New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-23
SKETCH OF THE POETS CAREER,

/
| will transfer to canvas the impression taken.
! SKETCH OF THE POETS CAREER.
The Vicomte Victor Marie Hugo was born
in Besaucon, strongly fortified place in the Department
| of Douhs February 26 1902 His family had been
noble since 153lone of the most distinguished OF Lor
rane His fathcr-General Joseph Leopold sigsbert
! Hugo. who commanded tho garrison at Besancon and
who had been volunteer soldier Of the Repubhc-under
the Empire had risen he a General and Governor OF
several Spanish provinces. His mother the cultivated
daughter of a Nantes shpowner had shared in the
paigns Of her husband. especially in the Nendee Inc
child carried with the army to Italy. and went also
with his parents Eba Corsica and Switzerland Be-
fore years old he hal been on the banks OF
the ArnO and ber and the shores Oi Naples Bay In
1909 he taken to Paris where for two years under
the OF his mother he studied the classics with an
old priest having for his fcowpnpif his brother Eu
gene and young girl who aferward became his wife,
His father having been appointed maordomo Of Joseph
Bcnaparte King OF SPAIN young Victor went with
| him TO Madrid where he placed In seminary Tor
mobiles and being half starved he consoled himself by
writing lie then only ten years old Here
turned with his mother to Paris in sl2. where his class
zeal education was continued by his old teacher His
| father, who did not regard bis sons poetl
cal predictions with much oomplacency, then sent
linn to a school he to prepare for the Poly
technc lie studied mathematics. and soon distinguished
himself In that branch OF study; but no s;l wrote
poetry and fourteen had composed tragedy called
Irtamene" and two lyrics Rich aud Poor" and The
Canadian Girl" which fun Of promise. The French
Academy in 1917 offered prize for the best poem on
the advantages of study and young Victor became a
competitor His poem received honorable mention. but
the prize withheld because the judges would rot
believe that such a work could have from the
assisted hand OF boy Of fifteen. He won three prizes
In succession from the Toulouse Academy OF Floral
Games. three poems being entitled The virgins OF
| Verdun." 1.-THE Re-establishmsnt OF the Statue OF
Henry w." and Moses on tho Nile" The merit OF
these productions made him famous and his first volume,
"Odes and Ballads" Qs22, added 80 his reputation.
In 1923 nc printed called Han dslande,' and
year or two later he contributed to The LferGTB Con-
s,rUaiir the romance Of Bug Targal" which trans
lated into English IN 1926. lie printed second volume
OF Odes and Ballads" I'm 1926. He at this time
much IN favor with the Government and especially with
Louis XVIII, who bestowed upon him pension
LEADER or IHg ROMANTIC1sts.
At this period began the renowned war between the
romanticsts the classicsts OF the former Hugo
was the Acknowledged leader flo had already
grown much moro liberal In his politics, and
his associates sainte-Beuye Antoine
Emile Deschanps, A. dc Vgny Boulanger the painter,
and Dana the sculptor. These ardent spirits e-taD-
lshed the PRONUNCIATION OF their ideas. elub called
the C6nacle aud a newspaper. La Muse Frdneaise. In
1927 Hugo produced his drama Of Cromwell" This,
unsuited to the stage regarded example Of
the literary reforms demanded by the new school, and
IL was prefaced by treatise aesthetics. In 1929,
Hugo having witnessed the execution OF the assassin OF
the Due de Berr in 1920 conceived great dislike for
punishment by death. He began the next day after
witnessing another execution TO write The Last Day
OF a CONDEMNED Prisoner" 10 was published In 1929
aud was much read and talked Of Les OneLtales"
had been published in 1928 The drama OF H0rnan
was produced at the Theatre Francas In 1880 Before
this Hugo hal written marion DcOrne," but repre-
sentation, on account OF tho manner In which Louis
| VI DOH 4 he ime
the King bestowed upon Hugo a new pension. This he
Instantly declined. After the Revolution there being
no longer any for the suppression Of Marion
Dcorme" II produced at the Porte 81. Martin and
was very successful About the same time was Issued
| a volume OF elegies entitled Autumn Leaves" The
great drama of lie Ro sAmuse" 1t Is said. written
during the Revolution OF Juythe first In four days
When 1t was produced at the Comeo Francaise In 1882
| the Ministry found inadmissable illusions TO Louis
Philippe In the character Of Francis They at first de-
cded to suspend and then altogether 70 suppress the
play Hugo carried tho matter 10 the law courts and
made "a speech In his own behalf but the decision was
| against him, and he Immediately relinquished
! his pensions. The play Of "Lucr6oe Borgla" pro-
duced at the Porte ST. Martin In 1888 and followed
by Marie Tudor" by angelo, tyran de Paloue" I'm
1885 and by Ruy Bias in 1888 to tho great
OF which Frederick Lcmatre contributed From this
time the romantic school regarded Triumphant
At this time NJ Hugo made contract with Paris pub
Usher by which he TO receive the OF 100000
francs for the right publish all his existing works
the period Of eleven years lies BurgraYes" was the
last piece which W Hugo wrote for the theatre. 1t
presented in lS43 with doubtful piece pre-
viously completed, called 1.-THE Twins"
presented.
| An UNFLINCHiNG OPPONENT OF LOUIS NAPOLEON.
The great novel OF Notre Dame dc Paris" had been
received with enthusiastic appreciation In 1914 book
| too welKnOwn 10 require comment Hugo began 70
write the 9th OF Juy 1885, the next day all Paris
was In Instruction but he went steadily with his
work During these troublous days Hugo kept diary
aferward published under the title OF the Journal OF a
| RevoutIonst I'm 800" This forms part OF the Lit
erary and Philosophical Melanges." In 1871 NJ Hugo
was chosen member OF the French Academy though
the classcsts rallied against him. lie had been rejected
in 1885, 1889 and 1870 His Introductory discourse
political rather than literary In 1Si5 he atcd
peer OF France by Louis Philippe lie began TO
give more attention to politics. and tho Revolut on OF
1913 gave him his opportunity. The City OF Paris had
sent him 10 the Constituent Assembly. For time he
continued TO vote with the Conservative party but upon
his election to the Legislative Assembly he became moro
Democratic and socalistc He was the most I'M
| ninching opponent of Louis Napoleon. newspaper,
the Ereement which he founded and In which he wrote
vigorously, was suppressed by authority. After the
| af 2