The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-08


morrow and become my enemyf
Victor Hugo being the listener, was not so
much absorbed by the conversation but he
could perceive that everything the king was
saying could be heard In the drawing room,
and would, doubtless, be commented upon.
1t might be thought that the words of Danton
to the young Duke of Chartres were addressed
by the king to Victor Hugo 30 the latter
said
"The king Is not aware, perhaps, that what
he says may be heard, and that 1t would be
easy to putt false Interpretation upon his
woids."
The king laughed; and, entering the draw
ing-room, related and explained the incident.
What might not have been said II one of those
present had left before the kings explanation,
and had said with all the authority of his
position at COURT
"The nomination of M. Victor Hugo to the
peerage is extremely doubtful. He is most
anxious for it, and has pressed the king upon
the matter, who hesitates good deal. This
is what have seen and heard myself" etc.
If one Of those chances which occasionally
, happen in political life had delayed or pre-
vented the appointment, such critics as we
have above alluded to would, without
doubt, have believed themselves justified
in asserting that Victor Hugo had been a
self-seeking, hungry applicant for rank and
emolument-than which nothing could be
more the reverse of the truth concerning a
character so essentially independent and lofty
minded as his. But thus it is often that his
tory is written.
AS this sketch of Victor Hugo's life is made
from literary and personal point of view
only, abstain from alluding further to his
political life beyond mentioning bare facts.
at the revolution of lS4S, he was nominated
to represent Paris in the Constituent and
afterwards in the Legislative Assembly. Ex-
PEELED from France IN consequence Of the
events of the I'd OF December 1851, he took
refuge first at Bruss Is whence he was ex-
PEELED, then In Jey 8, whence he was also
expelled, on acoor /of an article which ap-
peared in nev paper with which he was
wholly uncon, tied, and for which he was
entirely irres Jnsible. 1t is only fair to
Jersey to a6 that he and his companions in
exile at Gu 5fnsey were subsequently invited
to return by an address signed by five hundred
of the principal Inhabitants OF the island.
The first half of Nd. Hugo's great and distin-
guished career has been related with an exqui-
site charm in a work entitled, "Viotor Hugo,
Racont6 par un Tenoin de ga Vie." This wit
ness, it is well known, was Madame Victor
! Hugo, whose recent death was the object of
much and widespread regret expressed in
every newspaper and in every country-a
y homage to her character and to her many vir-
! tues which was well deserved.
| NJ. Victor Hugo faithful to the exile which he
! considers duty remains at Guernsey. His entire
| life is absorbed by unremitting work. Sum-
mer and winter he rises with the day, and,
entering his cabinet de tidCdI, works without
intermisson till noon, when he allows himself
an hour of repese for breakfast and his morn
ing walk; he then resumes his work till about
five O'clock when he generally finishes his
work for the day. He dimes at halfpast six,
and goes to bed invariably at ten. He gives
a portion of his time, regularly, in attending
to the dispensation of his charity, which is
large and wisely administered. Besides the
weekly dinner he gives to forty poor children,
no one really in need is ever refused bread or
coal at Bauteville House.
! Thus is passed the life OF Victor Hugo, as all
those who know him, his habits, and the ways
OF his house, are aware. With the exception
| of the society of few intimate personal
friends he lives at Guernsey life of absolute
solitude! The exiles who were the former
companions of his Punishment are all dis
persed some in England, some in Belgium,
some in Spain, while some have returned to
France, having accepted the amnesty. One
only accepted, M. Z. H. de Kesler Gone Of
those who were at the side of Baudin, on the
now celebrated barricade, when he felD, a
writer of considerable talent, who lives on
terms of the closest friendship with the Illus
trious poet.
Before conclude; have q remark to make
which may be of importance to some of my
readers. 1t need hardly be said that M. Victor
Hugo's correspondence is extensive. He re-
ceives on an average considerably more than
four thousand letters every year from all parts
of the world, from all classes, and on every
conceivable subject. / was with him the
other day, when he received, amongst others,
four letters, each from a different quarter OF
the globe, and each urgently requesting an
immediate reply for publication. Among
his correspondents there are a great num-
ber of English, and as M. Victor Hugo
does not understand the English language, and
as he has not his son, Francois Victor Hugo
(the translator of Shakespeare), always at his
side to render him assistance, Notwithstanding
every wish to do justice to each of his CORES
pondents, there would be a greater probability
of his understanding their communications,
and, therefore, of their obtaining answers, il
they would address themselves to M. Victor
Hugo in French,
/ will give, in conclusion, the names, in
chronological order, OF the works produced by
M. Victor Hugo up to the present time:-
1922. OdeS et BaliadtS.
1923. RanS d'Islande.
1925. Bug-JGrgat.
1927. CromweA.
1928. Les Orientales.
" lie de,nier jour d'un cOndamnf.
1880. Hornani,
1881. Notre Dane de Paris.
80 Marion de Lorme.
" Les FeuiiLes d. Automns.
1882. lie Roi s'Amuse.
1888. Lucr5ce Borgia.
&C Marie Tudor.
1884. Literature ct PhIoSophie m5lfeS.
" Claude Gueur.
1885. Angelo.
Z" Les Chants du Crepuscule.
! c,.oS,sl l,yS