New-York tribune., 1880-06-13
VICr0R HUGVS EARLY LIFE.
From Tcmple Bar.

From Temple Buf.
Victor Marie Hugo was born on tho 2Bth of Feb
ruary. 1902, at BessancOn. lie was the youngest
of three sous and their father, General lingo bring
engaged in the various campaigns Of Italy ana
Spain I'D TO the time Of NapOeOus defeat and exile,
Madame Hugo and her children followed him INTO
both countries, and thus their early years were
spent amid STANCE sights and enes, 1OllOwlng the
fortunes Of war. After the fall Of the Emperor.
General Hugo was deprived Of his command, and he
then came to Paris and placed his two Younger BOYS
in preparatory school in tho ltuo Salnte Margue-
rite, with \ view to their entering "PEcol Poly
technique" later on. Here in tho intervals or
study, Young Victor organized dramatic representa-
tlons among his scaOOliellOws and filled volumes of
copy books with poetry. Within three years iron
thirteen to sXtcenl he had written a collection of
verses comprising Odcs satIrcs, poems, Tragedies
rlcgics idylls, limitations of OSsIan, Transitions
from Virgil, Horace, Martial ard other Latin
writer's, romanccs and fables, cpgrams madriGals,
charadcs in rhyme, npromDlnS. COME opera, an
opIc cf five hundred line called The Deuge," etc.
lie has always been specially tender-wih the ten
dcrne5s of n noble and manly naturc-towards the
WEAKER SIX; and NJ this are tho one woman in the
world for him bis mother TO her he addressed
some Of tho most dellcaiclY polished OF ms early
verses from her he derived the passionate Toyaiism
winch IN his youth held the place OF creed TO hlm
from her also, alas he inhibited the spirit of antagO-
nIan to Christianity which, except TOR one brief mo-
rncut in YOUTH has OutllYed the rest of his tradI-
tonal crrcds. She ardent disciple of Vol
tAire and nor influence asserted itself upon ihe
boys from their earliest years. When placing them
for time in Catholic school IN Spain she objected
To the rule that all the scholars should attend mass
daily. :" 1t il an absolute rule OF the school.
Professionals" replied the mother " for they shalln not
CO." And LATER on in Paris, when the rcot OF the
school went on sundays 10 mas. VICTOR ny special
permission, remained at home. and amused himself
with his beloved vorse.making. When hIs mother
joined circulating library. the good old librarian
kept all the works of "pRitOsophio" and of
questionable morality III II room apart.
well locked away. and protested TO
Madame Hugo that her boys shOnd not be allowed to
read those works. which OF course they clamored
TO look into. Let them alone" said the mother,
d" books hayo never done any Earm.' so they read
One day, while tho whole school is taking its
usual Thursday walk, solcmnly stepping out two by
two one dark, slight, ncryOus-lOOklnR youth 0i nj
teen Slips quietly from the ranks aS thoy pass Dy
the Iustitu." n building which holds within its
sacred walls the Acudemical secretarys office.
Signing 10 the usher IN charge ot tho boys 10 1OlOw
mm the two run nOsecSslY up tho great staircase,
aud enter, hrcathlrss with agitation, door marked
'S6crftarat' Here young Victor holds out
little roll Of paper sunimerln9 anu nushlhg
as he explains that IL isl poem inr competition at
the annual prizeRiving on tho subject named, VIZ
THE Pleasures 0t study" The Oilcial grayely re-
Ceivcs the precious document, marks lI Win inc
number" l." aud putting it on one side. nods their
dismissal nnd the Two boys hastily rel0n thelr COM
panlons. About fortnight afterward Vlctors elder
brother. ADel, comes TO the school bcamng with |
kindly sat lOH, not unmiXcd with surprise 10
announce to his little brother that he mas received
mn honorable mention" from the great academic |
Franchise" You little donkeyW was tho fratcrnal |
salute what possessed YOu TO put your age INTO |
the poem Yon might have had the prizeP
His next attempt was Il short story called Bng |
JarraLp written during tho holidays, III the |
space of fifteen daps, aud read out |
before a select little band of admirers, who hat IN
cautiously accepted bet made by the selfconidcnt
ynnng author that he would write whole novel |
within thar period or failing, give dinner all |
round. The story was voted success. Abel Hugo |
gave a dinner III its honor. and young Victor was |
again the hero Of the evening.
After this hc naturally adopted literature as |
career and ho and his brother Eugene, who was am-
btIons of like success, eft collrge and lived at
home with their mOthoI. who delighted IN her sons |
literary tastes and encouraged them to compete tor
prZrs and write verses and articles IN a magazine |
founded by Abel, aS the first step toward supporting
themselves by their pens IN the future.
But all this quiet happy life came to IN end IN
1871 Madame Hugo died suddenly, and General
Hugo who up TO this time had allowed his wife the
entire Guidance of their sOns, now came forward
and offered them regular allOWance
if they would quit tho path OF literature ana
ndopt regular profession Victor alone of tue three
brothers gave AN unconditional refusal TO this prop
ositlon. and thus cut himself adrift from the pa
tprnal guidance. HenceOrth ho cOntTlyed to pro-
vide himself with n scauty maintenance by hs pen'
living very much tho lite he has portrayed III tho
yOung student Marlus," on something like 700
francs Der annum. In attor years the fatpeT ana
son grew to appreciate each other better. ana the
most cordial sympathy existed between themj
bnt at this period of his life Victor stood alone IN
the world save tor one two friendly hands which
never failed to clasp bis own.