Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-05-31
HAUTEvILLE HOUSE.
IN Eriled Poees Home.



the left-hand side as you ascend from
the harbor, stands an extremely plain
not to say ugly building, bearing
above its portal the name "Hautevillt
House." Like most of the houses il
st. Pierre Port it is built of granite
the granite of which the island is al
most entirely composed, and which il
shipped to England from the neigh
boring port OF st. Sampson at the rats
OF nearly l5O, 600 tons year. In thi
house lived for fifteen years, from lS5:
to 1870. the poet and novelist Victor
Marie Hugo.
The interest Of the house lies moi
merely in the fact of its having been
the poets residence, but more particn
larly In the fact that it does, in its in
terror arrangement and aspect, reflect
to great degree the life and genius oi
the man. The enlargement and dec.
Grafton of the rooms were the poets
hobby, and occupied his leisure for
three years, so that it is not wonder
full if his thought and fancy have leIt
their impress and made the house
speak to us in no uncertain manner of
the kind of man that lived there. Just
as Dove Cottage, in its humility and
severe simplicity, its dedication to ma
ture and homeliness, is a commentary
upon WordswoI t-'s whole life and
work
"Roof, window, door,
The very flowers are sacred to the poor,
The roses to the porch which they en-
twIne"-
So Hsutevllle House, with its fantasy
and bizarrerie, its contrasts and ro-
mantic notions, and imaginative lux
1rlsnce, are the very echo and express
sion o. the work and genius of Victor
hugo.
The story OF uuzO's life is sufffci-
entity vell-kuown. HIS father, General
Hugo, served under Joseph Buona-
parte, il Italy and Spain; his mother
was kUyali~t. Vietor's political
views, influenced in early life by his
mother, uGGerwent gradual change
after her death. A charge of disloy-
atty was brought against him as the
author of "Alarion de IIorme," and
again as the author of "Le Roi
s'smuse, and although the poet repu-
dated these charges there Is little
doubt that the liberal leaven was at
work. The Revolution of lS4S found
him supporting the Republic; IN June
he was elected to the Assembly; and
finally the coup d'etat put his name at
the head of the prescribed, Twenty
thousand francs were offered for his
capture dead or alive, and after being
concealed for five days at the house of
Royallst marquis, he escaped to
Brussels in the disguise of a workman.
In Brussels the poet might have spent
his life IN peace and quiet, and Haute-
vile House might never have known
him, but peace and quiet were not
in the nature Of the man. His terrific
IatIre, Napoleon le Petit" caused
disturbance which necessitated his Ieav-
ing Belgium. From Belgium he fed
to Jersey, and when jersey became too
not to hold HIM he crossed to Guern-
'ey, where he arrived IN 1855 with
greatly reduced means. 1t was at this
point IN his history that Victor Hugo
:ook up his abode in Hauteville
House.
The house bad its tradition, a tradi-
lion which may, perhaps, have been
attractive for one who delighted in the
serie and reyelled in the preternatural,
but which at any rate made it cheap.
The tradition was of q dark deed of
murder; the house was supposed to be
haunted; and in consequence had stood
empty for nine years You may fancy
ne, he wrote at this time TO Jules
Janin ''as doing little less than build
ing house. l have 10 longer a coun-
try, but l want a home.
81 have taken house in Guernsey.
1t has three stories, fiat roof, fine
dIght of steps, a courty srl, a crypt
and lookout; but 1t is all being paid
Tor by the proceeds OF Les Contem-
DlatiOns
Here then, for the next fifteen years
lved Victor Hugo, and here he wrote |
some of the most famous Of his works. |
Los CoDtemplations' in 1856, Lies
hliserables" in 1859, ia Iegende des
5lecles" in 1859, Lies TravaIlleurs de
Ia Mer," in 1866, and "L'Homme qui
slt" in 1869, all issued from Hauteville
House.
The Interior of the house presents !
Iery different aspect from the plain ex-
terror. 1t is arranged and furnished
precisely as it was In the poets life |
time, and the hand and eye of the artist |
are betokeDed in every room. The |
general effect is one of repose, some |
would say of sOmbreness, the colors |
are dark and rich, the prevailing tone |
is low aud yet, along with this there is
luxnrlancs of fancy, play of i'm
aglnatioD, and a love of the strange |
and even the grotesque, which pre- |
vents any approach 10 monotony, and |
eorrects the sobriety Of tone which |
night otherwise become oppressive.
Three or four rooms are geographic |
ally Of special interest. The first of |
these Is called the OAK Room, and, ss
Its name indicates, IT is furnished Ell |
hrely with oak, very richly carved. 1t |
Is arranged for a bedroom and sitting !
room, the portion in which the bed Is |
placed being PARTLY screened Off This, |
kbe richest room IL the house. has
never been used. 1t was prepared by |
The poet for guest who never came, |
prepared on the mere chance and hope |
of that guests coming. lie poet en-
sertainsd an idea, q Wish, pleasing
.apcy; and all this elaborate prepars-
Ion, this care and thOIgat, vas for the
5ondly cherished ar. am. The guest
rho never cane wss q rbaldi.
The following are the verses in which
57 inyItAtl"n was conveyed
Yes, come, 0 brother Of the bruised spir,s
come,
Though eE'l9s we, fer ,heO We gladly ina /.
home.
Consent to come, and hospitality partake
With US, of whom no tyTants power slaves
could make.
Sor Italy, for France, together let us see
The promise Of the glorious duy ofliberty.
Together in the evening wait the dawning
light
When Nations shall ooufess the majesty Of
right
The fireplace in this room, like the
sest of the furniture, IS of oak, and
carved upon it, on one side are the
words Svm Non Seqvor, on the other
Sto Sed Fleo.
In striking contrast with this fanci-
full and poetic guest. chamber is the
actual bedroom Of the poet himself,
tiny room at the top of the house, au
attic one might almost call it, opening
into his study. We look around for
the bed, but do not at first recognize
1t in q cushion or thick rug, laid IN