Of Cmtrt gawttat. BELLEFONTE, PA. The Largest, Cheapest end Best Paper PUBLISHED IN CKNTRK COUNTY. VICTOR HUGO.. His I.lie. His Ways uml Ills Character. Pri.ro Umilon Truth, January 15. Count Victor Mario Hugo was horn in 1802, his father having beeu one of the most distinguished of Napoleon's Generals. At one time General Hugo held command in the province of \uvelliuo, in Calabria, where he man aged, after a desperate chase, to run I'm Diavolo to earth. Afterwards he went to Spain, taking Victor with liiui. The child already gave promise of genius, and King Joseph asked to see f,im. "Remember, my hoy," quoth the father* "that if His Majesty s|>eaks to \im volt must address nim as 'Sire.' " The King did converse with little Vic tor, who called, him "Monsieur." Geu. Hugo asked his sou after the audience why he had disobeyed the paternal in junctions. Victor made a reply which jerhaps only a shy man will quite un- , dcrstand: f 'l was afraid." About this time Victor was entered j as a student at - the Scminnry of the | Nobles in Madrid. Previously his education had been conducted under the athpices of an old royalist, who was a general into the hargaiu. In 18151 he was placed at the Convent of the Feuillantines. He is thus one of the most mournful and striking argu ments against the old creed. Brought up a Catholic, und endowed with all the susceptibilities which could enamor a soul of the Catholic poetry, he has deliberately rejected it. lie is no; sceptic, but a passionate Deist, who speaks somewhat scornfully of what I are pre-eminently styled the mysteries , of our faith. Papa Hugo wished his son to he come a soldier, hut the boy hud other ideas. He had begun to scribble at or seven; a vtritahle replica of Pope — -WhlM y*t * child, und *ll unknown to fain**, I lUpM iit Biauibava, for (he nt)iub*r • none." At fourteen he wrote a tragedy—had, of course, hut such as many a man of twenty-eight might have been proud to write. At fifteen he competed for ot.e of those prizes which the French Academy annually offers with the hetiigu intention of encouraging the study of letters among the people most disposed to rush into print of any in Europe. The subject was— "The Advantages of Study." Victor's poem was unquestionably the best, hut he had been goose enough to sign "A Poet of 15.'' The bigwigs fancied they were being chaffed, never dream ing of such a product of nature as a boy of genius. Ho they refused him the prize, hut (fr they had a collect ive con-cience) allowed him honorable mention. Three religious, patriotic odes, all "crowned" by somebody, followed in three successive years; and Victor be gan to lie looked upon by the Royal i-t pretty much Mr. Gladstone was looked upon by the Tories of forty years ago. Indeed, there is more than one point of resemblance between these eminent men. They have both travel ed the same way, only Mr. Gladstone has not covered the same space. He hegau as a Christian anil a Christian he has remained. Victor Hugo has measured the vast distance between belief in the Pope and belief in him himself alone. Agnin, the men are ltoth terribly in earnest. A Govern ment of Hugos with real power at its hack would probably reform society, unless, ly way of alternative, it suc ceeded in destroying'that time-honored institution altogether. In 1822 ivas published the first vol ume of "Odes nnd Ballads." The success was fully equal to thnt of the two first cantos of "Childe Harold." Like Byron, Hugo awoke and found himself famous. For a time he was ' happy, this lad of twenty who had become one of the greatest men in France. He now took what some persons have pronounced the one wise step in his life. A Mile. Foucber had been brought up with hiin at the Con vent of the Feuillantines, and young ietor hail risen to love her. The Parents of the young lady, however, had looked upon him as a detrimental or worse; now he was discovered to hiree merit, also much prudence in money matters —a quality which has never forsaken him —so their views changed, and his suit was encouraged, frankly, this poet has a keen eye to the main chance. On his return to i'ari* in 1870, after a nineteen years' exile, his first act was to drive to the Academy and claim his arrears of Py as one of the Forty. A thousand francs a year, I think, is the allowance of an Immortal, so that the sum was worth asking for. Victor Hugo has been accused of lack of generosity, chii fly because his charities are unos tentatiously liestowed. But numerous little acts of kindness oil his part are known to friends who have come in contact with him. For instance, Hugo makes frequent use of the tramway, and regularly gives a Christmas box of 4520 to the