New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-07
HUGO ONCE MORE.
NOTES ON SOME OF THE RECENT COM
MEMORATIvE PUBLICATIONS.
Paris. March %.

MEMORATINE PTBLlCAIIONS-
Paris March %
What contemporary historians, mographeIS
and chronicIers cid for Napoleon they nave no"
ACCOMPLISHED for Victor Hugo. The recent cele-
3ration Of his centenary has supplied the occa-
sion for his ''rediscovery-" Some hfteeh OF
twenty years ago innumerable volumes began
to apnear disclosing Napoleon as jurist ADMIN
istrator, author comedian and conversaronais''
NJ Frederic Mason presented him as loFer'
and NJ Arthur Levy introduced the Emperor IN
dressing gown and slippers But what people
never forget is that Napoleon was above an
great captain and a magic manipulation OF IN
fantry, cavalry and artillery. During the last
three months masses Of data and "reminiscences
have been brought TO light showing Victor Hugo
as politician as a republican, a patriot. as
a revolutionist. and even debauchee and an
intriguer But what the public. that has no"
had time to digest these new facts. constantly
retains in mind Is that Victor Hugo was
great poet and a magic manipulation of IDEAS
words and
NJ. Edmond Bire in two solid volumes brls-
Ting with documents, courageousiy strives to
belittle Hugo. and attempts 10 prove him
plagiarist and shallow trickster. NJ. Paul
Chenay the poets own brother-in-law, in his
''Cahier sur Victor Hugo" wallows in imperu-
nent details about the great writer's seamy SIDE
and recounts in glowing coloTs a long list Of his
marital infdelities NJ. Chenay. who is de-
scribed by NJ. Lucien Muhlfeld the prominent
Partisan critic as AN Insignificant relative OF
q great man" married fifty years ago the sister
OF Nine Victor Hugo. and did not hesitate to
commemorate the centenary by relating incl
dents Of the most indiscreet nature imaginable.
seeking 10 establish that his eminent brother
in-law was a stingy. narrow minded, selfish
humbuE
NJ. Georges Victor-H Hugo in Mon Grand
Pere" a bright little pamphlet Of youthful recoI-
1ections has given sort Of brief counterpart OF
the souvenirs of Napoleon by his valet con-
slant. In his unpretentious paragraphs one mas
a picturesque portrait Of the famous writer In
everyday life. 1t is a journal Of family Incl
dents at the successive residences at Hauteviiie
House at Guernsey in the apartments at Paris
in the Rue de Clichy and in the Avenue d hF-
lau. now Avenue Victor Hugo, where the poet
died in May 1885, There are fragments OF con-
rersations and table talk. 1t is related how the
.fttle grandchildren. Georges and Jeanne, USED
TO climb up the steep staircase into the poets
s'eagle nest of glass. where he used to work
.,ntil the MONDAY rreal-he would never write
% line after L. o'clock ''Bonjour. Papapa,"
shouted Georges as he burst joyfully into the
glass study where the poet stood in his red
dressing gown writing at his famous nigh desk
"AlI right, children. my name for you hence
forth Will lee papapa," was the reply, and SO he
was called by his grandchildren to the day OF
his death. Victor Hugo had enormous brilliant
white teeth like those of an ogre" He was al
ways the last to be seated at the luncheon table
lie ate with eager appetite, and toward the
close of the repast he usually concocted his
favorite dish called "gribouiilis.' which he him
self invented 1t was composed of samples OF
everything that had been served during the
rneal-eggs, meat. vegetables, gravy, sauces,
fried fish pastrv-minceG and hashed hv the
poets knife and seasoned with various condi-
1nents in which salt and red pepper predon-
mated. Georges relates how he used TO devour
Holsters. He would tear off big claw, crush it
between his huge teeth and, after masticating
shell and all would swallow it with an unctuous
smile His manner Of eating oranges was mar
vellous He would open his titanic Jaws and
force q whole orange into his mouth, skin and
all and the yellow fruit would vanish as if in
e. winepress.
Among the frequent guests at these family
guncheons were Charles Monselet, with long
locks and flowing mustache"; Gustave Flaubert.
1.-The red giant, wearing a great gold chain;
Leconte de Lise, 'frigidly courteous and Gam
beta. 'impetuous and enthusiastic. and who
lsed 10 kiss and hug until we were nearly
euffocated." Hugo used TO play blindman's buff
with his frislly grandchildren. and a favorite
story that he WAS fond Of telling them that
OF The Good Flea. and the Wicked King" II
was the privilege of Georges and Jeanne to
break into The poets bedroom early and wish
him good morning. When I got into the bed
chamber relates Georges, Il usually found him
.n bed, but wide awake. The bed clothing was
drawn UP about his chin. and his head rested
on very hard horsehair pillow. folded double,
80 make 1t higher and harder. His hand. with
the large, broad gold ring. grasped the blanket.
On a small table beside the bed were scraps of
paper and envelopes covered with mysterious
notes and hieroglyphics that he had jotted down
during the night After greeting Jeanne and me
with tender Good morning. he would spring
out of bed with the agility Of a young man.
He wore bright red pajamas The first thing
he did was 10 suck raw egg after having
pierced each end with small holes with his big
ivory pocketknife. Then he would drink bowl
OF black coffee without sugar. He would then
take cold sponge bath, using an enormous
sponge. which he would hold above his head
while the water down TO his feet. He would
splash about and breathe hard. making the
noise Of a stable boy grooming horse. He
would then sit down IN a cane chair and with
a coarse towel. rub his robust muscular chest
AS soon as he was cry he would once more
plunge his head into basin of cold water and
afterward brush his wolfke teeth with stiff
brush until the gums would bleed. He would
then put suit Of red underclothes, and.
standing before looking glass with barred feet
would carefully and caressingly comb and brush
his white hair and beard" These domestic SOU
venirs terminate with a pathetic description OF
The death scene at the house in the Avenue
d'Eylau. where the poet whispered TO his grand
children TO draw nearer TO him and the fatal
moment as he uttered the words. BE
happy think Of me often love
me my little dears'
NJ. Fernand Gregh sums up the evidence