The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-10
OUR PARIS LETTER.
VICTOR HUGO, THE FIRST POET
OF THE AGE
as Home and His Lave for CEi1dren-Hh
Definition Of Paradise-How
He Dresses-Chsnging
His Mind

PARIS, April 21.-Last month Victor Huge
celebrated his eighty third birthday, and foI
q moment the eyes Of the whole literary
world were directed towards the creator anc
defender Of Romanticism- Each year as tn,
anniversary rolls round the friends and ad
mirers Of the great poet strive to hon0
wortbiiy the occasion, until it has become q
veritabls national fete day. Let me try ans
depict for you some of the many sides Of thu
character of this remarkable genius who L
praised and commemorated while living a.
only the dead usually are
Victor Hugo's home is little hotel remark
able only for its furniture and its garden
The latter offers the poet greensward eve,
In winter, and during the summer month";
towering trees throw a soft shade over hi
walks, while the rustling of the lea es min
giles with the twitter Of the birds What 9
congenial retreat for a city-bound poet! Tn,
decorations of the interior of the house arr
rich tapestries, japanese wares and furnitur,
in the style of Louis XIV.
Victor Hugo geE up when he wakes up
He allows nature to govern his sleeping ane
beginning with The Rappel, which may b,
considered his organ He used to write fol
its columns, and still takes warm interest
an it's prosperity because of its editor-in- chief
NJ. AugBste Vscquerie, brother of Charlie
Vacquerie, who married Victor Hugo
daughter, and who was drowned with hi
young wife before the very eyes of the poet
an the Seine, not far from Havre. / haw
sailed over the spo. and seen the big rec
brick mansion on the shore where the Vac
queries lived and the stony beach where thu
half-crased father saw his daughter swal
lowed up by the waves. How heartleS
death has been in its treatment of the poet
Victor Huge has indeed escaped its grasp,
and, at eighty-four, seems able to parry il
for many years yet to come One brother
died at thirty six and another at fifty six hi
son Charles fell victim Of congestion of the
brain IN 1871, and his second son, Francois
followed the brother to the grave two year
3ater; while the faithful wife succumbed
an 1863 Georges and Jeanne-made immor
tai in bis verse-children of his son Charles
are the only near blood relatives left te
cheer the last days Of the aged grandfather.
But how well this boy and girl-for George.
and Jeanne are only half way through then
feens-understand their role. 1t was s
touching sight to see young Georges, at the
grand banquet given IN honor of the poet OF
che 18th of last month, waiting so tenderly
upon the hoary-headed grandpapa, support
jng him when he walked, running for hi,
hat and helping him on with his greatcoat
for ON this occasion-I can vouch for the
truth of the statement-Victor Hugo die
wear an overcoat.
No wonder Victor Hugo loves children sc
dearly. He is continually made to feel their
watchful care This alteration for the young
has become one of the poets ruling passions
Jules Claretie, the novelist, relates: lone
day Inc said to me: DO you know how
define Paradisei A place where parents viii
always be young and children always little.
One Of his greatest joys-he admits il him
self, and he is iight-was. when he had Q
number Of staid political friends in his parloi
or a work to finish, to come In with a dol
hanging out of his coat-tail pocket and te
walk about with Georges and Jeanne trottins
behind bim, their eyes riveted on the play
thing until slowly and softly they relieved
grancpapa Of his burden At the children'l
ball at the Opera the other afternoon noticed
Victor Hugo in box encircled with merry
boys and girls In fancy dress who had gon,
to sec the great man of whom they had
heard their mothers aud fathers speak "
often
but we left Victor Hugo reading Tn,
RappeL After his first breakfast he goes
out for stroll, either along the broad
avenue which bears his name aud on which
stands his house. or among the winding path,
II the Bots de hologne, hard by, lie RETURN
home about noon for his second breakfast
which he eats with hearty appetite and In
the hest III spirits. IN tho afternoon he
sometimes gees 60 the SENATE, OF which he b
= member, uF ~ the Academy when candi
date IL up for election | have seen him enter
che ~enaie chamber more than onca. Voc
can always tell that he h coming hy IN,
way the senatorp who cucumber the arens
Ia front ~ the tribune, step back Ia let hin
pass II II a. II the usher erieil MAX,
WY ~ 'h' hhtkt Ah' INV H'ifHlhf hihiNNri
through the midst of his colleagues In moaI
stately manner, deigning a bow 10 this one, .
shake OF the hand 90 that one and perhaps .
word Ia another When he reaches hts sat
which i the very last ON the second row ol
the Extreme Left, he leans back, folds hh
arms over his breast and appears lost Ia .
brown study This habit Of folding the
arms when seated h favorite one with
Victor Hugo He assumes this same pose
whom driving In the Bois, and l. often recog
Mined in this why by those who see him pass.
These drives arr generally taken In com
pany with Nine Tola Dorian, who may IL
considered 20 he also OF Apollo's household,
For she knows how 20 guide the steeds Of the
sun and TO compose verses Ia the lofty style
Of Victor Hugo. She Is charming woman,
slert original, gay. II her horses run away
abe laughs Victor Hugo. timid people say,
h brave indeed 10 trust himself to this
daring charioteer. One day Mime. Dorians
stations were more spirited than usual, and
s.s,med bent on having their own WAY Sls