Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-05

of Havre, in 1S43. 1t was singu-
larly gay boating party that had this
tragic end. And yet NJ. Hugo, does
not give one the idea of melancholy
man quite the reverse. AT his own
table, for instance, he will talk and
laugh like great schoolboy, seeming
to overflow with animal spirits. was
dining with him one day, and towards
dessert the conversation had become
political when the door suddenly open
ed and pretty child of eight years or
so made her appearance. "C'est
rAmour ct c'est la Joie p was Hugo's
rapturous exclamation, and politics
were contemptuously dismissed. Well
does he know the art of being a grand
father.
Hugo's political life can only be
said to have begun in 1S4S. The
Revolution found him an Academician,
a Peer of France, an officer of the
Legion of Honor, RENTER. He had
everything to lose, nothing to gain by
change and disorder. But the move
ment of 1S4S had in it so much of the
heroic and hopeful that more than one
strong head was turned. Bitter was
the reaction; but Victor Hugo had
the genius to perceive that the princi-
Piles of the Republican leaders were
the only ones possible for his age and
country, and that the sole question
was as to the best method of applying
them. His conversion occupied in all
about five years. 1t was in 1853,
when liberty had absolutely disap-
peared from the entire continent, that
Victor Hugo seized the opportunity of
proclaiming himself Democrat"
lie told friend about this time that
there was no phase of his career of
which he felt prouder than this. 81
had to give up many cherished preju-
dices and many fair illusions, and to
part with some dear friends. had,
too, to confess myself mistaken. Now
| am proud to look back on it all. |
dared, | spoke, | conquered"
After the coup detat Hugo resided
in jersey till, in 1855, our FELLOWSHIP
jccts of that isle drove him out for
having protested against the expulsion
of some French refugees. The poet
then went to Guernsey, where his
lines were cast in tolerably pleasant
places. The scenery is lovely, and
Victor Hugo had chosen delightful
spot for his home. HautevilIe House
soon became the resort of pilgrims
from every part of the world where a
lover of liberty or an admirer of gen
ius was to be found. Independently
of its illustrious tenant, the mere
dwelling repaid visit. Hugo has
rare decorative skill, and his house
was perfect gem. He himself, how
ever, rarely used his fine rooms, pre-
ferring to work in garret furnished
with single table and chair, and des-
titute even of works of reference. a
thrifty soul, he was proud of having
written Il whole book without the ex-
penditure of more than one bottle of
ink. He called it accordingly, "Ce
quill dams une Bouteille d'Encre.' y
One splendid apartment, by the way,
was reserved for the reception of Cen
eral Garibaldi, in case that hero
should ever accord the honor of n
visit. Hugo might be hard pressed
for space wherein to bestow his guests,
but the liberator's chamber still re-
mained inviolable Hugo would not
hear of its being occupied by any
meaner mortal. | believe the Gene
raj never came, and indeed doubt
whether the most brilliant thinker and
the hravest soldier of the age ever met.
Nor is there much chance that they
will in the future, Garbaldi being too
i'll to travel and Hugo being too fond
of France to care to leave it.
Hugo has been accused of inordinate
vanity but at all events he can af'
feet a graceful freedom from that
quality. He once received a letter
addressed, "To the greatest of French
poets" Hugo sent the envelope un'
opened to Lamartine, who courteously
returned the same assuring his rival
that il had not miscarried in the first
instance. Hugo deserved to be praised
by I.amartine, and Lamartine by Hugo.