The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-14
VICTOR HUGO AT HOME.
How the Great French Poet Is Ending His
Glorious Career.
Paris Morning News.

Paris Morning News.
At this time of the year Victor Hugo receives
a great many cosmopolitan visits. His fame is
so worldwide that illustrous tourists from all
parts arriving in the French capital seek an
audience of him, The great French poet is
very hospitable and seldom refuses to crafty
the desires of his admirers. In exceptional
cases he invites the visitor to his table 1t is
at once an honor and treat, for the veteran
bard is a capital host and knows how to enter
tain his guests, Victor Hugo continues to wear
wonderfully well. Like his countryman who is
installed at the Elysee, he looks far younger
than his age. Nobody would imagine he was in
his eighty second year.
Victor Hugos little hotel in the old Avenue
d'Eylau, which now bears his name, is well
known to the literary pilgrim. 1t is an unpre-
tentious residence, and thousands pass before 1t
little dreaming that its tenant is the greatest
living genius of France 1t consists of a rez de-
chaussee and two upper floors, with small
garden and conservatory. The apartments are
well furnished but there is no attempt at lux
ury-in fact, the poet prefers old furniture to
new, and has horror Of things gaudy OF
course, there is end of objets DART the greater
part being the offerings of friends and admirers.
Conspicuous among them is bust of Victor
Hugo by David, of Anglers and painting by
Noillemot representing the grandchildren,
whom the poet has immortalized. There is also
a very fine collection of tapestry, ancient and
modern.
Like most great men, Victor Hugo is an early
riser. AS rule he is up at daybreak both win
ter and summer. He is also very regular in his
habits In fact, his mode of living is arranged
almost like clock-work AS soon as he has
dressed he breakfasts on eggs and coffee, and
works in his study till noon. The poet never
sits down to work. but stands before high
desk. Now and then he relieves himself by
walking to and fro or slipping some sugared
water. The amount of literary labor he gets
through from sunrise to noon is something in
credible. Punctually as the clock strikes II he
lays down his pen-always goose-qulll-and
tair 70 nc midi he
meets his grandchildren and other members of
the family 1t is then that he throws off his
poetic mantle and gives himself entirely up to
the innocent joys of simple mortals
The poet spends his afternoon out of doors.
After strolling till he feels tired he halls the first
omnibus he sees and mounts the knife board
CONNIE un jeune homme." Not by any means
will he ride inside All the omnibus drivers
know him. The knife board is his favorite point
of observation, whence he gathers inspiration
from the passing crowds below. Many of his
famous characters have been caught in his minds
eye while taking three-sou drive from the Arc
de Triomphe to the Bastile
Refreshed by his open-air excursion he re-
turns home to dinner which is fixed at o'clock.
There are always few guests. Victor Hugo is
very abstemious, both in eating and drinking.
He drinks Bordeaux as a rule but never undl-
luted. Even on the most ceremonious occasions
he will not depart from his rougie. He was
once dining at the Tuilleries under Louis
Philippe. The Due de Nemours, who was OPP
be placed by the poets side; it was an old
Chateau LATTE, worth its weight in gold His
Royal Highness gazed at Victor Hugo, curious
to see what effect the taste of such nectar would
have on him. Judge of his horror and surprise
seeing the bard po1lute it with the contents Of
the water decanter.
1t is this sobriety and regularity which ena
bles Victor Hugo to get through so much work.
The first attempt Of the poet was written at the
age of fourteen. 1t was piece of poetry called
lie Jury" He sent it to the Academy hoping
to win prize but it was not Crowned" Moth
ing daunted, young Hugo persevered, and soon
convinced the Forty Immortals that he possessed
the sacred fire. He composes with wonderful
rapidity For example, he wrote his
Cromwell" in three months, and his
''Notre Dame de Paris" in four months and a
half. But even these have been his longest
periods of labor, and as he grew older he wrote
| faster. Marion Delorme" finished in
| twenty-four days; Herman in twenty-six; and
Gle Roi s Amuse' in twenty. To-day, in his
eighty-second year, he is more rapid than ever;
and verify, indeed, may it be said that painting
| time tolls after him in vain"
| But to return to the poet in his daily life Dur
ing dinner he amuses his guests with lively anec-
dotes, which he has talent for telling as well as
writing In this respect he is unlike many other
authors, who are all pen and no tongue. Ladies
will be fattered to learn that their sex holds an
important position at the poets table. Victor
Hugo, the older he grows, appears to like la
dies society the more. He is very gallant and
kisses the hands of his lady visitors in the good
old courtier style. He is no poser, as men of
genius sometimes are, but adopts simplicity
which puts his guests at their ease. He never
monopolizes the conversation, and has knack
of not allowing other people to do so.
Victor Hugo is at present engaged on the work
which he believes will eclipse all his previous
productions He has already several completed
manuscripts which have not yet seen the light
and which are carefully stored in a strong box.
Whether the work which ne is now writing will
be added to them and kept secret till after his
death time alone can tell