The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-31
A VICTOR HUGO MUSEUM.

Every day thoSc are many people visit the
tomb OF Victor Hugo in the great Paris pan
tbeon In the Rue dos Saints Peres on the
same side oi the river. is a collection Of his
personal articles of much more interest than
his tomb. DR.. Louis Koch il the owner. He
was "a personal friend of Victor Hugo and
nephew OF Madame Drouet. Victor Hugo be-
queathed his vsluables to Madame Drouet
who gave DIR. Koch tho choice of the col .
tion or its equivalent in money. Dr. /
Seing man of much sentiment, without :.
itation decided on the collection, which ho re-
ceived Immediately after Victor Hugo y
death, as Madame Drouet died two years pre-
viously. Since then DIR. Koch has bought
everything he could find connected with Vic
tor Hugo. He himself IL n successful collec-
tor OF rare old china This il beautifully ar
ranged on the walls Of the six rooms. making
a charming background TO his valuable coll
lection. In the first room the walls arc nearly
covered with photographs ana engrsvings OF
the great man, from "a child. IL is interesting
TO note the change in his expression ~ time
and experience make 80. In the next room are
many pen and ink sketches done by the poet
When wearied by mental labor this was one
diversion he had. and they show much artis-
tic skill He covered the walls Of Madame
Drouet's home with his handy work, and she
gratefully received zach object for she con-
sidercd him the greatest poet Of France, and
her opinion is shared hy many today. He
was great lover Of antique carved wood and
bought IL whenever ho had opportunity, so in
the next room besides magnificent tables
chairs, mantels and many other carved
pieces are three wonderful bullets | have
never seen anything like them, aud no won.
der, for he bought the different parts here
and there and put them together TO pleass
himself making tho effect wonderfully ar-
tistic and proved himself an adept In cabinet
work "A young man he slept in bed,
the design of which he considered very teau.
tful 40 he had il copied IN rare old walnut
using u as long ~ he lived, and here IL stands
in tho next room just a. he lcfJ IL, with its
rich twisted pillars and red damask hangings
But the principal collection is in the next
two long narrow rooms lighted by n glass roof
ani lined with cases fllcd with vnluables
Here are letters. brio n brac, one ~ hts teeth
a mantol piece and chairs dcligned and carved
bv himself Here is his writing table on
which he did much 30 his most profound
work It is ink stained and scratched. The
servants uf Dr. Koch were - determined to
make this table clean De- has been obliged 10
10 Win kla~r lihtlutN 81 iNlNi wool
aud carving ~ hts own work, biackris aud
small articles of all kinds are ou the walls
which with the rare uli china make an
unique effect. ~ kurh o. = must svnisi host.
Ia aupesraucr he Is not unlik- Victor Hugo.
aud ts admiration fur nlut ls tutru~e lie
shows ven this nud that Hfttvi, tnu. y a. 4
Young muihrr shows htr children Then yuu
FOLLOW hun into he din'ng roam, Whore tea -
4srtt.i uu rhuir odd Hu luud chiua be- then
in his exuui-itr French '.ut"rihin~ suu uuul
the t.uckuo from tho rarvrd wuud clock warns
"a "A fIfI q a nfIf Fftw
az Al revtir icievinE these treasures could
not he moie tUndly cared for.