Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-26
VICTOR HUGo's LOVE STORY.
mime. Drouet's" Part In the Poets
Life and Works

By far the tenderest and most lasting
of Victor Hugo's friendships for women
ended in the death of Madame Drouet a
few days ago. She was an actress SO
years ago, when Hugo first met her.
Tall, of superb figure and lively intellect,
she inspired in the poet passion which
only deepened with time and change OF
fortune. His friendship was stronger than
the poets will; it outliyed his marriage
and allevIated its Disappointing nts; it fol-
lowed him into exile, and thrived in his
darkest years. Strangers who called
at the Rue de Clichy were ex-
pected to ignore the fact that Madame
DrOuet lived In the house. Before them
she was treated by Victor Hugo with
reyerential gallantry. She had none Of
the ways of an old stage beauty. though
In her youth she had been a paragon Of
plastic loveliness, and had, TO boot, grace,
archness, sensibility and bright wit.
Her WAYS showed good breeding and recti-
tude. Her musical talents were brilliant,
and she had "a delicious voice. She had
been left an orphan at an early age, and
her pateTnal 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 pOstulauts, Mon
seigneur Quelin visited the convent.
He congratulated the Breton girl on
the strength of her vocation. She felt
that If she did not that moment act with
decision she would be buried alive for
ever. Mastering up all her courage she
replied: The truth is, have no call
whatever, and do not want TO he nun"
ArnhhfEhnv had haaF1 fOld inaf tkfl
contrary, and in severe tone asked the
Superior why be had been kept In the
dark. She said, with more zeal than dis
erection: "The fact is, this young girl Is
an orphan. and penniless. Her relations
have no choice for her between heaven
and perdtion. 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 atterward to the Porte
st. Martin. and here she met her fate. the
young poet. She was given the part Of
the "Prlncess NegrOni" in "Lucretia
BOrgia." and her superb beauty fasci-
mated Victor Hugo, who, though young,
was even then famous. Juliette was
proud to see him at her feet. He became
jealous Of the spectators who acclaimed
her. Juliette felt remOrse for having
trihed with MIN, and sought employ
ment at Brussels and st. Petersburg.
The pOet was beside himself with grief on
hearing Of her plans for the future. He
was glorious, but not rich. and what right,
he asked himself, had he TO stand in her
way. The TEMPEST that ged in his mind
IS described in the chapter about Marius
ia LES Miserables." His Tyre got cut Of
time. Literary work was neglected. The
idea that a wife and four ch ldren entirely
depended upon his eXerti0ns crushed him
The actress. meeting him BY chance. was
hOTrOr-stricken by the change that
had taken place in him. Sne was
a woman OF rapid decision, and then
and there resolved to quit the theatre,
TO devote herself to the pOet-and. in
deed, as it then appeared to her, to poverty
also; to bear the rcprOaches which she
knew would be heapei upon her, to re-
sent nothing which those who would have
a right to hate her might say against her,
and TO have no ambition except Victor
[ HueO's welfare. He wanted a secretary.
| Why not, she asked, employ her as one?
/ The salary tor the work he required to he
4 done would be enough for all her wants,
and could be accepted with dignity. Ju-
lIette went TO live in the Place ROyale.
and there became Mafe. -Dr0uet.
Although she exercised an unquestioned
empire over the poet she never misused
1t, nor vas any member Of her household
ever heard to complain OF her presence
there. she Was associated with some Of
his brightest literary triumphs in such
manner that be must have considered her
almost an inseparable part Of himself.
The marvellous description Of the convent
at Pet.t-Picpus, in the "Miserables." is
taken almost word for word from Madame
Drouet's lips. She was In the Picpus
Convent when a girl Many other scenes
in LES Miserables" and in one or two Of
HugO's poems are due 10 the inspirations
and suggestions Of Madame Drcuet.
Madame DrOuet is buried in he cemetery
at 81. Mande. where lies the only child
she ever had-a daughter.