Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-29
OUR PARIS LETTER.
BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF VICTOR
HUGO.
His Family ard Friendships. Mackay's
Insult to Frarce-The Califor-
MIA Prima Donna.
PARIS. March 5, 1854.

PARIS, March ., 1854.
The eighty-third birthday Of Victor |
Hugo occurred few days since, and was |
generally celebrated. The great poet re-
ceived great many calls, but owing to
recent indisposition was not able to see the |
hundreds of visitors who wished to con-
graduate him. Probably there is 70 man
in France 20 generally loved as Victor
Hugo, and his death would be regarded as
a public calamity. Although occasionally
indisposed, his general health is excellent,
and his step is IS elastic and his cheeks are
as rosy as those of & sixteen-year- old lad
His hair is as white as snow, snd is now
cut very short. 1t Is pleasure to watch
his sweet, benevolent face, especially under
the influence Of music, of which he Seems
to be passionately fond. 0ne never fails
to see him al the Sunday Pssdeloup OF Co.
Tonne concerts. and ne has his season box
at the Italian Opera. He is a good musi-
clan, and has composed some very good
sonatas for the violin, which is his favOrite
instrument. His etohings are now on ex-
hibition at the Academy of Fine Arts, In
company with those OF Messonnier and
other masters. He made the illustrations
for several of his novels, and those of the
first editions Of Notre D.me de Paris "
and of "Lss Miserables are quite re.
narkable
LEFT AS ONLY GRANDFATHER,
OF four children to him not one remains.
His eldest ughter, bright and beautiful
girl, was married when extremely young
to Charles Nacquerie, promising young
man whom the poet had educated and
fondly loved as his own son. Shortly after
the marriage the young couple went to
visit their illustricus father, who was
spending some time on the seashore for his
health. One morning, when the sea was
unusually smooth, the young couple in
vited the poet to accompany them short
distance in a little sailing boat. However,
they went alone, and never returned. 1t
is impossible to know just what happened.
That evening the two bodies were washed
ashore, almost at the feet of the poet,
whose agony can be imagined. The two
young creatures were tightly clasped in
each others arms, and they were buried in
one grave. This was terrible affection
for Victor Hugo. He has expressed this
uGtp6el SOllOH VI Alo AlAC III AulLIOIIal
verse" His second daughter when only
sweet child of Is, became suddenly and
violently insane, and is confined in a pri.
vate asylum near Paris, where her father
goes regularly to visit her. But she has
never recognized him. The eldest son was
married when very young to a beautiful
and charming girl and it was hoped that
his dissipated life would now change for
the better But he went from bad to
worse, until one night he was fatally
wounded in drunken brawI, and died in
a miserably low gambling house before
he could be taken to his fathers
home. He left two children, a boy
and a girl, who are the consolation
of the poet, and for whom he wrote the
book titled 1.-The Art of Being Grand
father" The daughteT-in-law has always
lived with Victor Hugo. A few years
since she married N. Lockray, a devoted
friend and an ardent political advocate of
the poet. The second son of Victor Hugo
died very suddenly a short time before the
war of 1870. The wife Of Victor Hugo
died many years ago, and now he has no
one LETT belonging to him excepting the
two grandchildren, who are always to be
seen with him at places of amusement, and
generally accompanied by Nine. Lockray,
who devotes her entire life to him. Their
home life Is perfectly happy, aud looking
at the calm, peaceful coun.ensnce If Vic.
tor Hugo, one would not imagine that he
had suffered more than most men.
MRS. alAcKAY's INSULT TO FRANCE.
Paris is greatly excited over the in
suit offered France and French art" by
Mrs. Mackay, of California The readers
I I IL L
Msissonnier painted Mrs Msckay's por.
trait, and that shortly aitsrward it was ex.
hibited at the first Triennial Salon, which
took place last September. Mrs. Mackay
paid Meiss0nnier $40, 600 for painting this
portrait, with tie privilege of exhibiting
it at the TrienDial Salon, where we saw it,
and thought it an excellent portrait, though
inferior, as a portrait, to other work ex.
hibited, which did not surprise US, as
Meissonnier Is not q portrait painter
Occasionally, when not in the humor for
his regular work" ne will paint a por-
trait, and if people viii insist upon bis
painting them, and offer him S4O-
600 for a few days work, the
temptation must be difficult to re-
sist. After Mrs, Mackays portrait
had been exhibited at the salon, her
many friends told her it was not half as
eood-lookiug as the original, and she po-
htely requested Meissonnier to make some
changes-in short, to make it more beauti-
ful. The grand artist was indignant, and
refused point blank to make the slightest
alteration. Napoleon Ill once made
similar request Of Meissonnier, whereupon
the artist cut the canvas into bits. 1t was
the work of a moment, after long weeks of
patient study And this is what hap
pened TO Mrs. Mackays portrait only, in
this case, it was Mrs. Mackay who de.
Etroyed her por,rait and not Meissonnier.
She had paid him $40 600, and had the
right to do as she chose with her portrait,
but all Paris thinks differently. There
was
AN EDIGNATION MEETING
Held few evenings since, at which were
present all the artists of note, and many
prominent literary men, who drew up
resolutions OF regret aud sympathy, to be
presented IN due form TO the great and
venerable artist. 1t is TO be hoped that
this evidence Of esteem, together with Mrs
Mackay's $40 Geo, may soo.he the artists
wounded feeIiDgs,
THE CALu0ESlA FEIiA DONNA.
Mrs, Macksy has recently converted
Miss Emma Nevada, the California pumA
donna, 10 Catholicism. The confirmation
took place 4 few days ago at one Of the
most fashionable churches Mrs. Maokay
acted as goamotber, and GounOd, the
composer Of " Faust" was godfather.
Miss Nevada, whose real name is Emma
Nixon, was eXquisitely dressed in white
satin and tulle, and looked very much like
E bride. Mrs. Mackay wore an elegant
robe Of mauve colored velvet. trimmed
with Chantilly lace The capote was Of
the same material and ornamented with
small msrabout feathers. There were
many Americans present, and several dis. |
tinguished FreuchHen, friends Of Gounod's |
Miss Nevada is very pretty, small, suffi. !
GENTLY plump 20 please Parisisns and quite |
graceful She and the Van Zandt we're !
rivals at the Opera Comique, aud for some |
unaccountabler reason Miss Nevada resigned |
her position. Mrs Mackay has done much |
for her, and has succeeded IN obtaining q !
position for her st the new Theatre Ital. |