Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-27
TRIBUTES TO VICTOR HUGO
Centennial Of the Authors Birth 0ele-
brated in France and Rome.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY IN PANTHEON
President of the Republic, members
Of the Academy and other NOts-
bles Present-DeeOratfOns
OF Ediace Simple.

PARIS. Feb. 26.-Tne series OF festivities
to celebrate the centenary Of the birth Of
Victor Hugo, which will last until sun
day next, opened this morning with a grand
ceremony within the Pantheon under the
auspices Of the government. President
Loubet. NJ. waldeck- Rousseau, the premier,
and the other members OF the cabinet, the
members of the Senate and the Chamber
Of Deputies. representative delegations
from the institute and other state bodies,
including the leading lights Of art, science
and literature in France, and populations
from the various lycees and educational
institutions were present. President Lou
bet was warmly cheered along the route
as he drove to the Pantheon escorted by q
squadron OF cuirasseurs.
The president and the cabinet ministers
took their seats In the oficial tribune
erected In the choir. while In the transept.
beneath the dome, we're two other trtbunes,
one to the right, reserved for Madame.
Loubet, and the wives OF the ministers
and the other, and one to the left, on which
the members Of Victor Hugo's family were
seated. The United States ambassador,
General Horace Porter, sat in the front row
Of the seats set apart for the diplomatic
corps.
Exactly beneath the center Of the dome.
rose from out Of a cluster OF palms and
flowers, the bust Of Victor Hugo, by the
celebrated sculptor, David dangers, and
this was tho symbol to which the eyes Of the
thousands of spectators assembled within
the vast hall were directed. A few steps
behind the bust was a little platform, from
which the artists Of the Coincide Franchise
recited verses from the poets works.
Tribunes for the senator's, deputies, acadia
micians and the other principal guests
were ranged around the nave. about 5000
persons in all being present. A privileged
position between the bust and the front
of the presidents tribune was reserved
for about ninety young men and girls Sc
lected from various schools to typify the
youth of France.
The decoration OF the interior OF tho
Pantheon, for which Parliament voted
1000 francs, was very simple. but impress
sive, blue being the dominant color. The
sides were draped with blue velvet, orna-
mented with the initials "v. H." and be-
meath the dome was suspended an orm
gilt laurel wreath attached to the surround
ing walls by light garlands of foliage. The
walls of the apse were completely hidden by
blue velvet hangings, embroidered In gold,
in the center OF which stood out a large
wreath inclosing within It a Tyre and the
initials ~. H." beneath being the date
1S02-1902. The principal facade was also
hung with blue velvet, bearing the name OF
the poet, while clusters Of palms and flags
heightened the external color effect,
The ceremony begun shortly after 10 In
the morning and was concluded at l1:45 a.
m. The program included eulogistic ora
lions by NJ. Leyges, minister OF public in
struction, and M. Hanoteaux; ~recitals of
several of Victor Hugo's poems by mem
bers OF the Coincide Franchise and the rem
dering Of hymns based on Hugo's works by
NJ. Delmas Of the opera and a choir OF $50
men and women. The band OF the Re-
publican guards and an orchestra number
ing 100 persons played the instrumental part
Of the airs.
The scene within the Pantheon was most
imposing and full of color, owing to the
brilliant ~toilettes Of the women and the
uniforms Of the ~ofhcials.
In all the public schools Of France the
day will be celebrated by lectures on the
life Of Frances national poet. and by read
ings from his works by the professors.
There was an immense concourse this
afternoon to witness the Inauguration of
the monument to Victor Hugo, erected on
4 the Place Victor Hugo In the passy quar-
, ter within q stones throw Of the house, 124
Avenue Victor Hugo, where the poet died.
The ceremony began at 3 o'clock and lasted
one hour. The weather was threatening,
a but no rain fell until the conclusion Of the
: exercises.
ROME, Feb. 26.-The presentation OF a
. bust Of Victor Hugo to the city OF Rome
n by the Franco-Italian league today was
made the occasion for a great Francophiie
. demonstration. The rotunda Of the capitol
4 where the ceremony occurred, was bril-
liantly decorated and the distinguished
audience present included the minister Of
a foreign affairs, signor Prinetti, the French
ambassador. NJ. Barrere. the senator's
n deputies, municipal authorities and other
n notable persons.
n Prince Colonna, the mayor OF Rome, re-
ceived the bust on behalf OF the city. Mum
bers of addresses we're made, emphasizing
q the growing friendship between France ant