PATRONAGE OF LITERATURE.
When Victor Hugo was an aspirant for the honours of the French Academy, and called on M. Royer Collard to ask his vote, the sturdy veteran professed entire ignorance of his name. “I am the author of Notre Dame de Paris, Les Derniers Jours d’un Condamné, Bug-Jargal, Marian Delorme, &c.” “I never heard of any of them,” said Collard. “Will you do me the honour of accepting a copy of my works?” said Victor Hugo. “I never read new books,” was the cutting reply.