Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1910 — Hugo and the Barber. [ARTICLE]

Hugo and the Barber.

When Victor Hugo lived in Paris in the Palais Royal he used to be shaved by a barber named Brassier. A friend of the poet asked, the barber one day if he was busy. “I hardly know which way to turn,” was the reply. “We have to dress the hair of thirty ladies for soirees and balls.” And M. Brassier showed the list to his friend. A few days after the friend returned and inquired about the thirty ladies. “Ah, monsieur,” said the barber, sadly, “I was not able to attend half the number, and I have lost many good customers through M. Victor Hugo.” It appears that the poet when about to be shaved was suddenly inspired and seized the first piece of paper he could find to write a poem. Hugo hastily left the shop with his unfinished verses, on the back of which were the names and addresses of the thirty ladies, many of whom waited in vain for their coiffeur.