The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1879-12-26
Victor lingo and the Barber.

Hjalmar FL jorth Boyeson in an article
on Victor Hugo in Scribnea's Monthly
ltells the following anecdote of the
French poet: In tile year lS4S Victor
Hugo lived in the Place Royale, and was
In the habit of patronizing a barber
named ,Btassier, who had his shop in
the vicinity. One morning d gentleman,
who for convenience sake shall name
H, entered the barber's shop, seated
himself in aeehairs and elevated his chin
to the prop eraagle, while Brassier stood
sharpening his razor.
Well, Brassier, how is business ?''ss
|pQ' Excellent. sirs excellentiE i should
say it is even too good, for / don't see
how and my boys are to get through
with all Our engagements which we
have to-day. Balls and parties every
where! We have to dress the hair ofno
less than thirty ladies for tonight. Look
here isnthe list of their addresses
A few days later Mr.. H was
again seated in Brassier's chair. ass
How about your thirty ladies, Bras
sierr ,s.s.,.s,,, 49,.
sDon't speak of it, sir. / didn't get
around to more than half of them. And
in the end | shall lose half a dozen or
more good customers, and it is all the
fault of M. Victor Hugo g
How the fault of M. Victor Hugopi
What has he to do with your clientsp'l
~ : 1t is just as / say, sir. and you will
easily comprehend it. A few moments
after you left, M. Victor Hugo entered
and seated himself in this very chair. /
put the napkin around his neck, seized
a shaving brush, and was about to, APP
proach him, when he cried: !" Wait.n
He pulled a pencil from his pocket, and
began to tumble impatiently in his coat
tails and In his, breast pocket without
finding what he sought AT last he dis
covered a piece. of, paper on that stand,
seized it and began to write, Although
was hard pressed for time, I waited
until he should have finished. But he
why he paid no more attention than ifI
had never existed, but scribbled away,
and only stopped occasionally to bite his
pencil. Well, go on, scribble away"
| said to myself. g If you can read it
yourself you are lucky Such terrible
scrawl! And PEOPLE cal. him fine writer!
T" If you are at liberty, sirr' / said.
Z" One moment, and / shall have done,"
he answered. But the moment passed,
and'I was still standing with asoap-dishs
in my hand and brush full of lather, and
fuming with impatience. He still kept
on as before, scribbling away, stopping,
and raising his eyes to the ceiling, SPAR
don me, SIR" / ventured to say, g / am
very much pressed "Ah, you are
in a hurry" he replied; so am +" and
then he made for the door and went.
/" Your hat, sir.n / cried after him.
You reright, . he answered, smiling,
| did not think of that" And off he
went, without even allowing me to
shave him. Gentlemen. you have not
a moment to lose," | shouted to my
assistants. You will each go TO the
address which shall give you. Here is
the list-weli, where is the listp Wait
minute! ! declare-where is that listp
What have you done with that list, you
rascalsp" Sir, it was on that stand
little while ago." There! Are you sure
of tilat?n Indeed am, SIR" Heav-
only grace! only that was wanting tt
was on my list that NJ Victor Hugo had
just been writing. It was my list, sir,
thathe had carried away with him, after
having covered it all over. with his
scrawl. Dc you understand now how
he made me lose my customers!'
Compose yourself my dear Brassier,"
said Mr.. H. I" IF this scrap of paper
had not been found to receive the inspira-
tion of the poet, French literature would
have lost some very fine verses. You
have been the scollaborGteur of Victor
Hugo, and that is no small honor. /" ie
A.