The sun., 1891-05-24
zo,a's Story or Sedan,

As has already been reported. M. Emile Zola
| to prepare himself for his "Debacle." the
name OF his forthcoming work. travelled over
| the route followed by Napoleon's army to
Sedan. On his return to Paris the other day
he was called upon by q reporter o: the Mdtin.
| to whom he gave this account Of his Journeys:
On leaving Paris SGT out for Reims. which
| was really the point de depart OF onr troops As
you are aware. after the first defeats OF Wis
sembourg and FrHschwiller. the first army
| corps under MacMahon received an order to
fall back upon Chhlons. which was done. At
that place there we're already the Twelfth and
Fifth corps the latter composed OF the de Jris
OF the routed regiments. There also WAS the
Seventh Corps. which had been at Belfort. and
had not yet been In action. But the ad-
vance OF the Prussians and the news OF our first
reverses had demoralized these men. who re-
ceiyed with pain but without complaining tho
order for retrogrsde movement
"On arriving at Reims. where Just then 1t was
raining in torrents. hired a guido and fol-
lowed the unfortunate line OF march that was
taken by our soldiers. I went over the Same
ground. stopping where they stopped. fixing
the exact suots whore zach one OF the phases
OF that poignant tragedy was unrolled.
The fields where our soldiers fell have
lost the aspect which they presented tho
day after the disaster. but the ruins OF
few houses still give evidence OF
the drama that was closed there moro
than twenty years ago. At Chano l saw
tho modest looking house In which
Napoleon passed the night Of The 29,h OF Aug
ust. Suffering from physical and moral tor.
lures, living image OF King Lear rs he Was
for that war resembled in moro than one
phase n Shakespearean drama-he Witnessed
the downfall ofthe nation. Backed w against
fh., nj kpnrinD hnt nj
lost. and not wishing to engage uselossy tho
remainder OF his army IN hopeless effort. he
thought Of falling back upon Paris by turn
Ing to tho north. But Paris was ready for rev.
olution. and he could do nothing without tho
advice of the Coun Gil Of the Regency That very
evening the officer who carried the dispatches
was arrested b! the Prussians. Tor seven
hours our soldiers remained at stand.till In
those vast and dreary plains. under drcnch-
ing rain. In the morning despa;ches at last
arrived. The Ministers and the Council OF
tho Regency ordered an advance Mt all hazards.
Mermfe even said that tho Empress desired
the death OF her husband. In tho hope OF saw
ing tho dynasty. Tho Prince Imperial was
sent 10 Belgium. and Napoleon. cast down and
abandoning himself to his fate. ordered the
march toward sedan.
"As you see. have my chess board COM
plcted. and all that have to do Is to move my
piecss. But up to the present haze neither
fixed tho action Of my romance nor chosen my
characters. After all that is my way always
When write romance never make n ,ough
draught of IT. | collect M d"cumens and
when have them all In order my action COM
pore itsr!f. / thought ut il'st of choosing my
heroes from the Seventh Corps when discopr-
HEement had como over the 'roons As don't
want to put into this romance . ther women Or
love stories / will probably 'onhne myself to
the friendship OF twn soldiers or o some ps
sub iect. Tho, .informaiion which / received
upon the condition OF the inhabilants Of Sedan
at that time also sugge ted 20 me the idea OF
describing. while preserving the action of the
Seventh Corps. another purely local complt-
cation. which viii be linked 10 the i"rmer 1t
will doubtless bs something like tho agony nj n
family living In Sedan. while ona OF their
mcnibers L. In the amy,
Ee'oro ! 20 10 work. however. l must
get my final documents. must SEQ several
Genernis and also some old soldiers who went
through lhr camp ign OF 1870. and must get
lh,ni 10 talk, and alt geth"r hope 10 he Ghle
to turr out n WORK ~ act from u geographical
poi". OF view, and ir""r i"l from historical
ii on really goes - work so thoroughly
md "un-clen, iousy ~ he says he will, he will
Jr duce an inlere tlnG bonk. Certainly he
know h W 10 nd,o'ii-eit, lle IA past muster
in has business. or. rs one NJ the Paris critics
remarked. hJOue uc "a r!c amc en- prtuose.