The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-21
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THE LOVE LETTERS OF VICTOR HUGO


WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC
Paul Meurice was Victor Hugos literary
executor. In speaking OF the love letters
written by the great Frenchman to his wife
before their marriage. NJ Meurice said:
French literature has one moro master
piece"
These letters were found in an old trunk.
They were yellow and time-stained. Mime.
Hugo had destroyed her " letters, but
had preserved those OF her husband. They
were written from 1870 to 1922. In America.
the letters are published by Harper and
Brothers, and have been translated by Eliz-
abeth W. LAtimer. Extracts from them fol-
DIV:
Saturday Evening, January. 1870.
a Ssw words from you. my beloved Adele.
have again changed my state Of mind. Yes.
you can do anything with me: and to-mor-
row, were I even dead. the sweet tones OF
your voice, the tender pressure OF your lips.
would call me back to life again. How diff
1erently I shall feel rs I go to, sleep to-
night nom what I did last evening! Yester-
Asy. Adele. all confidence in the future had
ABANDONED mo; I no longer believed that
sou loved me: yesterday the hour OF my
death would have been welcome to me. And
yet I said, to myself: If 1t Is quite true
she does not love me. and nothing in me
has deserved her love, that love without
which there is no charm left for me in life,
is that any reason I should die? Is 1t for
my own personal happiness that I exist?
oh. mol My whole existence is devoted to
her. shall be hers IN spite OF herself. And
by what right have I aspired to win. her
love? Am I more than an angel or a
deity? I love her. It is true-I-even 1! I
am ready for her sake to sacrifice every
thing with joy-even the hope that she may
love me: there is no limit to the devotion
for her that I am capable of for one of
her looks. for one OF her smiles.
March q. 1870.
Listen. think Of me. my love. for I
think Of nothing but you You owe me that.
I an trying to become q better man that 1
may be more worthy Of you. II you only
knew how much I love you! $50 Every
thing I do 10 somehow connected with you.
I am working solely for my wife. my be-
loved Adele. Love me a little in return.
One word more. Now that you are the
daughter of General Hugo. do nothing I'M
worthy Of that station. suffer no one to
fail In proper attention and respect to
you. Mamma is very particular about such
things, and I think my most excellent
mother is right. You will fancy 1 have
suddenly grown proud of my social rank,
Just as you thought I was proud of what
people call my success. and yet. my Adele.
God knows that there Is only one thing
that could make me proud, and that is to
be loved by you.
Adieu. You still owe me eight kisses, and
Z fear you will forever refuse to pay them.
Tuesday.
This morning / received a note from your
father. then I may see you this evening,
Adelei I ave thought OF nothing else all
the morning. The thought makes me
happy. especially when I think that the
kame thought may make you happy. too.
tdy happiness would be perfect, dear Adele,
hf I could only sometimes SEQ you alone,
land enjoy all the charm OF intimacy. I
would lay before you all tho opinions, for
(which you seem SO strangely to blame
me; It is only you who could make me
khange them. I should also try to alter
some Of the ideas which seem to be insult
led to your happy nature.
= You tell me, for example, that you are
mot able to appreciate poetic talent. This
assertion Il 80 strange to me. who knows
Hou better than you know yourself. that I
should Taught at It II I felt like laughing.
Il reply Quitting myself, you must under
stand, quite out OF the question:. and you
tWfl certainly not do me the injustice to
think that any feeling OF personal vanity
enters into these general reflections.
Nov. a. 1s1
. But. Adele, you are frightened.
Uou say. At the idea OF marrying % young
j mani you fear that I shall some day