New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-09
A TALK WITH MNE. DREfFtS.
low SHE BEARS THE TERRIBLE STRAIN OF THE
LAST FOUR YEARS.

HOW SHE BEARS THE TERRIBLE STRAIN or THE
LAST FOUR YEARS.
From The Woman's Weekly.
Nine Dreyfus is living at present at Chatou'
a suburb Of Paris little way down the oei'le;
I was calling by appointment and mad waited
but few seconds when Nine. Dreyfus entered
the room into which had been shown. hau
expected face worn by suffering. presence
that would speak to the anguish endured Ihere
was something of this but it is only after close
INSPECTION that 1t is possible to divine the uh-
speakable strain which Nine Dreyfus has sup
ported for years AT the hrst piush you arr ar
astonisfed al her air of cheerfuness, at the al
most happy and infinitely kindly smile that
plays over her handsome features. Il must keep
Il cheerful face if only for the sake OF the chill
dren" Nine Dreyfus explained to me in answer
TO congratulations OF her appearance Inc
idea that such a man could he a traitor is too
silly His whole nature was opposed TO every
thing that is underhand and shifty. All those
who know him are aware how he detested IN
trigue how frank he was. how incapable OF iur-
thering his own interests by recourse even TO
the petty Discrimination that IS 50 often to'cr-
ated in everyday life
CANAAN Dreyfus's letters to his wife were
shown to the interviewer. Ii should be ex-
plained that Nine. Dreyfus does not receive the
originals of the letters. which are sent in the
first place to the central prison authorities. VINO
have them copied: ii is these copies that reacn
her toward the 10Th Of each month. Needless to
say there is nothing to prevent the authorities
making NllalcNpT SupplfSSloHS tiiSJ NiNVHN' """
if is certain that they have made extensive use
of this right In one Of these the eX-captain
writes:
the only thread that still binds me to life. /
know that all my family. and all yours as well,
love and esteem me, but after all. II were 10
disappear their sorrow. great though II IS,
would vanish in time. 1t is solely the thought
of you. my poor darling, that enables me 10
struggle on 1t Is the thought OF you that
keeps me from suicide How all my love Tor
Won comes home to me at this mon enti Never
before has it been more immcnae-inore excu-
siye | still cherish a slight hope OF rehabln-
tating my name but rest assured that II an
successful in treading this Calvary to the cnd'
il will be uniquely for your sake. my poor dar-
ling: it will be to avoid you fresh sorrow in
addition to all those you have already sup
ported"
His only solace Is the thought of those he
! loves "All around me is the most profound
silence only broken by the moaning of the sea.
Traversing the distance that separates us. |
! transport myself in thought amid you. amid
all those who are dear to me. and whose
thoughts / know, often go forth to me. Ere
| uuently at this hour or that ask myself what
| my dear Iucie is doing. anG in my mind SEND
her the echo of my immense affection. then
close my eyes and there seem to pass before
| me your figure and those OF my dear children
| Do not weep. then. dearest. l will struggle to
the last minute for your sake and that OF my
| children" ,
| For four long years Nine. Dreyfus has striven
| to convince the universe OF her husbands limo
| cenCe. and, a harder task SUN. 10 DrlnP nome
the suspicion to the authorities OF her own c0un-
| try that q hideOus injustice had been perpetrat-
ed The miracle has come to pass. To-day
| Nine Dreyfus Is confident that her nnal tr!-
umph is only a question Of time.
| asked her what. in her opinion. was the ex'
nlanation Of the calamity that had overtaker
her husband. II think" she answered. Il stu
think in spite of all that has happened. that
the origin of our trouble was a mistake. can
| not | will not believe that an innocent yictirt
was Intentionally singled out. by a strange
and terrible freak of chance there was some re-
semblance between my husbands writing and
| the writing of the 'bordereau. and it was this
! similarity between the two hondwrltngs tha
was the cause OF the initial bunder Unhappy
| this blunder was wilfuy pcrpetuated Wha'
was a mistake to begin with developed INTO
| crime into a series OF crimes. l have told you
| ar nv husbands reserved manner toward per
sons with whom he was not intimate. rms at
titude undoubtedly made him enemies. BESIDES
II cannot be questioned that he was very clever
and assured of brilliant career. and certain
| persons were jealous of him..