Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-08-02
VICTOR HUGO ON HIMSELF.
Paris cor. London Standard j

The Rappel publishes another
choice specimen Of Hugolatry. 1t |
is Victor Hugo's preface to the last
volume of his "Actes ct Paroles"
which, the reader may remember,
is a collection by the poet himself
of all the wonderful things seen,
said and done by him during his
eventful career. The preface is
entitled "Paris ct Rome," and is
composed of two episodes and a
moral, throughout which Victor
Hugo acts the double part of his
own God and Prophet-no doubt
to his perfect satisfaction. The
first episode is connected with the
June insurrection Of 1848. 1t took
place at No. G, ON the Place Royale.
The insurgents, under the com
mand of schoolmaster named
Colbert, who had been turned out
of his post by NJ. Guizot, broke
into the apartment Of an ex-peer
Of France. This ex-peer was then
a member of the Constituent AS
Sembly. When the insurgents en-
tered his dwelling she was doing
his duty in a neighboring street in
trying to put down the insurrec-
ton" The apartment was unin-
habited save by an old servant. The
insurgents rushed in pell-mell, but
Colbert soon called them to order
They proceeded to inspect the
rooms. "Ah, here are some armsP
they cried, as they entered the din.
ing-room, and caught sight o.
some old weapons on the wall
'EThat gun will just do for me-
exclaimed one man, pointing to al
/; ancient musket. at is an obje
Dart" objected the chief "Wha
o matters" replied another Gin 1885,
we seized O lot of the same gun
! from the artillery museum" "Bu
the artillery museum was nationa
property, rejoined Colbert, and tn
I insurgents, struck by the mora
: force of this reminder, let the mus
Z Z ket alone. By the side of this wea
3 pon was a large silver-mounte'
Tnrkisb vatagan. One man dearl
Q wanted to have it. {" But it is il
silver" cried the crowd, The wor
( silver" was enough - nobod
touched it; "and yet" we al
. told. "the multitude present In
,r cluded many starving rag picker,Ss ,s
3 The insurgents passed into Il
drawing-room. Here they spied tn
's armoriaI bearings of the ex-pee.
e. . " But he is fighting against us,
u said one man. "He is doing h
:. duty" responded the chiet' :, "An
ms what are we doing?" Gobe
,5 ly answered, "Our duty also. y
p are defending our families; j.
e is defending the country" Aft
be these "calm and grand words
s the insurgents entered the stud
iis, e. On q desk lay a petite
n. from the sailors of Havre again
Ea ios "the cruelties and iniquities Of tt
maratime code" The ex-peer hi
written on the margin; "Suppc
~ this; if aid we're given to those tn
4. !, suffer, if the legitimate demands
ND ND the people were listened to, if VIII
d is due to the people were render
Tn to them; if, in word, governmei
!. were lust, we should be relieved
3 the painful duty Of putting do
insurrections." This was qu
enough; the insurgents saw Il
+ the s2-peer was - real friend Of I
people, and they left his apa
ment without stealing 80 much
a pin. 1t may scarcely be necess'
to say that the ex-peer OF VIII
Victor Hugo thus modestly spe'
i. vas Victor Hugo himself, We n
' NM over twenty-five yerrs, 4
- come 5o,e to the second episode. pIs,
vUslV was on Nav ~, 1871. The SCI
J. changes Sra g from Paris i1..,t,o, to BFqSa 81 N
R! "An old man was living al az NJ
ON the Place des Barrlcaoes.
Wa was no longer the ancien par,
the he ancien roscrit-PrOmG,S3t.lon G,3. !.
''' to duty accomplished, This his !;
: had a young mother and = two 10, !
lSy children in his house. lie was
Iour- mourning; he had just lost bis IS,
Brussels knew him. lie was 0l