Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-19
THE DREYFUS LETTERS.
Written Mt the Beginning of His I'M
prfsOnment.
Paris Letter to the London TeIegranh

written Mt the Beginning of His I'M
prisOnment.
Paris Letter to the London Telegraph.
Today the Steele begins the publication of
letters written by Dreyfus to his wife and
other relatives. Those which have just
appeared were penned when he was an in
mate of the Cherche Midi military prison.
and are all addressed to Madame Dreyfus
The first, indited on December Is or 10,
1884, begins do most, Ma Chere Lucie -
He asks his wife to tell the members of
their two families how much he has felt
their marks Of sympathy. He cannot reply
to them, as what would he say? They can
understand his sufferings, and he does not
care to complain. Besides he adds: My
brain is broken and my IDEAS are some
times confused. My soul alone has remain
ed valiant as at the outset in the presence
of the terrible and monstrous accusation
which has BEEN flung in my face. All my
being still revolts at this thought But
truth always ends by coming out in spite
OF everything. We are no longer in an age
when light can be shut out L. must
energe complete and absolute. My voice
mist he heard by our dear France as nv
accusation has been. 1t is not only INV
honor that L have TO defend, but that Of
the whole corps of officers to which L be-
loDg, and of which l am worthy" Kiss, s
are sei.t to Madame Dreyfus and all their
relations. and the letter is signed Ton
devoue Alfred"
In another missive Dreyfus says that he
is strong in his innocence. and. thanks to
iris feeling, is maintaining the terrible
struggle. He tells his wife TO be brave and
TO hope, IF there is justice on the earth"
In a third he writes that he will not give
way to recrimination, as he will not lower
himself to utter any complaint. The mar
tyrdom which an innocent man is made to
him. Tlrey -f,toc
In another letter: 1T Is my conscience
alone which has enabled me to resist 9TH
erwise 1 should have died of grief or be in
lunatic's cell. / cannot recall to mind the
first days without a shudder of dread: nv
brain was like boiling cauldron; every
moment 1 feared that 1 should lose my
reason"
In sending messages to their relatives he
continues: Tell them that 1 have often
thought of them. and of the grief that they
must feel We must all knit ourselves
tightly together In a bundle which nothing
can undo. Our pure and honest lives, all
the antecedents of our families our de-
votfon to France, are the best guarantees
of what We are. l have received two kind
letters from Jacques and Rachel, which
have given ME great pleasure. Thanks
too, for your news of the children. All!
the poor darlings; what joy it would be If
l could embrace them, and you, too ma
bonne cherie. But l cannot go on with this
matter, as it unnerves me; bitterness
comes to my heart and to my lips and
need all my strength Thank Matthew, as
well as all my brothers and sisters and
the whole family, for what they are doing
for me. Kiss them for me. 1 must stop. a.
all the memories of the happiness and JOY
which 1 had with you all revive my grief
TO have sacrificed everything to ones
country to have served 1t with so much de-
vction energy and intelligence. and then
to be accused of fearful a crime. No!
no"
1t having been reported that NJ Joseph
Reinach had stated, in the course of con-
versation. that the late minister of Justice
had formally promised the revision of the
Dreyfus trial. NJ Darlan writes from Bor-
dcaux denying that he ever did anything
of the kind.