Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-08-17
A ALETTBR FROM VICTOR HUGO
CAME TO GEORGE T. ANTHONY WHEN
HE WAS GOVERNOR.
Referred to the John Brown Monu-
ment, at OsawatOmie, and Pre-
sented a Bronze Model of
the John Brown Medal.

Topeka, Kas., Aug. 16.-(Special0 In
searching through the state papers of
George T. Anthony. who served as gov
ernor of Kansas from 1877 to 1879. the cor
respondent of the Journal yesterday res
directed letter indited by no less
parsonage than Victor Hugo. the poet,
statesman and patriot of France, who. like
Governor Anthony, has been gathered to
his accounting at the great white throne.
The letter is written in French, but at
tached to 1t is an English translation
which reads as follows:
Paris. Feb. 2. 1873.
Monsieur Governor:-We have read in the
Journal of the United States of Europe,
published at Geneva on the Sth of No.
vember last, that a monument raised at
Osawatomie, in Kansas, to the memory of
John Brown, has just been inaugurated in
your presence. The Journal adds that
that the legislature of Kansas had also de-
cided to make a gift to the federal con-
gress of a statue of John Brown, to be
placed in the federal capitol at Washing
ton. That good news has made us think
that you would receive with interest this
communication.
Before the last French and German war
a committee of subscription was organ
lied among the French republicans for the
purpose of offering to the widow of John
Brown golden medal to preserve the
and of his companions. the dead victims
to their devotion to the cause of the lib
erty Of the blacks.
The sending of that medal aforesaid
to the widow, which was retarded by poiit-
ical events. was effected on the 2lst or Oc-
tober, 1874. 1t would be doubtless agree
able to you to receive model in bronze
of that medal. which We send you, re-
questing you to deposit it with this letter
in some museum of the state OF Kansas,
or better perhaps at the foot of the statue
n no ar Sh in nr
at the monument at Osawatomie.
BE pleased. Monsieur Governor. to re-
ceiye the assurance of fraternal feeling
and brotherly regard of
"VIcToR HUGO.
chairman of Committee
In a footnote to the letter is given Il
and forwarded the golden medal to Mrs.
Brown. Among them will be found the
names of more than one Frenchman whose
fame as a patriot, author or artist has
grown as wide as the world. The list is as
follows: Patrice Larroque, Etienne Arago,
Jules Blanc, capron. Ch. Chassin. Coutant,
P: .Lorgneaux. Melirl Moneyurt. Laurent
schoelcher. Chapitet: Laterrade. E. Man
GIN Michaud, and Mesdames Gael, Andre
Leo. Clamaquan and Daubie.
taneously with the letter above and was
at once deposited with the State Historical
Society.
While it may not be generally known. it
in custody the original gold medal of
which the bronze is a copy. In 1885 Cap
tain John Brown. Jr., who then resided at
Put-in-Bay, O., wrote to Secretary Adams.
of the society, that he had received a let,
ter from his sister in California, to whom
the golden medal had passed after the
death Of Mrs. John Brown. in 1884. in which
she had expressed desire to have the
valuable memento deposited in some place
of safety. Secretary Adams accepted the
trust and on November i6. 1887, 1t was re-
ceived at Topeka and now lies. in the vaults
of the society.
1t is beautiful piece of workmanship
and contains several hundred dollars
of the martyr of Harper's Ferry and the
inscription: John Brown. born at Tor
rington, May 9. 1900 On the reverse side
DRY OF John Brown. judicially assassnated
at Charlestown. December 2. 1859 and to
the memory of his sons and their COM
panions. dead victims of their devotion to
the cause of the liberty of the blacks"
In depositing the golden medal with the
State Historical Society. the Brown family
expressly stipulated that it was not gift.
stipulated that the medal was not to go
out of the possession of the society TO
anyone, under any pretense. unless. in
writing, two-thrds of the living descend
A few years ago son-in-law of John
Brown, Jr., wrote letter to Secretary
Adams. in which he said report had
come to him that some members of the
| away. To this he protested unless the
original stipulation had been carried out
and two-thirds of the family had consented
| to the removal Secretary Adams had not
| heard of any such attempt. nor has he
| since
| The medal is kept locked in Ire vaults
| of the society, and it is only through spe-
cial request that it is exhibited to iha