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Victor Hugo's House in Guernsey
Tourists and bathers exploring the beaches of Brittany or Normandy often make the excursion to Guernsey and always reserve a visit to Victor Hugo's house. It was here, at Hauteville House, that the poet composed his greatest masterpieces: Les Contemplations, La Légende des Siècles, Les Misérables, Les Travailleurs de la Mer, and more than one work published after 1870, or even after his death (1885).
This house belonged, until recently, to his two grandchildren. It was to become national property. Madame Jeanne Hugo, in obedience to the noblest selflessness, relinquished her share. As for Georges Hugo's heirs, they were to be compensated through a subscription initiated by the Ministry of Public Education.
The first subscriber was the Société des gens de lettres. She made a point of promising her support right from the Minister's speech at the reception for Belgian writers. Yesterday, the committee met under the chairmanship of Mr. Georges Lecomte and voted a sum of five thousand francs.
Hugo, in fact, was one of the founders and one of the first presidents of the Société des gens de lettres. Hauteville House, where so many memorabilia are piously preserved, will therefore become a national museum. Just as foreign nations preserve the house of an Albert Dürer or that of a Rembrandt, France will preserve the house of Victor Hugo.
ADOLPHE BOSCHOT.
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