New-York tribune., 1879-05-28
CURRENT TOPICS IN PARIS.
NApoLEoNIc HoPEs-vICToR HUGO.

IYPoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
PARIS. Nav s.-The illness OF Prince Louis Napo-
leon at the Cape affords an opportunity to what uSed
TO be the Paas Royal BOnapartists to start anew pre-
tender The fresh claimant for Imperial power whom
they are putting forward is a youth OF seventeen,
aud were the Republic 30 break down he might DC
susceptible of being converted INTO good ruler ana
imposing fgure-head. THIS lad represents demo-
cratic and C@5aristic tradition. and by his mothers
blood and his resemblance 20 her family, he would
be associated with Constitutional one rs well.
He is the eldest son of Prince Napoleon and Of the
Princess Clotilde of Savoy, and is called
after her father and the Great Uncle
who attempted to revive the CarlOvin@an Empire,
and make Paris its administrative seat. Victor
Napoleon is the double name he bears. The first OF
the two names is one of happy augury. In Italy 1t
was emblazoned on the National flag, and accepted
rs a ralIying cry by CavOur, Garbald, Rlcasoli ana
Mazzini Victoria in England. has been for forty
years the incarnation Of constitutional freedom ana
venerated at home and abroad as true-heatea
Queen and woman faithful to every public ana
domestic trust reposed in her. Prince victor
Napoleon has little in his physognomy to prove his
Bonapartean lineage. He is masculine edition.
very much revised and corrected of the Princess
Clotilde, and unmistakaby the grandson OF IL ne
Galanfpomo. Prince Napoleon gives him and his
cation. The eldest boards with professor of the
Institution Ste Barbe and follows the classes
there. Next year he will enter the military
school al st. Cyr which will not absorb so much of
the time which should be spent in looking about
him and gathering a fund of general knowledge as
would the POlytechnique. The Youngest boy IS
the image of the Great Uncle but up for fun, and
mirthful, which the first Emperor was not III
his youth. He is.at the country branch OF the Ste
Barbe school The two lads spend their Thursday
half-holidays with their aunt, the Princess Ma
thlde, and when she is at her rural home at ST.
Gratien, they ride there followed by a groom, to
dine with her On Sundays they go TO. their
fathers chambers in the Avenue Montaigne. The
authenticated Marquise de c.. these occa-
sions, does not show herself, but Prince Napoleon
takes his sons often to lunch with her, and for
aught they know, his friendship with her is on
purely platonic basis.
Princess Mathlde collects to her house on Thurs
days young officers of promise. literary and artistic
men of ability, dIplomatsts, and the most liberal
Bonapartists that she can find. The nucleus OF a
brilliant court Is beng formed by her for her nephew
She resides in asmal and artsticay furnished man
sion i'm the Rue de Berri. With her tho boys are less
reserved than with their father, in whose presence
they are not allowed TO speak until addressed by
him. The modest assurance of their address Is
charming in lads of their years and rank. In the
Autumn holidays thev go to Savoy whore their
mother has a chateau in the mountains. There they
are sent 10 amusc themselves with an equerry VINO
used TO accompany Victor Emmanuel in his hunting
excursions, and with a couple Of gamc-keepeTs.
On Sunday evenings the younger boy when III Paris
is sent back early 60 school The eldest remains all
night at the Avenue Montagne, and present at the
intimate receptions which are held weekly there
The conversation is led, OF course, by Prince Napo
leon. who is man of rare capacity, and 1t IS in
tended 10 open and to exercise the mind OF the
young Prince who listens.
Prince Napoleon cannot be charged with intri-
pulng against the Republic. He merely prepares TO
take advantage of its break mp should fall, which
does not appear likely. One Of his good qualities is
an aptitude 10 look facts III the face. lie
knows that he Is not esteemed in France and he
blames nobody for not respecting him. "Plon
Plon" the lover of Cora Pearl and of the Maroulse
de C, and the neglectful husband of the gentle
and the upright Princess Clotilde he knows wCuld
make. in the eyes of the world. sorry
ruler But be feels he was endowed by nature with
political genius, and that he has talent Tor dis
covering men of ability and attaching them TO
sympathy with the democratic instincts OF modern
France His idea, therefore, or stepping aSlde, 10
make way for his son. and Of being 10 mm what
Baron StOckmaT was to the Prince COnSOrt O1 Eng
land il a sound onc shOuld-fOr the whole
combination rests on an if-the Republic be un-
able TO hold its own against hostile taCIons here
is one thing greatly in favor of the Palais Royal
branch of the NapOlecns, IN STRIVING Tor an I'M
pcrlai crown against the ChiSelnUTst one, which Is
only Bouaparte III name. 1t IS the repuShahce
Prince Napoleon ever showed for street massacre
and the slower death TO which prosGrlpts sent 10
Cayenne were virtually condemned. In :, lHlst0re
d'ITu Crime Victor Hugo shows that Prince Ma
polr0n sought to mitigate the fcrOcity OF the Ely
sian gang aud that he sheltered the poet and other
Republicans on whose heads a prlce was SCI Dy ue
Il, Aaff fhap he
would have insult or injury 10 avenge. ana II tAey
had would prefer oblivion TO rancoT.
lady with whom am acquainted wrote few
days back to the illdstrious poet whom Lhaye named
above TO give her leave TO Introduce 10 him. at his
house former luminary Of the English bench who
is also a member of the Prlvy Council. She was
not sparing of " soft-sawder" but applied it with
delicate touch and truthful pen. 1t is a rule OF
the great author never to answer letters. On this
occasion. however he was moved TO reply 10 the
pretty compliments paid him: "Oui certes,
Madame. je suis vOs ordres ct vOs pieds. VICTOR
HUGo.D This is an autograph worth keeping Ii is
very characteristic one, and as few polite
notes emanate from the same hand it will be valu
able rarity some years hence. The calgraphy |
was sorry to observe unless in the signature, which
is bold and firm, wants vigor, and is scratchy and
uncertain.
Victor Hugo now lives at the Passy end Of the
Avenue d'Eylau in a pretty detached villa. The
garden walls are clad with ivy, and there is much
reenery all round about the mansion. which Is elo-
giant and unpretending outside and within fur
nished i'll the snuggest manner, though IN
Gothic taste. The BOis de BOulogne is
hard by, and the shady green Rane-
Iagh. where the nightingale song is heard
in MAY Victor Hugo takes advantage of the Bols
to indulge III morning walks under the trees, and
he drinks at the new farm, where COWS are kept IN
,I, opeu pasii,re draughts of milk fresh from the
tcat Being much further from the centre OF Paris
than when be was in the Rue de Clichy his drawing
at home. Though his hand shakes in writing and
has lost its frmness, the poets health is excellent