The New York herald., 1870-09-17


which remarked more Immediately, and 1t was
suf1ciently painful, was that which had taken
place from the old time wonderful cleanliness
OF the streets. Garbage and household refuse Of
every description were laid about anywhere and
everywhere az went along. There was no approach
towards the removal OF the nuisance. Tho SIDE
walks were unswept. Matters OF much more mo-
mentous import than these held the attention Of the
public. The Partisan mind was engaged, as II Is
now, In consideration OF the best means Of selfpre
servation. Life or death tremDled In the balance
for the people, and 1t was known and felt that the
blow may fall ON the life both of the city and OF the
French nation at any moment
VICTOR HUGO AT HIS HOME AND IN HIS FAMILY
HIS SPECIAL UrTERANCE OF DEFIANCE THROUGH
THE HERALD.
dined with NJ. Victor Hugo yesterday evening.
His two sons, with their youthful wives, and the
other members of his family, were of the company.
After dinner the llustrous French writer In reply
to some general remarks which l veAtured to make
respecting the situation Of public affairs, uttered
many striking, startling sentences. He said:-u
Will go, sir to the heart Of the city of Paris, and
there tender my services to France. will seek TO
share the perils or my countrymen on the ramparts
OF our city. l have no public office or govern
mental role to ill. My poor and humble presence
in the line OF the fortiacations may be useful. viii
armed among the men. will stimulate them
still further, that is possible now, by my
words the ardor Of our patriotic defenders. l
will do this, sir, as Frenchman. viii do 1t be.
cause regard the Prussan attack Paris as being
absurd and cruel. Prussia commenced this war
against Napoleon B0naparte Napoleon Bonaparte
is now prisoner in the hands Of the King Of Prus.
sia. That king, sir, has sent this Bonaparte to a
castle for lo1ssment; He gives MIN huge retinue
OF servants-nen to Walt upon him. To us, who
never provoked him, this King Of Prussia sends
war, sends bombs, sends shells OF fro, brings death
and desolaton. There has never yet been an act so
atrocious or utterly ridiculous, We have no men,
tion Of the like in history. .,,,5s gs' 49, p. -
"a do not know,n continued M. Hugo, as a cloud Of
mingled sorrow and defiance overspread his coun.
tenance "wnat part may fall to my lot TO play before
the awful, dreadful drama closes, but know this,
that Paris has before her the choice OF grand
determined defence against her foreign assaiants
or that OF cOwardly, ingOriOus surrender to tn
invader IT, although it seems impossible to me,
Paris should decide for the latter alternative 1t
mains only for to retire from her hearth and re
turn to my exile in my Old retreat In Guernsey. II
Paris elect for the former, for glorious Defence
trust that shall see every quarter Of the city blown
up one after the other, 1t perish bit by bit,
hurrying the Prussian enemy, corps after corps,
| battalion after battalion and company after COM
| pany, In the same common grave with my ruined
but resolute fellow citizens"
| IN UNION WITH HIS HOUSEHOLD.
AS M. Hugo uttered these sentiments in words OF
eloquent. thrilling language, and with voice Of
measured gravity, looked anxi0usly in the faces OF
the ladies who sat at the table. Their countenances
| were grave and solemn, but at the same moment
serene and almost apparently happy. They did not
exhibit the faintest trace Of dread at the possibility
almost certainty Of the near consummation Of that
fearful catastrophe which 1t may be said Ii now upon
| Paris
| RESURRECTION AND UNION OF THE DEMOCRACY.
"Tnis is the way" said NJ. Hugo after paAse "in
| which Paris must perish. While the spectacle OF
her fall sir, may n0rrlfy the world and bring grief
| to Christianity for season, the crash VIII at the
same instant ring out and proclaim the resurrection
of the democracy in France and In Germany-a resur-
rected democracy which will soon avenge her terri
BILE fate. and avenge it completely, but let us hope
not terribly" T.r M
| NATIONAL SUPPORT.
| BY recording this expression OF M. Victor Hugo l
give you only q fair, unequivocal specimen OF The
state OF feeling which prevails here on every side
Coo grant that Europe at large may be permitted
little more time before the dire fulflment 30 as Il
enable her present rulers to take arrest
I'even now such fearful slaughter.
The hosting of the 'red nag' of the democracy
at Lyons. in defiance Of the rule Of republican gov
ernment, has created much pain and a considerable
| amount OF uneasiness in executive circles here.
| Severe measures will be adopted against the Of
| tenders.
The names OF the newspaper editors who have lef
| Paris In its hour of danger will DC published.
| PATRIOTS WITH HARD HONEST HANDS.
The workingmen Of the city form sixty-six ARM
battaions a corps Of go 900 men. They are amonf
the most resolute and dercest OF the defenders, ant
have resolved to endure and make It war of exter
mination.
| LITTLE FUN STILL.
Visitors to Paris will remeuher COtte's restaurant
situated at the corner Of the Rue Royale and Ru,
st. Honoire. As quilted the Place de la Concordt
on my tour saw crowd OF persons gazing at tht
closed shutters on Its windows. I went over and
found written in large letters, with chalk on on,
shutter the words:-"Closed in consequence Of rob
berry. Forty centimes (elght sous) for small loaf
worth two sous. One franc and seventy centime
fourteen cents) for brock beer. Justice has beer
done. closed, by order OF the sovereign people til
the end OF the war;
Meaux-Eectric lights-The Railroads.
The Imperial Correspondence.
| PARIS, Sept. 16-P M.
The city has been declared in a state OF siege, ant
n0qscombatants are to be expelled. The Mnistr,
has made public Of1iciay that "the Pruss1an head
quarters were at Meaux." In order to be fully ap
prised Of the movements OF the enemy by nigh
electric lights have been placed on all the fort
around the CITY, BY this time the forests all abou
the capital are entirely consumed. There have beer
no railroad trains beyond Pontoise since wednes
day last The railroad between Paris and Lyons
has been cut by order OF the French authorities.
1t is reported that the republican cover nment II
in possession Of the cipher correspondence between
the Emperor and Empress since the commencement
Of the war. The key to the cipher has also beer
discovered Some startling developments are ex
pected.
1t was reported here this afternoon that the civil
| lans are Withdrawing from StraSbQurQ.