New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-17

THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF FRANCIS HUGO.
PROCESSION TO THE ToMB-ADDREss OF LOUIS
BIANC-HOw THE REPORT OF A REPUBLICAN
DEMONSTRATION AROSE.
,FEOM TBE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
PARIS, Dec. 29.-FTancis Victor Hugo died last
FRIDAY. He lives in his remarkable translation of
Shakespeare, where clothed in prose FORMS he
BROUGHT over into the French tongue and to the
acquaintance of French minds the great body of
deep thought and the subtle spirit of the English
poet with fuller and more delicate accuracy than
any other of the eminent persons who undertook
that task had attained He buried yesterday The
weather exceptionally fine for the season. The
Sunday multitude crowded the sidewalks to pay
their tribute of respect and curiosity. The process
sion as il passed up the Boulevards did not extend
for a half nor quarter of mile. II did not num-
Der 9OnO0 or 5000 or 600 persons, different
Paris papers will tell you it did. 1t all passed by at
. funeral pace in less than seven minutes.
II was however. deeply impressive sight, that
great human mass in solemn, silent march to the
grave most impressive of all was that lonely white
haired man IN the advance, the greatest living poet
the craudeSt head in France, slightly bowed, but
bearing his unhelped sorrow with an ineXpreSsbly
noble dignity. With the quick sympathy of the
French nature. with the respectful decency of
French custom, all bystanders barred their
heads as he passed. When the procession
reached Pere la Chaise, far more numerous
multitude had gathered there to assist at the final
ceremonies Of the interment, the chief feature Of
which was the discOuls de tOmbeau The funeral adj
dress on this occasion was spoken by the intimate
friend of the Hugo family, Louis Blanc. 1t eulo-
gizes the son and the living poet, and treats with
equal emphasis and sincere sympathy Of the liter
airy qualities of the two, of their political liberalism
of what fidelity cost them in the pains of exile of
their religious opinions and Of the survivors bitter
bereavement. The discourse is in print to-day, and
need not be analysed here. yet less criticised. To
American crtics let me commend, before they pro-
nounce hasty judgment the taste of it, consd-
Grafton of the fact that these tomb speeches are as
much French custom as funeral sermons over the
coffin before it left the house. Let me also com
mend to them this passage from an essay OH Shake
spcare by one Of our acutest critics:
have heard people complain of French tragedies be-
cause they we've 50 very French. This though it may
not he to some particular tastes, aud may from one
point OF view be- defect is from another far higher
amsungushed merit IL is their favor, direct tell
'ae OF the soil whence they draw that OF French
Wines suppose we should tax the Elgin marbles with
eeins 100 Creek When will people nay, when will
crlucs get over this seideraudng trick OF cheapening
Tue excellence Of one thing by that OF anoherths
elusive style of judgment which consists simply in be-
longing to the other parishf
once or twice Louis Blancs eloquent voice was
nan drowned by outbreaking murmurs Of applause.
"hen 1t fell silent Victor Hugo left the tomb he
was leaning on to embrace the speaker and then
something like shout of Vipe Ia Rpubqae broke the
stiffness shout that loudly repeated at the gate
OF the Cemetery as Gambetta and other known Re
puohcans came out OH the exterior boulevard Louis
Blanc sad. 1t is reported at Hugos special request
hhat the latter lives his SOD died a believer in
"od anu the soufs immortality. The poets literary
works would seem to furnish sufficient certificates
Of his catholic Christian faith 10 which the
acts OF bis life, whatever NAV say or think of
them, offer no more contradiction than the acts of
other folks lives Being merely catholic Chris
tan, it was not merely negatively natural but inn
peratiyely honest that Victor Hugo should approve
and insist fulfilling Francis Hugo's diving re-
quest 10 TO be buried without religious accountant
oents-seeing that any performances over his grave
In therel gious kind could be enacted only by an un
catholic Roman priest, or by uH-cathOlic Pro
testant clerk-neither of whom for the rest could
cotscientiously fill the role.
Therefore and by necessity this was an enforcement
ar't much to the distorting delight Of Atheists,
and greatly to the pretentious disgust pretenous
Christians. TO the real horror of the narrowly sin
eere ecclesiastical faithful. Notorious accidents
mingled with his own later honest convictions have
made of Victor Hugo, not leading much less an able
pohncia1, but political party symbol. That he il
TINS, whetherrlghtly or wrongly, wisely or unwsey
hty OF unity. 10 not the question: is patent fact
A1efefOTe, apart from other ibettcr IL von will