Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-03
HOME IS A MUSEUM
Famous Poets Old Residence, Place Des
VOsges, Transformed.
BECOMES PROPERTY OF CITY or PARIS
Centenary Anniversary of Victor
HuEo's Birth is Carried Dat at
Public Cost Of Three
Hundred francs.

PARIS. March 2.-The fetes in comment
grafton OF the centenary of Victor Hugo's
birth terminated today with the ceremony
Of handing over to the city Of Paris to
serve as a Victor Hugo museum. the house
in which he for some time lived, in the
Place Des Vosges.
The exercises, which took place within
the picturesque Place Des vosges, with
its arcade running beneath the brick house
on each OF its four sides, were very hap
PLY conceived and a vast crowd gathered
to witness the proceedings. A plaster cast
Of Victor Hugo, taken from THE Dream
OF the Poet" by the sculptor Barreau,
stood on a pedestal facing Victor Hugo's
house, situated on the corner Of the square.
1t represents the poet sitting on q rock.
draped In antique fashion, and with a Tyre
at his feet.
Overlooking the monument and facing the
house were erected tribunes for the SEN
ators, deputies and other distinguished
guests Of the municipality which organized
the fete and betrayed the expenses, the
municipal council having voted an appro-
priation Of $40. 900 francs to carry out the
centenary festivities.
Formation of Parade.
The oficial procession formed at the hotel
De Vile shortly before 5 o'clock and pro-
coded to the Place Des vosges. On the
arrival Of the procession the regimentai
bands played the "Marseillaise." which
was followed by the rendering Of Victor
Hugo's hymn. "Coux qui sont morris pour
la ~patrio." set to music by Berlios, by a
choir Of 1900 voices and the band OF the
Republican guards.
The vice president OF the municipality
Of Paris presided at the ceremonies and
read an eulogy of Victor Hugo by NJ. Dus-
set, president Of the municipal council,
who was absent on account Of the death OF
his father. A speech was also made BY
the project Of the Seine.
The house was handed over to the city
Of Paris n formally accepted by hat body.
The concert was then resumed, a number
Of pieces based on Victor Hugo's works
being heard, the hymn "Patrie" to q simple
but effective air composed by Beethoven.
Twelve Hundred Children.
The prettiest item in the exercises ther
took place In the denling past the statu,
Of Victor Hugo OF 1900 school children
two by two, the little ones leading and
the elder pupils coming last. The boyi
and girls marched past In alternating
couples. the boys carrying palm branches
and the girls bearing flowers, which thel
threw at the foot OF the monument. sooi
forming a mass Of bloom and verdure. GU
Of the center OF which rose the statue o
the poet.
The cortege concluded with girls repre-
senting the muses. of Paris A younl
Partisan working girl, chosen by her com
rades as the Muse OF Labor, deposited 9
simple bunch Of flowers on the pedestal o
the statue, the bands meanwhile playing
"The March OF the Growing OF the Muse.
composed by Carpenter, the author Of tn,
opera of Louise.
Fanfare of Trumpets.
1t had by this time grown dark. Wit
the fall of night there was a sudden fan
fare Of trumpets. This was the signal TO
the illumination Of the square. Severa
lights were thrown on the old house. bath
ing It in white light, while on the facade
by a combination Of electric lights, ap
peared q mauve-colored muse on a goldel
background, holding a Tyre. At the sam
time scrolls bearing the names OF tn
poets principal works we're thrown aroun
the square and the railings around tn
place Des vosges burst into a multi-colore
Illumination, the fairy lamps being go ar
ranged along the arches and outlines @
the architecture as to reproduce a part Q
the ALEXANDRIA, thus suggesting scenes froT
Hugo's "orientals."
The ceremonies concluded at Z p. m. wit