The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-10-31


who is the mysterious woman who
~ a. never absent from any phase of
10 intricate Dreyfus case? Who is
ale woman who attended every ses-
ON Of the lola, Esterhazy and Pic
alart trials? Who is the one woman
/ no secured a seat on the dais behind
,,le judges In the Lycee at Rennes
4. hen the second trial of Capt. Alfred
=, reyfus began? Clad ever in white,
He has earned the inevitable sobri-
!, net, Ia Dame Blanche. But what is
!. that holds her keen interest In the
: Iluse celebre? And who knows her
4 entity7
These are questions which have the
sepest Interest to the public of Paris
lday. They have the same, if not
reater. interest In London, in Berlin,
: i America; for at this distance the
senes and incidents in the world-fa-
lous drap9a are seen in splendid
respective, and the famous woman IN
Shite Is thrown out in especial promi-
]. enca by the very contrasts afforded
" her sex and her peculiar costume,
OF to mention her unique interest. So
lie question is passed from lip to lip;
Tho Is the woman in white? What Is
er interest In the famous case?
= All the actors in the great world
rama are known to her. She is pro-
.ounced Dreyfusite. Her advocacy OF
lie Innocence of the harassed captain OF
rtiliery is well known. She has visit
/ every man of prominence concerned
! the case to plead his cause. she
as offered her assistance to his law
ers. She has rendered that assistance
unsolicited when the opportunity has
resented.
Not scene of the great conspiracy
as escaped her. What could be wit
, essed of the early trial of Dreyfus
he has seen. Even the degradation
N the captain before the public she
aw. The trial of Esterhazy and Col.
fcquart she followed through its mi
ute details. The sessions of Zola's
y rial she attended. The sittings of the
" .ourt of Cessation all found her at
Aendant Every feature of the case has
iaimed her presence.
She boasts a small but select salon
q the old-fashioned villa where she
Ives in the environs of Paris. 1t is
essentially fin de steele and much be-
Fought by recherche circle of wits
IND writers of the day. Small as this
luircfe was 1t would be astonishing that
NJ did not betray her identity when
1 Ter peculiar interest in the Dreyfus
Aase attracts public attention so
strongly to her but for one fact. 1t
unade habit of keeping closely to
ltself and avoiding as far as possible
a,ublic discussion Of its individual in
nerests. It was absolutely unknown
40 the usual habitues of Bohemian re-
forts of Paris and prided itself upon
Its select obscurlty.
n Comtesse de Martel Chat is her
slame) then knew that she was alb
jioluteIy safe from identification by
ter friends. Others she did not fear.
sihe came and went freely. attracted
continual attention. but successfully
,bbscured her identity. A few beyond
ioubt knew her secret, but they could
Lever be Induced to betray her.
! She was held in too high regard to
sender such q possibility worthy seri-
BUS consideration. Her wit and biting
Jatire, no doubt inherited from her dis
inguished ancestor, the great Mira
,eau, enshrined her queen among her
riends, while her geniality and ex-
IRENE good nature enabled her to
maintain her power absolutely Her
fisque stories were much appreciated,
sout never led to any liberty with her
or her fair name. To all she was