The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-12
HUGo,s LOVE SToE1
Nrae. Droaet's Part in the Poefs Life and

Works.
By far the tenderest and most last
| ing of Victor Hugo's friendshHs for
| women ended in the death or Mime.
Dronet few days ago. She was an
] actress hfty-three Years ago, when HUI
| 60 first met her. Tall, of superb fir-
ure, ana lively INTELLECT, ,fshe inspired 10
the poet passion whi<h only dee1ened
with time and change of fortune. This
friendship was stronger than tha s,6et' )
will; il outliyed his marriage aradsaIle-
waited its disappointments; it fsalowed
him into exile. and thriyedsf d h1rFdarks
est years Strangers WIS calnd At the
Rue de Clichy were exfSa hnicnore
the fact that Nine. Drona54fn 81. the
| house. Before them she was - ted
by Victor Hugo with reverentiSi gal
lantry. She had none of the ways of
an old stage beauty, though in her
youth she had been paragon of plas-
te lovelineSs. and had. to boot, 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 paternal uncle, a ia
nous general of the republic, thought.
10 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 pos
tulants, Mgr. Quelin visited the con-
vent. He congratulated the Breton
girl on the strength of her vocation.
She felt if she did net that moment act
with decision.
SHE WOULD BE BURIED ALIVE FoR-
EVER
Mastering up all her courage she re-
piled. The truth is. | have no call
whatever, and do not want to be
nun" The Archbishop had been told
just the contrary, and in severe way
asked xhe 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 penniless.
Her relations have no choice for her
between heaven and perdition. They
elect for God, and she elects for sa-
tan"
La Belle Juhette. as she was then
called, thus escaped the convent, and
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 Negroni
in ''Lucretia Borgia." and her superb
beauty fascinated Victor Hugo. who,
though young, was even then famous.
Juliette was proud to see him at her
feet. He became jealous of the spec
tators who acclaimed her. Juliette
felt remorse for having trihed with
him. and sought employment at Brus-
sells and St Petersburg. The poet was
beside himself with grief ON hearing of
her plans for the future. He was glo-
rious. but not rich, and what right, he
asked himself, had he to stand in her
way2 The tempest that ragged in his
mind is described in the chapter about
Marius in Lies Miserables. "
HIS LYRE GOT OUT OF TUNE
Literary work was neglected. The
idea that wife and four children en-
tirely depended 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 woman of rapid de-
eision, and then and there resolved to
quit the theater, to devote herself to
the poet-and indeed, as it appeared to
her, to poverty also; to bear the re-
proaches 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 except Victor Hugo's
welfare. He wanted a secretary. Why
not, she asked, employ her as one2
The salary for the work he required to
be done would be enough for ali her
and could be accepted with dig
nifty. Juliette went TO live in the Place
Royale, and there became Mime. Drou-
ct.
Although she exercised an unques-
toned empire over the poet, she never
misused 1t. nor was any member of his
household ever heard to complain
her presence there. She was associated
with some of his brightest literary tri-
umphs in such manner that he must
have considered her an almost INSOFAR
able part of himself. The marvellous
description of the convent at Petit-Pic-
pus, in the "8iiserables, is taken al
most word for word from Nine Drou-
cts lips. She was in the Piepus con-
vent when girl. Many other scenes
in Lies Aiiserables" and in one or two
of Hugo's poems are due to the inspi-
rations and suggestions of Nine. Drou-
ct. Nine. Drouet is buried in the Gem
etery at St. Mande, where lies the only
child she ever had-a daughter.