The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-21

He has thus far been at the head of two daily
papers, the EUtneT.ept, which was suppressed
by the Government about eighteen months ago
after bIiet ca.reer of unparalleled prosperity,
and the FIgarO, witch be has lately converted
into q daily political paper and winch bids fair
under his management to outstrlp all the other
organs OF the liberal party. Its circulation IS
now upwards OF $4,000, and Will soon surpass
that OF the Sec c.
VnlCmessaups efforts to direct and TO attract
the attention OF the pubic 10 his paper are
some lines marvels OF ingenuity. On Learning
that Victor Hugo had completed his "Toller' OF
the Sea- and had sold tue MSS. to LacrolX,
VeTboeckhoven IL Co., he travelled post haste to
the seashoie, chartered special steamship to
Guernsey, and reached the illusrlous author OF
Les Mis- rabies before the Mss. had been de-
livered to the printers He offered Hugo three
hundred thousand francs for the book, bit
Hugo, although 20 author knows better how to
drive sharp bargain, would not accept the
tempting offer, because, he said, the 'Ioners OF
the sea- should be read at once from beginning
TO END, and ought not 10 be issued plecemeal in
the columns OF daily paper. [ Deed not add
that Nulemessant took good care TO inform the
world of the incidents and objects OF this
remarkable trip TO Guernsey.
he serial novel which he secured instead OF
Victor Hugos work was a very fine production,
and the way he got it was Likewise characteus-
tic of the man. He had been negOtIa1ng for
some time past for the purchase OF the MSS.
The author however, on hearing that Yulemes-
SAT- hGd at he same time made efforts to OBJ
tain Victor Hugo's manuscript. got inceused,
another paper, and when VillemesSant came
back from Guernsey, aud wantel to reopen ne
gotiauous with him, he peremptorly refused
10 see hun, ana sent him word he could not get
the manusCr'p pt, 1t having already been sold TO
another publisher. Now Villemessant knew full
well that II he could only obtain a single inter
view with the irate romaucist. he would be able
to persuade him 10 let hlm have the manu-
script: But the great question was how
to obtain an iutervie \. Do you know
how he managed to get it? In the folio wing
night the romsucist was a akeued and received
a note, written in n beautiful small hand on
periumed rose cOlored paper. "a lady urgently
requested an interview with him aC the MaiSUu
DoTee, room so and so." You may believe that
! the ron ancist had never dressed in such o
hurry. In live minutes he was already on his
| way 10 the Mason DoTee. On entering tue
! designated room OF the famous restaurant he
was met, TO his utter disgust, not by lady,
! but by Villemessaut, who burst iuto loud
! laughter, locked the door, and told himh had
beautifully trapped HIM. But" said tho
Tromancis'; anerly. you did not write toe
| letter. LADY, "a lady wrote IT, to be
sure, )" replied Vnieme.sant; lit was MY dan1e
! de cCnlpiOT Qady booE-keeper), to WHOM |
dictated it," When he two parted company an
! hour afterwards, Ylllnmessant had bought the
! MSS. U. course, he was not so cruel as to
conceal this amusing transaction from the
! public.
The Courtu Trancajs, the organ Of
sold tor seventy - SIN. thousand francs,
although it has a daily circulation OF
over sixteen thousand copies. But NJ. VermO-
rel, its proprietor aud eduor.in-chiet, mad hal
so many cillicUlties5 with the Government
that it was feared lest the Emperor should order
it TO be suppressed. The Courier Is a perfect
thorn in the side OF the Bonaparusts, and pro-
secution after prosecution Tor violations OF tho
pIess.aw are Instituted against it. In cOnse
| Queucc OF these prosecutions NJ. Vermorel will
have the pleasure passing the next three year;
of his life in prison.
No1E.-Suce this article was written, the most i'm
portanJ restrictions on the establishment OF new
journals in France have en- removed, ard large
| Dumber are announced Tor speedy pub tlcatiOu W
the endo sement of many names orsweiGht snd iui
| enCe that have not before beep connected with tn,
newsp paper world
1T is worthy Of note that o. one OF the papers
proposes TO support imperialism us IL is.-Edtt0r.