The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-04
VICTOR HUGO AT HOME.

hsh island, sixty miles acr oss the sea, is the
exile home Of the poet and patriot, Victor
Hugo.
The island of Guernsey is well described by
Professor Ansted as wedge of granite at the
entrance of the Channel; and just whore the
thin edge OF this wedge commences to rise
into rugged cliffs, lies the picturesque town
of 81. Peter Port. Prominent in the southern
auburb, and on the apex Of a prof eoting
bnttress-like hill, whose sides are covered with
1errsced gardens, stands Hauteville House,
the residence of Victor Hugo. The aspect of
the house from the street presents no extra
ordinary features; but rather, as M. Leoanu
expresses it, has "that cold appearance COM
mon 10 English houses" A light iron railing
rrnrino round the roof of the house forms a
narrow .promenade, and from the attios
towards the sea project two glass lookout
houses. ,,...-,,,. -.
Two, II not more, houses in Hauteville lay
.laim to the original title Of Hauteyllle uOuse;
but naturally, before the world-"lde Ia1e oL
Hauteville House par ecceIeace, their Claims
are insignificant.
Nowhere is the proverb that prophet IS
,vitbont respect in his own country, more
fullv exemplifed than in Guernsey, az least
among the aristocratic sixties aud fortles OF
the insular society. II was remarked In my
nresence by a member OF one of the best
families. and olergymen, owe don't think
mucb of Victor Hugo here;" but among the
lower classes he is deservedly popular-the
moor especially appreciate his generosity,
whilst the charitable works of the late Madame
lingo are in the remembrance Of all st. Peter
Port and its neighborhood.
An account of the interior OF Hauteville
House was published four years ago in the
French language, illustrated with some effec-
tive etchings, and the proceeds devoted to
charitable purposes. On the first leaf of the
volume now lying before me is inscribed in
autograph, "Pour les pauvres. Victor Hugo"
From this volume | have drawn largely in the
following pages, inserting only here and there,
wherever my own observation enables nae to
correct omissions or errors. M. Lecanu says,
I'The house (Hautevlls House) is celebrated
in Guernsey, where it formerly excited great
euriositv Marvellous things were reported
of it, exaggerated by the mystery which
boyered behind threshold which at that time
closed to the Guernsey world. 1t was
supposed to contain riches, in the
way of furniture, worthy of fairy
tales: the truth is, that the peculiar
interest of the house rests in the fact of its
being the home of master-mind, and that the
apartments were arranged entirely after the
ideas and from the designs Of Victor Hugo,
who was employed for three years on this me-
mortal of his fantastic taste. There is not
room or group which is not masterpiece;
most rare curiosities, oak carvings of the
Middle Ages and Renaissance, ancient tapes
tries, enames, pOrcelains, bric-a- brac, selected
with fastidious choice, are found here mixed
with Venetian and Florentine elegances. The
interior of the house is a unique work of art,
Of which the very materials themselves are
chefs d'Guue."
The difference between our insular shrink
ing from publicity, and the "acute Continental
thirst for knowledge of the private affairs of
t. l. 4In
author of clever article in a late AthenGum,
thus:-"In France, all the men and women
who can read, of all degrees, are interested
IN everything that concerns the intellectual
man, even to the manner in which his linen is
marked; in England, the vast mass do not
know or care much whether he has shirt"
However, it must be taken for granted that
the readers of M. Victor Hugo's new novel
have some slight interest in his surroundings
at home; for as M. Lecanu goes on to
say, 'To describe the house is to make
known the man; for, If we transcribe
the devices and inscriptions which the
poet has traced here and there
upOn the walls and furniture, which are so
many unpublished lines of Victor Hugo; if we
surprise him in the intimacy of his private
life, does it not seem as if he made himself
known to us In ancient times people had
natural pride in hanging on the walls of
their dwellings their trophies of victory, and
the arms of their ancestors, in such way
that they could not but see these great eX-
amples; they lived in the midst Of them.
Victor Hugo has scattered about his house
those maxims which he has epitomized from
the experience and trials of his life.
"On entering Hauteville House one is i'm
mediately struck by the arrangement of the
vestibule. Immediately before you is a sort
oi edihoe, supported on an oak pillar in the
purest Renaissance, forming, as it were, an
inner porch, the Intel presenting in deep bas.
rellei the principal dramatic situations in
Notre Dame de Paris, with an inscription in
antique letters, "vICToR HUGO, NosTRE DAME DE-
PARIS" This frontispiece, as it were, pre-
sents deep effect it appears as if the roman
nc family created by the poet welcomes you
INTO his house, and that one cannot enter
tne abode OF Victor Hugo except through
the gateway Of his first work. The bss
fehei IS bordered by glass window will
Panes OF bossed glass, like those one sees in
the cottages of the Black Forest To the righ
ana left are framed in the sculptured oak two
bronze medallons by David, OF Victor Huge
ana MS second daughter. The softened ligh
which streams through the small easement il
lOss ~ a ctdTe-obscure such as Rembrand
would nave loved, and adds to the ouie
solemnity of the entrance"
On the right is a door leading TO the billiard
room, now shut up temporarily, Over Il
Hnder the figure of the Virgin, is inscribe
AVE, hospitable greeting. In front, throue
Inc nail gloom, one perceives q monument,
ooor which leads to the dining-room. In th
Mldst OF its elaborate sculpture, ON scroll,
are tne following religious and philosophicI
Anne EFT cRoIs; NANCE, NARcHE, PRrE.