The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-06-10

by Victor Hugo with reverentisl
gallantry. She had none of the
ways OF an old stage beauty, though in
her youth she had been paragon of
plastic loneliness, and had to boot, a
grace, archness, sensibility and bright
Wit. Her ways showed good breeding
and rectitude. Her musical talents
were brilliant, and she had delicious
voice. She had been left an orphan at
an early age, and her parental uncle, a
famous general of the republic, thought
to keep the beauty out of danger, She
should enter convent for life. On the
eve OF the day on which she was to have
assumed the veil with other pOstulants,
Monsieur Quelien visited the convent.
He complimented the Breton girl on
the strength of her vocation. She felt
that if she did not that moment act
with decision she would be burid
alive forever. mastering up all her
courage, she replied: "The truth is
have no call whatever and do not want
to be num-" The archbishop had been
told just the contrary and in a severe
tone asked the superior why he had
been kept in the dark. She said with
more zeal than discretion: "The fact is
this young girl is an orphan and penni-
less. Her relatives have no choice for
her between heaven and perdition.
They elect for God and she elects for
Satan"
La Belle Juliette, as she was then
called, thus escaped the convent, went
to the Vaudeville and afterward to the
Port st. Martin, and here she met her
fate, the young poet. She was given the
part Of the Princess Negrom in Lucre-
tia Borgia, and her superb beauty fas-
cinated Victor Hugo, who, though
young, was even then famous.
him i'''0 at T her fRe rGua He 10 boca see
jealous OF the spectators who acclaimed
her. Juliette felt remorse for having
tritied with him, and sought employ.
ment at Brussels and st. Petersburg.
The poet was bsside himself with grief
on bearing OF her plans for the future.
He was glorious, but not rich, and what
right, he asked himself, had he to stand
IN her wayY The tempest that ragged in
his mind is described in the chapter
about Maries in Les Miserables. His
lore got out of tune. Literary work was
neglected. The Idea that a wife and
four children depended entirely upon
his exertions crushed him. The actress,
meeting him by chance, was horror
stricken by the change that had taken
place in him. She was a woman
Of rapid decision, and then and
there resolved to quit the theater, to de-
vote herself to the poot-and, indeed, as
IL Then appeared to Der, to poverty also;
10 bear the reproaches which she knew
would be heaped upon her; to resent
nothing which those who would have a
right To hate her might say against her,
and to have no ambition save Victor
HugO's welfare. He wanted a secre.
tary. Why not, she asked, employ her
as one? The salary for the work he re-
quired to be done would be enough for
all her wants, and could be accepted
with dignity. Juliette went to live In
the Place Royale, and thsre became
Nine. DrOuet.
Although she exercised an uuques-
toned empire over the poet, che never
mt5used 1t, nor was any member OF her
household ever head 10 complain of her
presence there. She was associated
with some OF his brightest literary tri-
umphs IN such manner that he must
nave considered her almost an insepara-
BILE part of himself. The marvellous de.
scriptlon Of the convent at Petit Picpus,
in the "Miserables," is taken almost
word for word from Madame DrOueJs
lips. Shs was in the Picpus Convent
when a girl. Many other scenes in
Lies Miserables" aud in one or two of
Hugo's poems are due to the inspira-
lions and suggestions Of Madame
Drou6t. Madame Drouet is buried in
the cemetery at st, Mamie, where lies
the only child she ever had a daughter.