The record-union., 1898-12-06
A TALK WITH NINE. DREYFUs.
How She Bears the Terrible Strain
Of the Last Four Years.

Mime. Dreyfus is living at present at
Chatcu, suburb of Paris little way
down the Seine. / was calling by ap-
polntment. and had waited but a sew
seconds when Nine Dre.rfus entered
the room into which had been shown.
h6c expected face worn by suffering,
a presence that would speak to the
anguish endured. There was some
thing of this, but it is only after close
inspection that it is possible to divine
the unspeakable strain which Nine.
Dreyfus has supported for years At
the first blush you are astonished at
her air of cheerfulness. at the almost
happy and infinitely kindly smile that
plays over her handsome features 1T
must keep cheerful face, if only for
the sake of the children Nine. Drey-
fus explained to me in answer to con-
gratulations on her appearance. "The
idea that such a man could be a traitor
is toe silly. His whole nature was or-
posed to everything that is underhand
and shifty. All those who know him
are aware how he detested intrigue,
how frank he was, how incapable of
furthering his own interests by re
course even to the petty Discrimination
SA'SN - ~ OllCI lOlGIdCGu IN 9VoryOdv
life''
Captain Dreyfus' letters to his wife
were shown to the interviewer. 1t
shcuid be explained that Nine Dreyfus
does not receive the originals oe the
letsers, which are sent in the first place
TO the central prison authorities. who
nave them copied; it is these copies that
reach her toward the 18th of each
month. Needless to say, there is moth
ing to prevent the authorities making
Whatever suppressions they choose. ana
it is certain that they have made extern
sive use of this right. In one of these
the ex-Captain writes:
1T is again to you that I write. for
you are the only thread that still BINDS
me to life. | know that all my family.
anG all yours as WE'LL love and esteem
me, but after all, if I were to disapnear
their sorrow, great though it is. would
vanish in time. 1t is solely the thought
OF you, my poor darling, that enables
me to struggle on. 1t is the thought
of you that keeps me from suicide. How
all my love for you comes home to me
az this moment! Never before aas it
been more immense-more exclusive.
still cherish q slight hope of reha5i1i-
ating my name, but resi- assured that
if am successful in treading this Cal
vary to the end, it will be UNIQUELY for
your sake, my poor darling; it will be to
avoid you fresh sorrow in addition 10
al those you have already supported
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. md
whose thoughts, / know, often go forth
to me. Frequently, at this hour or
that / ask myself what my dear Ta1cie
is doing, and in my mind I send her
the echo of my immense affection.
then close my eyes, and there seem to
pass before me your figure and these
of my dear children Do not weep.
then, dearest, I 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 cf
her husbands innocence, and. harder
task still, to bring home the suspicion
to the authorities of her own country
that a hideous injustice had been per-
petrated. The miracle has come 70,
pass. To-day Nine. Dreyfus is conf
dent that her final triumph is only q.
question of time.
asked her what in her opinion, was
the explanation of the calamity shat.
had overtaken her husband II
think" she answered, "I still think, in
SPITE of, all that has happened. that tne
origin of our trouble was a mistake.
cannot. | will not, believe that an in
nocent victim was Intentionally singled
out. BY strange and terrible freak
OF chance there was some resemblance