employes of the particu lar line on which he generally travels. His marriage was a happy one in the most essential point, out marred an uncommon series of calamities. Both his sons, men of great promise, have preceded him to the grave. His daughter, Leopoldinc, was* drowned with her hugband, Charles Vacquerie, ot Havre, in 18451. It was a singu larly gay boating party that lmd this tragic end. And yd M. Hugo, does not give one the idea of u melancholy man ; quite the reverse. At his own table, lor iustance, he will talk and laugh like a great schoolboy, seeming to overflow with animal spirits. I was dining with him one duy, and towards dessert the conversation had become political when the door suddenly open ed and a pretty child of eight years or so made her appearance. "C'est I'Ainour et c'est lu Joie 1" was Hugo's rapturous exclamation, and politics were contemptuously dismissed. Well does he know the art of being a grand lather. Hugo's political life can only be said to have begun in 1848. The Revolution found iiim an Academician, a Peer of France, an officer of the Legion of Honor, a rentier. He had everything to lose, nothing to gain by change and disorder, But the move ment of 1848 had in it so much of the heroic and hopeful that more than one strong head was turned, ititter was the reaction; but Victor Hugo had the genius to perceive that the princi ples of the Republican leaders were the only ones possible for bis age und j country, and that the scle question was as to the best method of applying J them. His conversion occupied in all about five years. It was in 18551, ■ when liberty had absolutely disap peared from the entire continent, that Victor Hugo seized the opportunity of proclaiming himself a "Democrat." lie told a friend about this time that there was no phase of his career of which he felt prouder than this. "1 hail to give up many cherished preju dices nud many fair illusions, and to part with some dear friends. 1 had, too, to confess myself mistaken. Now , lam proud to look bnck on it all. I dared, 1 sjioke, I conquered." After the coup d'etat Hugo resided in Jersey till, in 1855, our fellow-sub jects of that isle drove him out for having protested against the expulsion of some French refugees. The poet then went to Guernsey, where his linos were cast in tolerably pleasant places. The scenery is lovely, aud Victor Hugo had chosen a delightful spot for his home. Hautevillc House soou became the resort of pilgrims from every part of the world where a lover of liberty or an admirer of gen-1 ius was to lie found. Indej>eudently of its illustrious tenant, the mere dwelling repaid a visit. Hugo lias rare decorative skill, and his house > was a perfect gem. He himself, how ever, rarely used his fine rooms, pre ferring to"work in a garret furnished I with a single table and chair, and des titute even of works of reference. A thrifty soul, he was proud of haviug written a whole book without the ex- j jiendilure of more than one bottle ot ink. He called it accordingly, "Co qu'll y a dans une Bouteille d'Encre." One splendid apartment, by the way, was reserved for the reception of Gen eral Garibaldi, in case that hero should ever accord the honor of a I visit. Hugo might be bard pressed i for space wherein to la-stow bis guests, but the liberator's chamber itill re mained inviolable. Hugo would not j hear of its being occupied by any meaner mortal. I believe the Gene ral never came, and indeed doubt whether the most brilliant thinker and the bravest soldier of the age ever met. Nor is there much chance that they will in the future, Gnrhaldi being too I ill to travel and Hugo being too fond i of France to care to leave it. Hugo has been accused of inordinate vanity ; but at all events he can af fect a graceful freedom from that quality. He once received a letter addressed, "To the greatest of French |K>ets." Hugo sent the envelope un -1 opened to I,amartine, who courteously returned the same assuring his rival that it had not miscarried in the first instance. Hugo deserved to be praised by I>amartiue,ufid Lamartineby Hugo. MOI.TKK AT BERLIN. lIOMC 1.1 I B or TIIB OREAT ROI.DIER W 110 IS SILENT IN SEVEN LANOOAOES. In a recent publication by Rnron A. von Firks, an interesting glimpse is presented of the private and domestic life of the great German strategist, Count von Moltkc. The bappv mar riage of the Chief of the Prussian General Staff' was dissolved by the death of his wife on the '24 th of De cember, 18f8. Since then his domes tic affairs have been managed by bis only surviving sister, Fran von Burt, whose only son has likewise been at tached as second adjutant to his uncle. Count Moltkc resides in the new