Year: 1876


CAN EITHER BE THE NEW MASTER OF


TRANcE2-wHAT v1croR HUGO WOULD AT


TEMPT TO ACCOMPLISH II IN POWERFUL


osoPHY LIKELY TO LEAD TO A SUBLIME


FAIURK-TEIERs CONDITION OF HEALTH


PARIS, Feb. Q, 1915


The most important in France just now IL un-
questionaby Victor Hugo. All the newspapers IN the
country are filled with praise blame Of him. The
Figaro which abominates the republican doctrines OF
this great writer nevertheless devotes least half
page moro than one-eghth OF its whole space daily
to rdicule and abuse OF him. The Figaro has taken
infinite pains to find out, first, that Victor Hugo is
really "Count Of cogolludo," absurd title, which is
alleged to have been conferred on his father by
the Bonaparte King Of Spain; second that he
descends from family which has no pretence
at all 70 nobility and, third that he said and wrote
some very silly things when he was young 1t
does not much matter who he is OF what he is or
whether he talked wrote wisely half century ago.
At present 1t is open question whether ho does
does not hold the destnies of France in his keeping
Furthermore in the present temper OF the national
mind It is doubtful whether he would not be chosen


PRESIDENT REPUBLIC


instead Of Theirs Gambetta, should anything occur
suddenly to dispossess MacMahon. He is astonsh-
ingly vigorous old man. and he would shrink from no
responsibility which his fellow citizens might desire TO
impose upon HIM Indeed he would probably consider
the chief political office in the State as the
crowning glory OF his life, for he has always been
ready 70 exchange the pursuit Of literary fame for
lamentary distinction So be IL If the near future
among the surprises IL assuredly has in store for
should bring this one out OF its budget Of wonders
France might be In q worse than with Victor
Hugo for master She would have much wholesome
and still more speculative legislation applied TO her
needs, real and alleged She would be governed by
born king Of men. Many people besides radicals and
dreamers would welcome the advent OF Victor Hugo to
power. But unfortunately for France and for himself,
he would not be content with the possession OF high
authority in his person He is evidently de-
termined 10 drag up TO eminence with him those
extremely queer persons who belong TO his party fol-
lowing He has many Of the


EXILE
unappeased many wild and dangerous projects formed
in solitude and sorrow, which he would realize without
hesitation One OF the first acts Of his government
would be TO make ~ Louis Blanc Prime Minister, and
his next would unquestonably be 70 deprive the clergy
OF all support from the State. His third measure
would be r


GENERAL AMNESTY


which the French republicans describe as ga two
sided contract which signifies not only that the gov
ernmen is willing TO pardon alleged criminals, but that
tho alleged criminals willing their part to forgive
unmerited suterings These wholesale measures would
be followed by the


ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT


and the setting up Of absolutely free prees while all
restrictions public meetings and public speecnes
would be likewise abandoned A government framed,
however, upon these Utopan principles could hardly
last three weeks; and therefore III. Victor Hugo's
friends should rather desire TO HIM In opposition
than in Office As q Senator whose every word COM
mands the attention Of the French people he may
raise his voice eecually against many forms OF evil
He may often starte corruption into honesty and abate
the uel arrogance OF power which must render
count TO him. But as chief OF the State himself he
could be nothing better than


- A SUBLIME YAnURy


the world being mostly unworthy oil such rulers as he


n. THEIRS .s.r
seems rather to have declined in popularity during the
last few weeks He has been several times more
less indsposed and has not been able TO take active
part in the recent elections At first his physician
attributed the symptoms from which NJ Theirs suffered
to slight cold, but they could not be shaken on
easily he anticipated and the eminent man. he
is Called sometimes in respect sometimes in derisi0n
has been good deal confined to his house of late He
may be seen any morning by his intimates, toward
nine O'Clock, with his black coat buttoned up to his
chin and booted ready for journey because he re-
pudiates the eneminacy of dressing gown and
sippers but he has lost much of that peuant manner
that peremptory accent, which be made vivacious
and amusing He ought 10 be in good health however
for he has just got rid OF one OF the great plaques or
lfe-a poor relation at once rapacous ana impudent
His terrible sister, Mme Gravier died very recently
Marseies, ana It might have been more agreeable to
NJ Theirs had she departed this life long ago for
being able to levy sufficient black kmai upon her famous
brother, she pretended, In lS49, to be legtmis who
VAS indignant with him patriotic grounds, and she
with board over the door bearing these words "a
table h0te kept by the sister Of NJ fhiers" The OBJ
noxious notice ultimately removed by the police
but NJ Theirs has not generally been fortunate in his
relations. He had brother also who such very
astonishing person that II impossible give him
anything better than subordinate consular post In
Italy out of the way Of observation.