The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-02
EMPEROR AND AUTHOR.
THE EMPEROR OF BRAZIL AND
VICTOR HUGO.


The Vista Of Dom Pedro to Europe-His
Apr ecistion OF Literature and Art
"Let the Emperor Fix the Day and the
Hour. Am Ut His Disposal"
When he. who is now living in Paris
as plain Dom Pedro, Of Alcantara, was
Emperor of Brazil, he often visited
Europe, leaving his daughter to govern
his then peaceful empire. As he highly
appreciated French literature and art,
and regarded Victor Hugo as the great
est leader Of French thought, he had a
great desire to make the poets ac-
quaintance. Hugo was Informed OF
the fact one morning in Nay. 1871,
when one of the Emperor's aides-de-
camp waited on him and with many
compliments invited him TO pay his
Brazilian Majesty a visit. Hugo Ie-
piled. tina. though greatly honored by
the invitation, he could not accept IT..
because being unable to visit those
whom he wished TO see, he had resolved
not 10 visit anybody. The aide'de-
camp bowed profoundly and withdrew.
but he came back the next, day and
with due oratorical precaution asked,
whether in the event of His Majesty S
paving NJ. Hugo a visit, the later
would return it. Il am really
ashamed said Hugo. 10 reply so
badly to such hattering advances; but
in conveying my thanks to His Ma
iesty, for the honor he proposes to do
my house. be so good as to tell HIM that
when the King of Bavaria called on me
not long ago | did not return his visit.
and consider myself bound by that
precedent.
The aide-de camp went out again,
bowling still lower than on the pre-
yious occasion. One who dIt not know
Dom Pedro would have thought, as
Hugo did. that all was over; nut 1t was
nothing of the kind. The following
day the aide de-camp reappealed on a
third mission, which was not to be his
last. This time he said "TheEmpeior
would be disconsolate, if he went away
withou. seeing the greatest poet IN
France. Can it be possible that there Is
no way of prearranglng meeting, OF
contriving an interview. Monsieur
Victor Hugo goes to the Senate house
almost every day. His Majesty also
would 90 to Versailles. Could they
not meet each other in the lobby, then
90 into one of the offices and have a
chat? Nothing would be easier" ITO
that | see no objection. replied Victor
Hugo. Let the Emperor fix the day
and the hour; / am at his disposal"
The delighted aide-de-camp saluted
more profoundly than ever, and hasten
ed to inform his master of his success;
but this time political circumstances IN
tervened. The crisis of the 10th May
put an end to the meetings of the SEN
ate. Victor Hugo thought 1t ridiculous
| for persons living in Paris to meet by
appointment in the empty lobby III
Versailles, and, consequently. he came
10 the conclusion that the project TO
meet must certainly fail; but he count
ed without the aide de-camp, whom no
rebuff could dishearten the eternal
aide-de-camp, who returned once
more, and this time said with a
very mysterious air: a person who
intends to present himself to-
morrow to Monsieur Hugo, begs him to
say at what hour he will be visible. a"
Such a request ii was impossible to re-
fuse so Hugo answered that from y
clock the next morning he would be
at the persons service. Precisely at y
the next day the person know
who it was-called. He was taken by
Hugo to his study, and there the two
men talked cordially. intimately. about
everything, including literature, art
| and politics. On this last topic the
Emperor said Il travel good deal,
and | don't see that affairs in Brazil 20
on worse in my absence. The elections
TO the Chambers are free. | appoint
the ministers whom the Chambers
designate, and dismiss them when the
Chambers cease to want them. So, we
keep house very well together, my only
ambition being to 5urpass all around
me in liberality." They went on to
talk of domestic affairs, and Hugo
brought two of his grandchildren into
the room, AS Que of them was in the
Emperor lap, George, said Hugo to
the child, lat some future time you
will recollect that he on whose knee
you are sitting is the sovereign OF
great country; one Of those men whom
others address as Sire and Your Ma
jesty.'" Buf the Emperor, becoming
furious, replied: my dear child, be
careful to remember what am going
to say to you. In whatever part of the
world and in whatever society your
grandfather may be, there is but one
sovereign, that is he himself. and one
majesty, that IS the majesty Of his
genius.
Some days after, the Emperor dropped
in unceremoniously and dined at HUI
go's with Ernest Lefevre and some
other pronounced Radicals. When after
dinner the Emperor was going home
at a rather late hour, his host con-
Quoted him to the door, and before
taking leave of him said Sir, in &C
acknowledgement of the kindness with
which you have overwhelmed me | am
going to express wish which you
will, no doubt, think odd.
What is that" the Emperor asked.
Sire, wish, and my friends here
wish like me, that all other sovereigns
may not resemble YOU"
But why?" exclaimed the astonished
Emperor.
Because" answered Hugo, IF they
resembled you, one could not speak Ill
of them, and they would retard the adj
vent of the Universal Republic. "-Re-
vue Bleu, September.