The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-02-26
ROMANCE AND TRAGEDY
IN LIVES OF DESCEN-
DANTS OF VICTOR HUGO

In the Pantheon, among the immor-
tails Of France, Victor Hugo is at rest.
The sublime genius who was borns111
years ago to-day, and whose birth
day is annually observed by thousands
of his admirers throughout France,
could scarcely be proud of some of
his descendants. Els elder son,
Chax9ee, gained some fame both as
author and statesman, and died of
apopiexy IN 1871 without having
brought discredit on the name of his
father. Charles left two children,
Jesnne and Georges, but the latter
has not reflected credit on the illus
triOus name of his grandfather. A
few years ago Georges petitioned the
French EoveEnm emit for permission to
assume the name of Victor, but the
application was Indignantly refused.
Even before Victor Hugo's death in
1885, his grandson had become a
source of sorrow. He was dismissed
from the French navy on account of
misconduct and then commenced a
career of the widest extravaganza. He
frequently appeared in various law
courts. and attained international no.
toriefy by his curious defense in a
celebrated case. Georges had been
on terms of intimacy with the wife
OF q French noble, and had Endorsed
that iady's account with Paris mer
chant The affair was broken off,
and Georges refused to pay for goods.
The tradesnaan brought suit, and HUI
COS defense was that he was no long
er intimate with the woman, and that
the amount could not be collected by
law because it was IAN immoral OBJ
legation Later Georges married
the daughter of wealthy merchant,
by whom he had two children, but
the alliance ended in the divorce
courts. Jeanne, the daughter of
Charles and granddaughter of Victor
tod 6A% Of
the great French. novelist, but later
secured a divorce and became the
wife of Dr. Jean Charcot, the antarc-
tic explorer. 81
Romance and tragedy also blended
in the life of Adele Hugo, Victors be-
loved daughter. She married an
English army officer, whom she met
at HauteviIle House during her faith
er's exile the island of Guernsey
Her husband took her to India, and
later to- Singapores where he was sta
toned. The officer was given to
drink, and while under its influence
treated the delicate1y nurtured daugh-
ter of the great poet with the CROSSE
est brutality Eventually he devel-
oped delirium tremens and commit
ted suicide. The bride, already made
desperate by brood4ng over the death
of her child suddenly became insane,
and was found wandering about the
native. quarter of Singapore. . She
was taken back to France, and treat
ed by the most celebrated alienists
of the country, but never recovered
her reason. After her fathers death
his egtate became Adele's property,
but all it could do for her was to pro-
cure the best possible medical at
tendance and a luxurious home in
sanitarium for the mentally derang
ed.
Another daughter of Victor Hugo,
the beautiful and charming Leopol-
dine, was also the heroine of a ro-
nance that turned suddenly into
darkest tragedy. She married Chas.
Vacquerie, a brilliant and talented
young man, and the happy pair set
off on a honeymoon trip. They had
known but few days of welded bliss
when they met death together in
boating accident.
CIementine, the natural daughter of
Victor Hugo'S nephew, Leopold HUI
go, also had an adventure and sensa-
tiona1 career. AS a ''get rich quick
agent, a blackmaiIer and conspirator,
she used the name of Countess Hugo
an aid in victimizTng credulous peo
pie in France, Germany and Italy.
When last heard of, she was serving
a term in an italian prison following
her conviction of fraud.