The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-01
THE REAL JEAN VALJEAN.

LFrOrn the Figaro.
NJ. Moreau-C hristophe, the inspector
of prisons under the second empire,
knew the man who served as the pro-
totype of Jean Vatican, and whose story
haunted the brain OF Victor Hugo and
inspired his famous ''A1isera bles." NJ.
MOreau-C hristOphe has a passion for
reforming cOnVicts. He gathered many
confessions. and knew many strange
secrets. The following story of the
convict Urban Lemelle is taken from
his notes:
URBAN Lemelle, like Jean Vatican,
was the abandoned child of a drunken
father. When he was only s years old
he went from farm to farm to offer for
piece of bread, the work that his lit
Tie hands could do. He was first taken
in hand by kind-hearted peasant
named Brisset, who kept him minding
COWS for three years. Then he was en-
ployed by two neighboring farmers, who
sent him to tend sheep for three years
more. Urban tired Of the life of a
shepherd and determined to become a
sailor, when he reached the age of IA.
He began as cabin boy in a river boat
from Anglers, whose captain generally
spoke to him with the end of a rope.
Three years passed in this way, during
which Urbain's only cOnsOia ton was in
his friendship for the son of the cap
tain, a young man named GerVais, who
was no less badly treated than himself.
This friendship was unfortunate for Ur-
balm One winters day, when the wa
tiers of the Loire were frozen and navi-
cation was suspended, GerVais propos-
ed to Urban to take away the money
that was in the safe of the boat for the
pay Of the hands.
Then" said he, I'VE will go to Nan
ties where we viii become real sailors. -
But that is robbery you propose to
mel" said Urban.
Robbery, nonsensei" replied Gervais.
3 Doesn't my father owe you so francs2
Well, you can pay yourself the so
francs out Of the sack, and then you
will be square"
An hour afterward the money was
no longer on board the boat. Gervais
had taken it away, and Urban had hid
II in the trunk of a willow tree. Next
day the imprint of his feet upon the
snow led to the tree, where the treas
ure was found Urban was arrested.
and, the lock of the safe having been
broken, he was condemned to seven
years penal servitude. He was then
only II.
During his seven years Imprisonment
Urban was resigned. industrious relig-
iOus and exemplary in his conduct
When he left the penitentiary, where
he had lost seven years, he thought he
had nothing to do but to return to An
gers purified completely. Il was at An
gers that he committed his crime. and
he wanted to prove that he was re-
formed. This hope was dissipated The
fact that he was an eX-cOnYict closed
all doors ana all hearts 10 MIN. He
found it extremely difficult TO get work
and when. by chance he did procure
some arduous employment. the other
Workmen refused to associate with him
He was condemned to fdleness, beggary
and theft.
one Sunday, while roaming through
the country he stopped, fatigued, to rest
himself in a field where there We're
some horses at liberty. He thought of
the sea that was only thirty leagues
from him, and of America, that new
world where he expected to live as an
honest workingman. The idea turned
mis- head. He jumped like a mailman
upon one oft the horses and started the
animal along the road, without a saddle
or bride. He set out in the evening
and arrived at the break of day at In
nrandes. Nearing that place on the
edge of the road there was a prairie
There he turned loose the horse and
entered the town. An unknown person
turning horse out was suspected. He
was followed, arrested and brought be-
fore the mayor. He gave his name
without hesitation, but while they were
discussing his case he managed to es-