The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1902-03-01
VICTOR HUGO Centenary.
France Honors the Memory of He!
Foremost Poet and Liter
airy Light.
FESTIVITIES BEGUN IN GAY PARIS
The Pantheon ThrOnRcd with Rep
resentntives of Science, Art and
Literature, Headed by President
LOubct. to InauRurate the Festal
Season.

Paris, Feb. 27.-The series of festiv,
| tiles to celebrate the centenary of
the birth of Victor Hugo, which will
last until Sunday next, opened
Wednesday morning with a grand
| ceremony, within the Pantheon, I'M
| der the auspices of the government,
President Loubet, NJ. Waldeck-Rous.
seau, 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 insti-
| tutions were present. President Lou.
| bet was warmly cheered along the
route as he drove TO the Pantheon
escorted by squadron of cuirasscrs,
The president and the cabinet min.
| isters took their seats in the official
| tribune erected in the choir, while
in the transcpt, beneath the dome,
were two other tribunes, one to the
right, reserved for Nine Loubet and
| the wives of the ministers, and the
other to the left, on which the mem
bers of Victor Hugos family were
seated. The United States ambassa.
dor, Gen. Horace Porter. sat in the
front row of the seats set apart for
the diplomatic corps.
Exactly beneath the center OF the
palms and flowers, the bust of Vic
tor Hugo by the celebrated sculptor,
| David Dangers, and this was the
symbol to which the eyes of the thou
sands Of spectators assembled within
the vast hall were directed.
a few steps behind the bust was a
little platform, from which the art
lists of the Coincide Franchise recitcd
verses from the poets works. Tri.
Dunes for the senator's, deputies.
acadcmicians and the other principal
guests We're ranged around the nave,
about 5000 persons in all being pres
cnt. \ privileged position between
the bust and the front of the prcsi-
dents tribune was reserved for
about ninety young men and girls Sc
lectcd from various schools to typify
the youth Of France.
The decoration Of the interior Of
the Pantheon, for which parliament
voted 10000 francs, was very simple
but impressive, blue being the domi-
nant color The sides were draped
with blue velvet ornamcntcd with the
initials ~. H." and beneath the dome
was suspended an enormous gilt lau-
rel wreath attached to the surround.
ing walls by light garlands of foliage.
The walls of the apsc were complete
~ hidden by blue velvet hnngings,
embroidered in gold, in the center Of
which stood out large wreath in.
closing within it Tyre and the mi.
tals "N H. beneath being the dates
ws02-1o02."
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 began shortly after
ten in the morning and was conclud-
ed at 1915 n. m. The programme in
cludcd eulogisiie orations by NJ
Lcygucs, minister Of public instruc-
ton, and VI. Hanotauy, president Of
the institute; rccitals of several Of
Victor llggo's poems by members Of
the Coincide Franchise, and the rem
dcring of hymns based on Hugos
works by NJ, Dclmas, Of the opera,
and n choir of 1870 men and women.
The band Of the republican guards
and an orchestra numbering 100 per.
sons performed the instrumental
part of the exercises.
The scene within the Pantheon was
most imposing and full of color, ow-
ing to the brilliant toilettcs Of the
ladies and the uniforms Of the OFF.
cials.
In all the public schools Of France
the day was celebrated by lectures
on the life Of Frances national poet
and by readings from his works by
the professors,