The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-28
A TALK WITH lola.
IN PARIS ONCE MORE REFLECTS
ON THE DREYFUS CASE.
His Gratitude 90 His sympathizers.
Future Plans and Work.

AeASSlapus
Yes. have a message, a really heart
felt message. for the people of England,
which authorize you to communicate 10
them through the columns of the Daily
Telegraph"
These were the first words addressed to
me by the triumphant champion OF JUS
tice and the literary genius who now en-
bodies all that is most noble ideal and
selfess in the character of the French
people, as soon as the first conventional
greetings between us were over. And
there was nothing conventional in our
conversation except the greetings. Every
thing else that was uttered by NJ. Zola
came straight from heart overlooking
with joy at costly triumph in the cause
and transformed, his heart trembling, as
it were, on his lips. and his soul beaming
through his eyes, as he sat in the billiard
room and talked. As he had not quite
finished luncheon when l called l had
had ample time 10 immerse my spirit in
the soothing atmosphere OF calm ideals
which assumes an almost visible form in
the apartments of his quiet house in the
Rue de Bruxelles.
lola came suddenly in while I was
looking up at a portrait Of the great mas
ter, round which hung broad ribbons of
red white and green. with the following
inscription: "A. Emile lola, lie grand
combattant de la verite ct la Justice"
From the Inscription on the other end Of
the ribbon l could gather that the Hun
garians had presented the gift last No
vember, and that they had described
themselves as adoring and sympathizing
with the illustrious martyr for truth.
He looked better far than l expected
and certainly more lively youthful and
buoyant than at any time since the pro-
mitigation of the historic letter 'jaccuse"
He assured me, however, that, despite his
good looks, he felt fatigued generally
and in need of repose, and that he had
for this reason felt reluctantly constrained
to deny himself the pleasure of receiving
Representatives of the press.
you surely have something to say to
the people of England" l remarked, after
l had thanked him for the signal honor
he was exceptionally comforting upon me
Yes l have message, a really heart
felt message, for the people of England
which l authorize you to communicate to
them through the columns of the Daily
Telegraph. Tell them that as long as /
live shall never forget the debt of graft
tude l owe them nor cease thoroughly to
appreciate it's extent. The hospitality
which they gracously offered, and l
thankfully received, was all the more en-
joyable that ii was simple, sincere and I'M
obtrusive. / went to England in the hope
of finding sorely needed peace, and l found
it,"
you surely owe that result at least quite
as much to the extraordinary precautions
which you yourself took beforehand" l
remarked ''as to the desire of the English
people, which was certainly most sincere,
to respect your wishes?''
''No, no. MOI Do not say So replied the
master, emphaticaliy. Doubtless /, too,
did what l could to compass my aim and
object. l stripped myself not only of my
name, but of my very personality, and 50
to say, buried myself alive in desert. ]
think may aptly call il desert, for
was virtually alone there. But, despite
all my measures, my secret was less eff
fectually sepulchred than my person, and
it more than once leaked out who ] was.
l know absolutely that this is a fact Yet
notwithstanding this discovery Of my
Identity by a number of persons of differ
ent characters and types they all kept it
to themselves and when they met me, as
they some times did, never once betrayed
by a gesture or a look, much less by a
stare, that they had an inkling who l was
Now. the spirit that actuates self-respect-
ing self-restraint like this calls for and re-
ceiyes my unstnted admiration Had l
England would have been a torture. l
am well aware that many people win step
in and explain this conduct of your coun-
trymen as the outcome of that species of
egotistic pride which is self-sufiicing.
cannot now refute or even discuss the the
DRY. Every peoples faults are exaggera-
tions of their virtues l nave now to deal
only with the fact that the English peo-
pie understand the essence of hospitality,
and to utter my own feelings on the sub
ject Tell your countrymen therefore,
from me that they have entertained an
appreciative, as well as a grateful, guest"
"Your impressions of English life must
surely be both numerous and Interesting"
l observed.
Truly they are BOTH" he replied.
at would be great honor for me If you
would enable me to make some of them
known TO Englishmen."
Il fear that is impossible for the mo-
ment. / have only got back to my home
after long absence the evil effects of
which were intensified by the literary work
which began, carried on, and finished in
exile and at present l sorely need rest,
complete rest. / have no hesltat ton in
saying however, that what most impressed
me in England was the reign of law and
the corresponding feeling of absolute Sc
curity which 1t epgenders. The results of
such condition of things are highly BEN
II may tell you that / do intend TO pub
fish a book describing my experiences as
soon as l have had time to take rest
and leisurely to allow my thoughts and
Impressions to take shape and FORM l
cannot specify the time as yet, for the
number of other plans and projects already
ripe for realization Is very great"
DO you allude, perchance, TO political
pIans?" asked.
"By no means" was the frank reply. Il
am not a politician, and never wish to be-
come one. My plans are purely literary,
but they are quite comprehensive enough
TO swallow up ali my time"
"Wha ever your intentions may be-" /
observed, your love Of ruth and fair play
has led you at least TO cross the political
arena"
quite so, but I have merely traversed
it because the road 10 justice happened to
lead that way / did not seek il. And If
similar conditions occurred tomorrow
would act in like manner. and not other
wise"
Now that you speak OF possibilities,
may l ask you, az a great favor, TO give
me, or, rather to give the great public out