Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-06-12
G r HuGo's A

VICTOR HuGo's DEATH.
Peaceful End of the Noted French Poet,
Dramattst and Novelist-Universal Evil
dences of Sorrow Over His Demise Ex-
hibited by the National Brief Sketch OF
the Career of This Remarkable Man.
PARIS, May 2s.-Victor Hugo died at
1880 o'clock yesterday afternoon, passing
away peacefully and without suffering. The
poets condition in the morning was mani
testify so much worse that his death was
regarded as certain to take place within
o few hours. When this fact became
known the clergy of the city sent
to his residence with offers to
visit him and administer spiritual aid and
the rites of the Catholic Church. NJ. Lock-
ROY, the poets son-in-law, who was in
attendance at the death-bed when the
proffer of the clergy was received, de-
clined it with thanks, and said for the
dying man: "Victor Hugo is expecting
death, but he does not desire the serv-
ices of a priest" The dying man lay in
O trance for som hours before the end. He
awoke suddenly, raised his head, gazed at
his family and friends standing around the
bed, and then sank back ~lifeless. His last
words were: "Adieu, Jeanne, adieu," adj
dressed to his favorite granddaughter. His
white hair and beard had grown quite long
during his illness, and his body was much
emaciated, but the brow retains its grand
ell.
The news Of his death was announced to
the assembled crowd by Victorien Sardou.
There was then a great rush of reporters to
the house, and the servants were obliged tc
rspel them. Lockroy closed the front door,
Having a table in the street for visiting
drds.
1.-The death of Hugo causes grief through
DIT the continent. The newspapers are
Agerly sought for from a desire for the
trticulars Of his last moments.
1t is reported that NJ. Hugo bedueathed
lis manuscripts to France, and that he left
ito the Republic to select a burial place
Tor his remains, and to decide as to the
form of his funeral.
Populations from the Municipal Govern
hent and from Parliament offered thei1
tondolence this evening. Next arrived
Mme. Bernhardt, dressed completely III
white, bringing with her al immense crown
bf white roses. Jules Simon says that the
whole academy will attend the funeral and
thdAihlc uc Cduip VIII ueliNel Vic oIdltoH.
Lockroy's and Hugo's grandchildren are
bowed with grief. Half Of the poets
fortune, 4,oO0,0 900 francs, is bequeathed by
Hugo to his daughter Adele, who is in a
lnatic asylum. 1t was Hugo's wish that
Ms heirs and executors should hereafter join
IL building a lunatic asylum.
ROME, May 23.-The Chamber of Dep
utes yesterday paid tribute to the memory
ofIVictor Hugo.
PARIS, May 23.-The of
Pfis appeared in mourning last evening.
tits believed that the funeral will be the
gtndest seen in France for a century. The
pet was sketched as he lay on his DEATH
bid by the great painter Bennett, who will
tansfer to canvass the impression taken.
In the Senate, NJ. Leroyer delivered an
kulogy on NJ. Hugo. The speaker said that
for the past sixty years Victor Hugo had
lbeen the admiration of France and of the
world. He had now entered Immortality.
His glory belonged to nc party, but to all
men. Prime Minister Brisson delivered an
eulogy in the Chamber of Deputies. He
said the whole nation mourned the loss of
Victor Hugo, and moved that the funeral OF
! the poet be conducted at 1.-THE states expense.
The motion was greeted with applause.
The Senate and Chamber adjourned III
respect to the death of NJ. Hugo
| 1t is stated that NJ. Hugo passed
through a long IL terrible agony before
death. 1t is proposed to inter the poets
remains in the Pantheon, and that the day
of the funeral be declared a day of nationa
mourning, OH which all the Government,
offices, the schools and the theaters shall bs
closed.
Victor Marie Hugo was born Mt Besancon
France, February rs, 1>R. His father was F;
Colonel in the French army. Young Hugo re
ceived classical instruction in Il, religious
house, and published his first volume OF
"Odes and Ballads i'll ls222. He was admitted
to the French Academy in 1871, and was ere
ated u Peer of France by Louis Philippe. IL
lS49 he was chosen President of the Peace
Congress. After the establishment of the
Second Empire he went into exile, passed eev
eral years in Guernsey, Jersey and Other
Places. and refused to avail himself of tho
France Oh the fall of the Empire, he wa!
elected to tho National Assembly at Dor
deaux, but resigned his seat early in 1871 ant
went to Belgium, from which he was soon cx
PEELED by the Belgian Government, on &C
count of his sympathy with the Communists
lived most OF tho time of late yearl
at his chateau in Guernsey. He was a very
prolific writer. Among his more importar
works were "Notre Dame de Paris,'' lie.
Miserables," 'Historie dun Crime" III
Homme qui Rit," ''Ruy Bias marion d,
Lorme," "Hernnni," lie Roi L'Amuse
"LAnnee Terrible" etc.1