New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-18
HUGOS MANUSCRIPTS.
THEY ARE NOW IN THE NATIONAL LIBRARY
OF FRANCE.
Paris, October %.

Bookworms. bhlophiles, and manuscript col
lecters will be interested in learning that the
manuscripts of Victor Hugo which were bequeathcd
to the National Library nearly seven years ago
have at last come Ito the possession of that lnst
tuition The countless admirers of Hugo in this
psrt of the world who have shuddered at the
horrors or suffered in tho misfortunes of "LIlommo
Oui Rt," or wept the ineXpressibly sad tate
ef Cosettc now have an opportunity to examine
the original manuscripts Of many OF the poems
dramas and novels of the great author.
The manuscripts have been In storage all this
time awaiting the RECESSION OF lawyers in regard to
the validity Of the will, and the acknowledgment
of the gift BY the authorities all Of which seemed
to consume an unnecessary amount Of time On
October H. however, the collection was formally
made over TO the library, registered ana GAIA
logued II will be several weeks yet before the
work Of classification and binding will be com
pletcd. Some Of the manuscripts are made oil
sheets bound together, others are of loose sheets
Of all sizes and dimensions, or simply scraps or
paper which Happened to be in reach when hugo
was seized with an inspiration and utilized the
nearest material at hand All of these have to
be properly arranged before they can be bound
and allowed TO pass into the hands of the public.
Five or six of these in best shape were bound ana
placed Upon the shelves Immediately 10 satisfy
4 number Of students who thronGcd the library
every day 10 Ct hold of the manuscripts
The manuscripts received by the library are Of
the works published during Hugo's life The
family Of the poet still carefully guard the manu-
scripts OF the works published since his denth and
q numbcr OF unedi ell works that will b. published
soon. The list of the works now in possession of
the library comprise rAne Angelo, PAnnee Ter
rible. Part d'etre Grand erc Bug-Jarga les Bur
A1e Dt,nc ~
Chants du Crepuscule les CONCENTRATIONS, Crom-
we'll c Dernier Jour dun Condamne, la Fin DC
Satan, rHonme Qui Rit, P1ntrodrction a Ia Vie de
Shakespeare la Lecendc des Siecles. Lucrecc Bor-
ria. Marion Deor1ne, Mes Fills, les Afise7ablcs.
Napoleon le Petit, les Chatiments. Notre-Dam" dc
Paris les Orientales, la Pite Supreme. Quatrc-
vinqt-trei2A, ReliqiOns-et Religion. le Retour 10
lEmpereur, h Roi samuse, Puy-Blas. le Theatre
en- I4berte, les T'ravailleurs dc Ia Mer, les VoM
Intcrieures William Shakespeare. Some Of the
earlier publications which should have been In
cluded in this list have for some reasons bHen
withheld. These are Hermann, Marie Tudor Ia
Esmeralda, Han d'Isandc Historic dun Crime
Odes ct Ballades and Quatrc vents dc l'Esprt.
Tho manuscripts are interesting to any who
Il interested in such collections in general, or
in Victor Hugo In particular, and they are genu-
inc sources Of delight to the people who have an
exaggerated sentiment for all relics Of the dead
or to literary hero worshippers. Such persons
and there are many OF them in France will read
with q profound reverence those pages over which
Victor Hugo bent bis decpyfurrowcd. scholarly
face the sheets touched by his breath and marked
by his handwriting resembling at times the old
Gothic characters upon the parchmcnts Of the
Middle Ages Victor Hu1o used for the most part
q heavy octave paper Of deep blue tint. The
page is divided into two columns and the margin
is fully as wide the text lie always left plenty
OF room for revision md additions, and sometimes
the interpretations more abundant than the
main writing Corrections are rare. and there
are entire pages without single change. Tie oc-
casionnl ciiminations are done with heavy, viz
orous stroke, il the author had used tho end OF
q match, which might also have served for the ttc
OF the book which is in heavy, black letters. Ammo
tations outside of the text references to other
works are exceedingly rare. In the manuscript
Of the Legends of the Ages" the last paragraph Of
Lion dAndroclcs" is written on the margin in
brilliant red ink 1t is said that it has never been
published, and it is worthy of the attention Of
many thinkers in these days OF interest In occult
ism
In this note lie speaks Of the inspiration he
ceivcs through the medium Of unknown forces,
which influences not only his work. but bis life
Probably other notes may be found which will
throw more light upon the life of the man who
was the greatest master Of antitleScs tie world
has ever known, the man who understood the
value and force Of contrast between deformity
and beauty, ideal purity and absolute depravity.