The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-20

New York Tribune.
 The recent centenary of Victor Hugo was the occasion for NJ. Adolphe Brisson to contribute to the Temps. of Paris. a couple of lork articles describing an in- tefview with M. Albert Lacroix. who was the publisher of Hugo's Les Miserapies.
 M. Lacroix. in 1881. having at that tune sssociated himself with his compatriot Vcrboekhoven. in Brussels, heard the re- port that Hugo had finished d book with the title Les Mserables.' NJ. Lacroix, in 1861, became it's publishers They open ed negotiations with the great author then an exile In Germany, through ms son Charles. To him Victor Hugo wrote his terms. He demanded 250,0Oo francs. cash down, for exclusive rights for eight years. He reserved the right of transia- ton; but with that the price would De 3o0, 900 francs. He thus describes ms manuscript in letter dated septemoer I5 1S61
 ..The work is not political. The part dealing with politics Is purely historical- Waterloo. Louis Philippes reign. the in- surrection of June, 1852: the book, begin -,ur in 1915, closes in 1885. So it has no
 illusion to the present government. Furthermore, it is drama, sociai drama, the drama of our society and our times. It will include eight volumes at least, perhaps nine, and will De dlvioeu into three parts, each having a special title and intended to appear successively at periods that will suit the publishers once a month, for instance. The revision which shall make will be finished In two months at the latest. It might there- fore appear in February, like 'Notre Dame de Paris And if it were Feb ruary 13, it would be just thirty years afterwardxsto a day. That 1S has brought no bad luck to 'Notre Dame.
 Lacroix was already excited over the prospect of getting the book; but to please his partner he raised two objections re- lating to its length and the price asked for it. Hugo promptly answered both. He wrote on September 20th.
 The plot is continuous. The three parts bear special titles, but the whole book relates to one chief parsonage. What you say about long novels does not seem to me to be borne out by the facts of the publishing business. Few successes are comparable to those of "Gil Bias, /" Don Quixote" and "Clarissa Hariowe,' three long novels. The price I named is equi- valent to about 30000 francs d volume. for an eight years privilege It is very boderate For a single edition of "Notre Dame de Paris" l get a royalty of 6O.OO0 francs.
 
 to talk over the details with Victor Hugo He tells graphically his palpitation on meeting the great man; of their walk through the town, of Hugo's ceaseless flow of stories; of their return to the lookout in Hugo's house. when Lacroix turned to him and said. Master, are we agreed? 1 will sign in advance what ever you please" Victor Hugo handed him a pen, a piece of paper and said: "Wrltev' Without hesitation he dictated contract in all it's details. It called for payment of 240.OoO francs for Les Miserables." 125,0O0 on delivery of the manuscript. which was to take place be- tween November 15 and December 15; 50, 900 two months after the publication of the first part, and the remaining 55, 900 two months after the publication of the second part. Lacroix signed 1t. He had not cent in the world.
 There was also an agreement in case the publication was prohibited by the French Government-what Hugo called "secert treaty." to be kept till it should prove to be needed. If the publication was punished with a fine, Hugo agreed to pay the fine. and if 1t was prohibited he prolonged the exclusive rights a number of years equal to those for which the book should be kept back by the govern ment Before ,he signed his name La croix was seized with a desire, He saw on the corner of the desk an enormous pile of slackened pages. 1t was tho manuscript of the first two volumes of Les Misera bles. He wanted to pick them up. to handle them; and Inc cast swift glance upon them timidly con fesSiuS hls wish '"~
 ''Couldn't I-iust look over tho manu- scrtpt--a bit:'
 'Iugos, hsnd-his- BurErsve hand-fell