build ing lielonging to the GenerltKHtaff". It is situate on the King's square or Konigsplatz, Berlin. His npnrtments have a southern nspect and look out upon the Column of Victory, which commemorates chiefly his own unpre cedented triumphs over the Austrians and the French. His habits and mode of life are characterized by the great est simplicity and regularity, his time being divided and spent strictly ac cording to the rules he has previously laid down for himself. During the wiuter half of the year the Field- Marshall, in his dressing-gown and with bis head covered by a little round smokiug-cap, enters his study or working-room at 7 o'clock every morning nnd takes his early cob of coffee, over which he smokes a cigar. Then he commences the regular work of the day. He writes very quickly and regularly, but not uufraquently, on reading over his manuscript, makes alterations and additions. His hand writing is flowing and very legible, i the characters being clear, firm and n uniform. At this work he goes on t till !t o'clock, when his offii inl letters 1 are brought in and laid before him. < Alter reading these he proceeds to put j on his uniform and finish his toilet for i the day. At 11 o'clock he hears the < daily reports of his adjutants, and i then takes his luncheon, which is s generally of a very simple character, i After this he is generally engaged in i his study till 2 o'clock. At the stroke i of 2 the Divisional Chief of the great I General Staff'appears and makes his I report for the day, the time he oc- i cupies varying according to eircum- I stances. When this work is finished i the Count as a general rule takes a < walk, and on returning home dines t with the members of his family. His i favorite wine at dinner is Moselle. 1 After the principal meal of the day he : i takes coffee and a cigar in his study, i where the members of his family or friends generally find hint ready to i engage in a cheerful conversation oil i < the topics of the day. From sto 7 I o'clock* in the evening, however, the I Field-Marshal is again at his huoks 1 and papers, writing letters and finish- I ing up his official work of the day. I Between 7 and 8 o'clock he looks at | the evening puppra, und at 8 P. M., tea ' .• is served in the family circle, after j 1 which Count Moltkc is very fiiml ofji joining in a rubber at whist. Then, ■ towards the close of the evening, there | i is a little music, and at 10 o'clock p. j ] M., the Field-Marshal retires to rest, j to rise again at G.JO for a similar day's I i work on the morrow. During the'! summer months Count Moltkc spends , most of his time on his estate at Krei- i sail, near Schweidnitz, in Silesia. At j i the entrance to the forecourt there are ] two Greeiau athletes, and not fur from them, resting on large flat bases of i stone, two cannon taken in the late i Franco-German war und presented by the Kmperor to his victorious Chief of the General Staff. TJie Count's favor ite spot in his park is a seat under the j: shadowy branches of a giant oak, i i whence a fine view of the hills of the i Eulengebirg is obtained. In the pnrk, 1 too, is the tomb of his deceased wife, to whom he was greatly attached. S\\ .MA It I NO. THE MOST DKI.IOIIiri'I. LITTLE KEITIII.IC OUTSIDE Or FAIRY-LAND. John Bijtflow in Harpr'a f* Fphntary. The Republic proper stretches over ! a territory seventeen mile* long and j about half that width, nud has a popu lation. all told, of about G,OOO people, j the capital, where we were, having about 900 of them. They arc govern ed by a council of sixty, which is m close corporation, nominally composed | of twenty princes, twenty of the mid- i die class and twenty of the peasant, class ; hut in point of fact, as I after- j ward learned —and, indeed,,as might t he inferred from the fact that they ' themselves filled all vacancies, and the people had no more to do with the ; ; choice of the members of the ir Council ; than of our meml>ers of Congress—all ' were nobles, and if you were to ad dress one otherwise than "nobilissimo," ; you had better not have addressed him at all. I gathered that the real dis tinction was that twenty were tnkco j from the lauded gentry, twenty from , the town gentry and twenty promiscu- j ously from any part of the territory. This Council, independent of all! human control from aliove or below. ( ' elects two executive officers, who are called Captains-Regent ; it designates j all executive committees, imjioses tax ! es—in fact, conducts the Government, j When I asked if the people had no i elective franchise of any sort, the | Count B said, "N'o, none ;" i i hut they may respectfully address the ; Captain Regent by petition. If I had ; known him better I should probably j j have taken the liberty of sayiug to the ; prince thnt the privileges of the people of San Marino reminded me of those which the Miuister Calonne proposed | to yield to the Assembly of Notables near the close of the last century, and j which were cunningly caricatured by the picture of a ministerial orator ad dressing a flock of turkeys as follows ; "Gentlemen, I have called you to gether to ask you with what sauce you would prefer to be eaten." "But we do not wish to be eaten," was the ungracious reply of the honor able birds of freedom in Congress assembled. "Yon dodge the question," was the retort of the imperturbable minister. The government of this so-called republic, therefore, is simply a close corporation, vested with indetermina ble power to fill all vacancies occasion ed by death or otherwise. Their Coun cil is even less popular in its composi tion than a hereditary legislature, be cause no third power, like that of a sovereign, to which the people have access, nas anything to do with filling the vacancies that occasionallyr occur in .its ranks. Two Executives or ('aptnins Regent, one for the town and one for the rural districts, are chosen by the Council every six months —in April and in October —and may not be re-elected for two consecutive terms. They may be, however, and frequently are, re-elected after an interval of three years. Home of them have thus been re-chosen four or five times. Count B told me he had him self been Captain Regent three times. It must be remembered, however, that Han Marino is a small republic. The Regents receive no pay —anotfier evi dence that Han Marino is not a repub lic, after cisatlantic ideas, at any rate. My readers are doubtless already impatient to know something of the army, which for 1300 years has defied the munifold elements of disorder that have been fatal to many dynasties and dismembered so many larger uud more populous territories in Kurope. The military defence, then, of the Republic of San Marino is committed to a regular army of thirty men, who are supposed to he always ready to re spond to the calls of honor or of patri otism. A jsjlice, consisting of five or six persons, protects the property of the territory and gives peaceful slum bers to its honest burghers. In emerg encies the militia of the country may be called in aid of its uuconquered regular legions. They have two judg es, who are, however, required by law to he taken fjHim.without the territory and are changed every three years. Hut all cases of appeal are decided by a court of cassation, or review, in the neighboring cities of Hologna, Padua, Turin, or wherever that tribunal may chance to be sitting at the time. The currency in use among them, also, is that of the Italian government. They had once some sons coined, the equiva lent in value of our cent —my host ut the inn gave me two or three of them hut they were not coined in the Re- ! public. Their number was very re- j stricted, and they are rarely to lie met with except in the collections of numis matists. it is certainly one of the ec centricities which distinguish Ban Ma- ; rino from all other countries that it 1 puts out its litigation as some families : put out their washing and trades ex- j clusively with the currency of foreign i States. The country which buys and sells with a currency over vfliieli it has no control ami submits its differences to foreign tribunals for adjustment, gives pretty heavy bonds to keep the peace with its neighbors, whatever be the title it gives to its form of govern ment. The expenses of their government will not scein large to an American. They never exceed 25,(XK) francs —say s•>,oo0 —army, navy, post-office, edu cation, prisons, police, diplomatic serv ice, representation, all included. This revenue is raised out of the profits realized by the government from the purchase of some $600,000 pounds of tobacco in the leaf, which it manufac tures to sell at a small ndvance; from the sale of about *<>o sacks of salt, and a trifling stamp tax of three cents on notarial,judicial and other legal docu ments. The health of the republic is looked after by one physician and one surgeon employed by the State, who are required to ntteud and prescribe for nil who send for them, hut who arc not expected to resent the offer of a gratuity from those who can afford to pay for their advice. These functionaries receive some SSOO a year each from the Btate. The Judges re ceive the same. Ban Marino has not only never Iwc.i afflicted with a news pnjier, but no printing press has ever stood upou its territory. Ail Inhuman Mother. MX7KIXG ILEA I.ITTI.K BOV L*P WITH A CAT TO STASVK TO OEATII. 