl m
pressed, while additions have been made by the
translator who, in exchange for Hugo's satigeca,
age that author probably looked upon as entitling
them to repose: Among these is that of Aurora
in the description of Deruchette. What could be
ayam la figure hSmasne." 'fshe is morning with
ahuman face" But, probably thinking that some
Ignorant Engshman had never heard OF Aurora
brings his NEUROLOGICAL knowledge into play.
Elsewhere expressions, SMILES, entire Passages
are completely made over in the taste of the trans
lator, whose incontestable talent should have
made him an author, but who is no translator.
Boileau very sensibly says: "Be mason if
your talent lies in that direction, rather than
say more Be writer rather than a fanciful
napestissant translator. What the public crave is
Victor Hugo. what they pay for is Hugo's work
given IN English, not the offspring Of the transla
! have not read above twenty entire pages of
this translation; the quotations make are from
H.
lie to judge whether they have been supplied with
Translation of the 3Travaileurs de la Mer ~ and
whether they are able to form any Judgment
me, protest, and think that as regards taste as
well as honesty translator should respect the
at1! author in his hands, and present him to the
Ruo4o as @ re Is. do not think that Hugo loses by
~. l nave seen serupulous, unamplifed, yet
graceful TRANSLATION of his style but to make such
an one it is necessary to be thoroughly acquaint-
ed with the French language.
FOLLOWING RDecimaDp nj H,,no
.French-l auan entire les dea1 yeu1 cette ttsre
rae M uerticate de rhomn,e hardi ct perseuerant.
Transator-Between his eyes he had that proud
vertical hue which indicates in a man boldness
and perseverance,.
Will some benevolent friend have the goodness
70 INFORM me what q vertical hue is :? Ride in
French means torinkle. -,
Mess Lethierry, the uncle of Deruchette, Hugo's
herolne, being "sea-faring" man, is somewhat
which he considered solemn bond upon his own
honor he was, writes Hugo in the habit Of saying
3. Gu donns ma parole d'honneur au bon Dieu."
"la parole dhouneur du Don Dieu" means exactly
this, My ,Oord Of honor to the good God An &C.
to the death.
with Gods help is there 81 ie Of
mess Lethlerry IN this utterly common place
Phrasea Can any one do anything without Gods
In the description of the horrible frequenters of
Ld Jacressdrde, the ghosts of human beings, the
nitny chrysalis OF the human butterfly, Hugo SAYS:
'orde social Sc compique de ces iarves." $50
Iranstator-' Creatures Of this kind form a
part OF the social fabric"
1qdescribing Clubin, at once villain and hy-
porftte, hugo says of the wretch 80 esteemed yet
go despicable "Il await sur le dos des ailes
dange, ecrasantes pour un gredn." He had
upon p his back angels wings crushing to o scoun-
This brings before the reader in single line
man reverenced where he should have been
loathed.
:, Translator had worn those angel wings
that the devils find so wcarisome in their fallen
state"
Hence we learn that devils in their fallen state
by. This may be reminiscence of Milton or
Dante, or q revelation made in dream to this
English translator, but it is not to Hugo.
~ tAgailn when Oiubin stands on the very pinnacle
~ respra son crime pleine -poitrine." Res
Ptrer Ptelne pottrtne means to draw q full long
Oreath, and after saying that Clubin aired the
soul which he describes as 30 hideous, Hugo, con-
crime in a full BREATH"
:, Translator-"He revelled for that moment in
the open air." o
But what is altogether oruol is the way in which
droll in dealing with supersttion) is treated at
the beginning Of this translation This airy FIGHT
OF fun ls arrested; it Is dragged down to earth
and shod with leaden shoes. "Alas, poor Yor-
iek! Little doth it avail thee 10 be "a fellow of
excellent jest"
SUPPLEMENTARY FINaERs.-A discussion upon
the subject of supernumerary fingers, which took
place at recent meeting OF the Surgical Society
OF Paris, was somewhat remarkable for the dis
crepancy OF opinion which was elected as to the
frequency Of the occurrence, and is on that ac-
IN gohSg to the freaks
sport. One physician had observed numerous in
stances Of extra fingers during two years resi-