Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1885 — VICTOR HUGO’S FUNERAL. [ARTICLE]

VICTOR HUGO’S FUNERAL.

A. Round Million of Persons Estimated to Have Witnessed the Great . r Cortege. ; 1 Six Eloquent Orations Delivered at the Tomb by Illustrious Sons of the Republic. [Condensed from the cable dispatches.] Hundreds of thousands of people were abroad in Paris at daybreak, already crowding the streets and boulevards through which the great procession was to move that accompanied the remains of Victor Hugo to their last restingplace in the Pantheon. Owing to the crowded condition of the hotels thousands were compelled to bivouac in the open air all night. Around the Arc de Triomphe the space was filled with the chief officers of the state, the members of the Diplomatic Corps, Senators, and Deputies. From all directions came deputations with draped banneteand bearing flowers and gigantic wreaths, and all moved in the direction of the Ate de Triomphe, the Mecca of France to-day. Never did Paris present such a scene. , The funeral procession started punctually at noon,, Many vehicles, heaped up with the offerings of the people of France, followed the hearse in the procession. The buildings were black with people, as was, indeed, every point from which might be had a view of the unparalleled spectacle. All in the procession seemed to appreciate that France was doing honor to her most illustrious poet. All were quiet, and all observed a most becoming demeanor. The.pressure of the packed masses of people was frightful to contemplate, and many of those who were “in the packs" were seriously crushed. Six orations were delivered under the Arc de Triomphe, in the presence of nearly all the illustrious men of, France. M. Leroyer, President of the Senate, said Victor Hugo constantly pursued the higher ideal of justice and humanity, and thus exercised an immense influence over the moral feeling of France. M. Floquet said that the ceremony to-day was not a funeral; it was an apotheosis. He hailed Victor Hugo as the immortal apostle who bequeathed tq humanity that gospel which could lead the people to the definitive conquest of liberality and equality. Floquet’s oration touched the hearts of his hearers, and was greatly applauded. M. Angler, a member of the academy, elaborated the fact made evident to-day: “To the sovereign poet France renders sovereign honors.’*—— —— £ M. Goelet, President of the Chamber of Deputies, declared that Victor Hugo will remain the highest personification of the nineteenth century, the history of which, in its contradictions, doubts, ideas, and aspirations, was best reflected in his works. The character of Victor Hugo was profoundly human, and represented the spirit of toleration and of peace. The singing of revolutionary and patriotic songs by bands of men gathered beyond the reach of the voices or the orators interrupted some of the unity of the eulogies, but beyond this there was nothing to mar the beauty or detract from the impressiveness of ihe spectacle. The funeral ceremonies were completed, and the march of the procession ended without anything happening that might be called of a disorderly character. The police arrested several bearers of red flags, which were unfurled at the starting points or headquarters of the several revolutionary societies. Metz, Strasbourg, and all the fortress towns in the annexed provinces were well represented. Every point of view was crowded with men, women, and children. The toils Of five-story houses and even tire chimneys were occupied by sight-seers. Georges,Hugo walked alone behind the bier. During the procession a vast scaffolding on the Place Cluny collapsed. Many persons were injured, but none killed. The fall caused a great panic and confusion, but the procession was soon refol med. Another platform fell on the Rue Royale. It is estimated that the procession numbered 1,000,000 persons. Not a single priest was seen in the line, •‘Letitia Rerum,” Among the many beaufful things which Victor Hugo has written of children is a stanza in his poem, "Letitia Rerum,” which may be thus approached in translation: “Children, through your eyes all sparkling I gaze into heaven’s blue; Your smllings are its sunbeams; Your tears,,its morning dew.” In English. Victor Hugo was once asked if he conld write Boetry in English, and he answered, “Yes, sir.” [ere is a specimen: Quand je me sens du spleen, J entre dans un inn, Et je bois du gin, God save the Queen.