The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-22
BIOGRAPHY IN MINIATURE.

Through happy accident the review
ers eye has had the pleasure of first
introduction to the enjoyable Little
Journeys" upon which Elbert Hubbard
monthly, with the aid of G. p. Putnam's
Sons. conducts many thousands or
grateful readers to the Homes Of Good
Men and Great" In the assumption
that some of the readers of these lines
are as benighted as he himself has
hitherto been touching this charming
series of vicarious itineraries. the re-
viewer will explain that the first jour
ney was made seven months ago. when
Mr.. Hubbard issued an outline sketch
of George Eliot, compressed into neat
32-page folio of the Chap-Book type.
and illumined with personal recollec-
tions of a real visit which Mr.. Hubbard.
as an enthusiastic pilgrim-worshipper
at her shrine, had once made to Mrs.
Lewes' home. That venture was so cor
daily welcomed that 1t was followed,
In turn, by similar treatments of Car
lyle. Ruskin. Gladstone. ]. NJ. w. Tur-
ner Jonathan Swift and now Victor
Hugo. Future visits are promised to
the homes of Wordsworth, Thackeray.
Dickens. Oliver Goldsmith and Shakes
peare.
Mr.. Hubbard possesses an envable
knack OF dramatic conciseness in his
variations. In few words. following
each other naturally yet with rare
choice, he presents vivid and intelli-
gible picture of character or a condi-
ton: yet with a certain buoyancy that
readily carries the readers interest
oil tn Lot
men or more of his workmanship be
introduced in evidence. Here is a pie
ture ofithe house in which Victor Hugo's
mother lived in 1908, when Victor's ia
ther. General Hugo. was off to the wars
with Joseph Bonaparte. in Spain. and
when Victor himself was lad of 6:
1t was one of those peculiar old places oc-
casionally seen in France. The environs
of London have few: America none of
which l know This house, roomy, COM
Portable and antiquated, was surrounded
with trees and tangle of shrubbery,
wires and flowers; about 1t all was a high
stone wall and in front picketed iron
gate. 1t was a Mosaic-a sample of the
sixteenth century inlaid in this; solitary
as the woods: quiet as n convent; sacred
as forest; place for dreams, and rev.
was q dllapldated little chapel Here an
aged priest counted his beads, said daily
mass, and endeavored to keep moth, rust,
and ruin from the house of prayer. This
priest was scholar. man of learning;
he taught the children of Madame Hugo.
Victor Hugo was named in honor of
General Victor Lahorie. who stood as
godfather at Madame Hugo's request,
a request preferred by letter even be-
fore Victor was born. 1t is necessary
TO understand General and Madame
Hugos friendship for General Lahore
in order to fully comprehend another
scene which Mr.. Hubbard depicts:
Another man lived in this chapel He
never went outside the gate, and took eX-
erc!se at night. He had cot bed in the
shelter of the altar: beneath his pillow
were a pair OF pistols and a copy of
Tacitus. This man lived there summer or
winter. although there was no warmth
save the scanty sunshine that stole IN
through the shattered windows. He, too.
taught the children and gave them little
lectures on history. He loved the young
y est boy his godson. and would carry him
on his shoulder and tell him stories of
deeds of valor. One day file of soldiers
came. They took this man and manacled
him. The mother sought 10 keep her chill
dren inside the house. so that they should
not witness the scene. but she did not sue
ceed. The boys fought their mother and
the servants in a mad frenzy trying to
rescue the old man. The soldiers formed
In columns of four and marched their
prisoner away.
Not long after. Madame Hugo was pass
ing the church of St. Jaques du Hant
Pas-her youngest boys hand was IN
hers. She saw a large placard posted in
front of the church. She paused, and
pointing 10 1t said, Victor. read thatr'
The boy read. 1t was a notice that Cen
eral Lahorle had been shot that day on the
plains of Grenville by order OF a court
marshal. General Lahorie was a gentle
man Of Brittany. He was a Republican.
and five years core had grievously Of
Tended the emperor. A charge of conspir-
acy being proved against him, price was
placed upon his head. and he found a tenn
porary refuge with the mother of his god
son. That tragic incident of the arrest
and of the placard announcing General
Lahorie's death. burned deep into the soul
OF the manllng. and who shall say TO what
extent It colored his future life?
IL would be pleasant to follow Mr..
Hubbard through all his Journey But
our aim Is only to give the reader
some sample notions of his quality as
guide. His characterization of Hugo,
after pages descriptive of his stormy
career prior to the Punishment to
Guernsey. is terse and just: "He knew
history by heart and toyed with it;
politics was his delight. But II is a
mistake to call him a statesman. He
was bold to rashness, impulsive, i'm
patient and vehement Because man
is great Is 10 reason why he should be
proclaimed perfect. Such men as Vic
tor Hugo need no veneer-the truth will
answer: ne would explode keg of
powder to kill fly. He was an agita-
tor. But these jealous souls are need
ed; not to govern nor to be blindly fol-
lowed, but to make men think for
themselves" rS
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