The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-10

borne in these chariots of democracy. Vic
tor Hugo loves all Parasitic old quarters
better than the new, the poor districts bet
ter than the rich. he prefers to go incog
alto, but almost always his neighbors recog
ntze their famous fellow-traveler, and, proud
Of the juxtaposition, they salute him. Where
upon the old bard extends his hand, and
whoever the unknown friend may be, gives
him hearty grasp.
Another characteristic of Victor Hugo
worth the noting is the way in which be
dresses He doesn't at all believe that 'sstyle
makes the man. He is almost invariably
attired, summer and winter, morning and
evening, in the same heavy, dark brown
sack-coat On very grand occasions he viii
sometimes depart from re rule and put on q
Swallow tall but this occurs very seldom
He will never, however, consent TO don the
regulation uniform Of the French academy.
with its green palm leaves embroidered on
the collar. Last year, when NJ Pailleron
was received into the Immortal Company
he asked Victor Hugo to act as his intro
Queer on that ceremonious occasion The
aged poet accepted the honor on condition
that he should not be expected TO appear in
uniform. ''You will quite understand" he
added, that a man doesn't order new suit
at eighty-two." And yet you would wear
it out, was NJ. Pailleron's happy reply.
Another popularity of Victor Hugo's
wardrobe is the absence of an overcoat. One
afternoon last January, when there was
snow ON the ground, skating in the Bots and
north wind blowing, Mime. Dorian invited
the poet to take drive. He jumped into the
phaeton attired in his inevitable sack coat
But where is your great coatf' asked
Mime. Dorian.
MY great costr was the response; 81
haven't any; in fact have never had one
You know that / dress the same summer
and winter. My overcoat is my youth"
Last November Victor Hugo made visit to
the Bartholdi statue The day was lowery
and it was late in the afternoon The rest of
us were well bundled up. But the old bard
spent an hour in the chill open air without
gloves and his sack coat unbuttoned
1t is hard to believe that this robust octo-
generian was once puny, sickly infant. He
has touchingly described his feeble babyhood
in these untranslatable lines:
Sun enfant sans couleur, sans regard ct sans
voix,
81 debile quill fut, ainsi qu'une chimere,
Abandonne de tous, excepte de sa mere,
Et que son cou ploye CONNIE un fable
roSeau
Fit faire en- meme temps sa biere ct son
berceauP'
Nx,o V;o+o- u..-~ -
often heard his mother tell how he appeared
when he came into the world ''She said, ~
writes Nine. Hugo, that he was no longer
than knife. When he had been swathed
the nurse laid him on an easy chair where
he took up so little room that there would
have been place for a half dozen more like
him. His brothers were called to see him.
He was SO weakly and resembIed so little a
human being that Eugene, his brother, who
was only eighteen months old, and who was
just beginning TO talk, exclaimed at the
sight What funny thingr"
Victor Hugo has always been observant of
the laws of health, and has thus built up
strong constitution ON what was i'm the be
ginning weak foundation. When he went
threatened with heart disease 81 will find
out whether IL is so, he said So he sprang
ON a horse and started ON wild gallop along
the beach of st. Clement The overwise
Esculapiuses then admitted that they were
mistaken. The sea air and sun tanned his
skin aud daily spoonful of tar-water ere.
paired the inside" a. he used to say. II is,
teal. ~ ~
Victor Hugo's exile gave him new lease Of
life. And the mountain mir Of Switzerland,
whittier the poet goes every summer for sew.
erel weeks, keep him strong and we'll. Like
Fontenelle. who lived Co be a hundred, hs
may exeaim "tIow many of those who had
written INV obituary have gone before meln
Victor Hugo IL never at loss FOR pointed
aud appropriate mot tle welcomed Don
Pedro with these worda "if all Emperor
we're like you, they would be NJ deserving Of
our esteem ~ Ia the Republic sly.boots
put this question to him one evening &C the
dinner table, WHO Ia the frat poet ~ the
age = Victor Hugo NJ eunningly responded
"fhe second IN Alfred do Mussatn lie
wished at one time Ia purchase the house Ia
WHh'H wv iiN'Ht WV we NNh'fl lnp illn'V ut
Iusignan, asked too big price "Aevea
hundred and ffty thousand franesr ex
claimed the poet TITS cheap ~ that" 10
piled the Princess, "hat think-that little
hotel has had the incompatible honor Of
housing Victor Hugo" The tenant an
swered with smiles MY dear Madam, !
am not rich enough 20 live where Victor Huge
has resided, ~ AMI he Immediately bought lot
hear by where he Il about 10 erect a new
house, When Mr., Moncure ID, Conway was
introduced to him the other day and OK
pressed regret at not being able 30 speak
French tuently, the aged poet drew himself
up and said I'VE viii understand each
other, for We are both lovers Of the good. -
NJ. Charles MonSelet, n contemporary author,
who writes In tho spirit and style OF the
eighteenth century, was thus happily por
trayed ON one occasion; "My dear Monselet
(Aionselet then lived ON the Quai voltalre),
when invite You 20 dinner | am always
tauapfs.l ~ address NV taffar. tfra No.,al..,.