The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-08
VICTOR HUGO AT HOME.

Edward King writes in the Boston Journal a:
follows of visit to Victor Hugo: When in towr
N. Hugo usually receives on Thursday evening
He lives an trOisiene, in an elegant apartment OF
| the Boulevard de Clichy. An unpretending serv
ing man admits the visitors from the landing into
a small ante-chamber, thence into neat room
| where bottles and glasses destined for simple
refreshments are spread on the table, and thence,
pushing aside some tapestry, into the main salon,
where the old gentleman sits on comfortable
faute,tI. An elderly lady of charming manner,
who is a friend Of the family, usually assists at
the receptions, and, with the traditional French
| grace, soon makes the foreign visitor quite at
home.
During the evening there is quite distin-
guished company OF poets, aathors, artists,
Deputies to the Assembly and beautiful ladies,
and by 1:30 or II the reception is over.
Hugo rose with difficulty to greet us, but after
he had been talking few minutes l saw with
pleasure that there was very little trace Of age
| in his voice or his face. Now and then he lifted
his head with that majestic frown which has
been so well portrayed in some of his portraits,
and then he seemed scarcely forty. It is the
custom at the receptions among French visitors,
and especially among those OF his own guild to
address him as dear MASTER" to which he has
become wont that when addressed as NJ Hugo
he is almost inclined to stare.
l found him, as usual, much interested in
American affairs; anxious and willing to under
take journey which, unlike most Frenchmen,
b. does not at all fear on account of sea-slckness
and which he would certainly do were lie not in
bis own words, 81 such an old man, with SO much
to dol"
He sighed YEARLY as he said this, doubtless
regrettlng, as all regret when they arrive at old
age, that life is so 81 ort and art long. He did
not seem fully aware of the extent of his Amer
lean reputation, and was eviden ly please when
the universal recognition which he has received
was explained to him. That which he seemed to
take the most interest in was a few words about
Harper's Ferry and Charlestown, in West Vir-
ginla, places OF which be begged me to give him
minute account. He also asked a good deal
concerning John Brown and his family, and then
entered with much interest into discussion
among the deputies and some few journalists on
the condition of affairs in the Southern States,
and Louisiana more especially. I then asked
him if he had intended that the work on ''Quatre-
Vingt Ireize should be trilogy, as had been
intimated, or whether the number which has al
ready appeared were complete in itself.
He answered that he had merely intended to
paint the great year of history, and said modest
ly: sin the first volume l have endeavored to
give some idea Of the civil war of 9S; perhaps
may take up other phases if 1 have time; but
each volume will in any case be complete in
itself" We spoke of " The Terrible Year." his
great and last volume Of poems, which he alluded
issue, although it is undoubtedly the best series
OF poems inspired by the war; Nothing can ex-
coed in beauty, In finish, and in inspiration some
OF the minor poems which recite the woes and
trials suffered by Frenchmen during the siege
and the commune.
From good literary authority learn that Mr. |
Hugo is now engaged upon new work of much
greater extent than any that he has hitherto IN
dertaken and his visit to Guernsey will doubtless
restore him so that he will at once undertake it,
It is generally understood among the poets
friends that he will leave behind him almost as
much as he has already pubished-a surprising |
statement but believed to be literally true. |
Hugo has not only been an enormous worker |
ike Dumas the elder, but he has worked in |
hundred lines with equal facility, and has often |
been compelled to hold back one manuscript be- |
cause the public were already too much excited |
over another and highly successful one.