Show IRIS HONORS VICTOR HUGOS HUGO'S MEMORY I lib Feb 26 The The series of I ce brate the centenary of thet the t ejector Hugo which will 1 last s y next opened this JO morning grand d ceremony within the Pan- Pan the auspices of the Govern- Govern ft lent Loubet M r. Ros and the other mem- mem the Cabinet the members of the theand an and the Chamber Chambel of Deputies lye ive delegations from the Inand Inand Inand In- In and other state bodies including dg ding lights of art ait science and andin andin 1 in ln France o rance and deputations he n various educational vere ve present President Loubet ar ly cheered along alo g the route live ve to the Pantheon escorted l dron of cuirassiers resident and the Cabinet Minis U d their seats in the official trib- trib t ed d In the chair while in the thet t beneath beneath th the dome were two rr r bunes to the right reserved tS Loubet and the wives of the thel thet t l e and the other to the left on onI the members of ot Victor YIo Hugos Hugo I family averse We were se seated teil The United States StateS' ol Gen Gin Porter sat in the front tow to of seats jeet apart for the diplomatic Ex Exactly beneath the centre of the dome rose from out a a. cluster of palms and nd flowers the bust of Victor Hugo by bythe bythe bythe the celebrated sculptor David d' d dAngers dAngers dAn Angers An- An gers and this was the symbol l to which the eyes of thousands of spectators assembled assembled assembled as as- In the vast hall were directed A few steps b behind the bust was a littie little little lit lit- tle tie platform from which the artists of the Corned Ie Francais recited verses from the poets poet's works Tribunes for tor the Senators Deputies academicians and the other principal guests were ranged around the nave about persons in all being present plesent I A privileged eged position between the bust and the front of the Presidents President's tribune was reserved for tor about ninety young men and girls selected from various I schools to typify the youth of France The decoration of the Interior of the I Pantheon for v which Parliament voted I francs TV was as very simple but impressive Impressive Im Im- blue being the dominant color The sides were ivere draped with blue velvet ornamented with the initials V H H. and beneath the dome was suspended an I enormous gilt gUt laurel wreath attached to the surrounding walls by light garlands gar gar- I lands of foliage The walls of the apse were completely hidden by velvet hangings embroidered In gold in the centre of which stood out outa I within it a alyre alyre alyre a large wreath inclosing lyre and the initials V H H. beneath being the dates 1902 1802 The principal principal principal pal facade was also hung with blue velvet velvet velvet vel vel- vet bearing the name of the poet while clusters of palms and flags heightened the external color effect The ceremony began shortly after 10 o'clock in the morning and was concluded concluded concluded con con- at 11 1145 45 a a. a m m. The Included eulogistic orations by M r. Ley- Ley gues Minister of Public Instruction and M r. president of the Institute tute There were also recitals of several of Hugos Hugo's poems by members rs of the Come Come- I I die Francais the rendering of hymns based on Hugos Hugo's works by M M. Delmas of the Opera and a choir of men and I I I women The band of the Republican I guards and an orchestra numbering I persons performed the Instrumental part of the exercises es The scene within the Pantheon was most imposing and full of color owing to the brilliant toilettes of the ladies ladles and the uniforms of the officials In all the public schools of France the day was celebrated by lectures lecture on the life of Frances France's s national poet and by readings from his bis by the pr r |