1 Fr>i Pp*rtal U to th* NKW York, Jan. 22.—The details of the shocking brutality of a mother to a four-year-old babe transpired in the Police court to-dav. The mother, Mrs. ('arrie Kmmerson, was drunk, ami was arraigned by the jadice. An occu pant of the same tenement told the following story: Mrs. Kmcrson took her apartment* about four months ago, bringing her lit tle boy, Freddy, about three and a halt years old. For the first few days she acted respectably and look care of the child. After this she would go out in the evening and come home drunk in the small hours of the morning. Mean while Freddie would be locked in the room. .She would leave in the afternoon and be gone until near noon of the fol lowing day, and would have men visit her and, until they left, kept the child in the yard, I have fed the child mnny a time during its mother's absence. On Tuesday morning I was awakened by the bowls of a cat in Mm. Kmmerson'* rooms, continuing during the morning. Towards noon 1 beard the child's cries, followed by a rushing noise, as if some savage animals were running around a cage and trying to escape. The in ; mates of the house assembled around 1 the room, which is on the ground floor, having a door and two windows opening into the yard. The windows raised up and a large padlock fastened the door. A cat was heard in the room. The cries of the child grew louder and loud er, and the cat inside began to hurt itself against the window* in its en deavors to break out. It would strike the closed shutters, snd rebounding to the floor, would tear around the apart ment to the terror of the child, whose screams were heartrending. An officer was called in and broke open the door. A large black cat, with biasing eyes, dashed past him. Inside the room was Freddie, wholly nude, and shivering with cold and fright. The officer car ried him into my apartments, where I dressed him, and he was taken to the police station. HEW YORK'S ELECTORAL VOTE. Tns ntorosiD SSITBUCAX STIAI. IS BI SECT COXri.ICT WITH Till •■OSSTITinriON. From th* Horltmtrr Union. A* the legislative report has already advised the reader, a Mr. Potter, of Baratnga, has introduced iu the asaeiti blv a bill to take from the people the right to vote for Presidential electors, which they have enjoyed since every voter now living cast a ballot, and so abridge it by parceling out the choice of electors among Congressional dis tricts as to defeat the will of the people of fhe State. The scheme is put ror- ward by the (Irani manager?, with a view of wearing to the third term aspirant electoral votes from Republi can Congressional districts. It in, of course, a confession that the Btute a? u whole is and will be at the Presiden tial election Democratic in majority. Whether the Republicans at Albany will seriously attempt to carry out the revolutionary programme proposed is doubted. Hut if they should carry it out, they may make some mistake that will re sult in throwing New York's electoral vote out of the court. There arc a number of points involved that are less technical and of more strength than those upon which the Republi cans are seeking to set up a State gov ernment in Maine. In the first place, the question has been raised whether it is competent for the legislature of a State, after having directed the appointment of electors by vote of the people, and the people have for generations appointed them by vote, to change the manner of appointment—whether, when the legislature gave the directions to the people and lodged in their hands the power to choose, it did not exhaust its authority. In the second place, one of the late amendments of Federal Constitu tion recognize* what the original in strument did not —the right of the jH-ople to vote for Presidential elect ors ; and it attaches a penalty to de nial or abridgement of that right. "When," it says. "the right to vote at any election for President and Vice- President of the I'nitcd States * * * is denied to any of the male inhabi tants of such State, being twenty-one years of age HI. s of the United States, or in any manner abridged, ex cept for participation iu rebellion or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the pro portion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State." The male inhabitants described now certainly have the right to vote for all the thirty-five electors of New York. The (Irant scheme proposes to deny that right, to take it away, to abridge it, by allowing them to vote for only the two at-large electors, and hv Con gressional districts to vote for only a single elector in each. Consequently, the basis of the StateV representation in Congress must be re duced in the proportion