The Topeka state journal., 1899-07-14
where Dreyfus win Be Tried.
TFrom the New York Tribune. ]

From the New York Tribune
Inasmuch as Rennes, the ancient cap
itaI of Brittany, is the headquarters OF
the old aristOcracy of the west OF
France, a caste which is reactionary in
its political ideas, bigoted on the subject
of religion. fanatic in its hatred OF the
Jews and irrecOncilabIe in its antagOn-
ism to everything that pertains to re-
publican Institutions, 1t IS d1ncuI TO
understand why the French government
should have chosen this city OF all oth-
ers in France for the retrial by court
martial of Captain Dreyfus, brought
back to France for the purpose from the
terrible Devils Island It is inevitable
that the officers stationed there and
forming part of the court martial should
be subject to the influence of the local
aristocracy and gentry upon which the
military element is compelled TO rely Tor
social relaxation and intercourse This
being the case. Dreyfus stands lar less
chance of securing a fair and equtJa bic
hearing there than if the trial were TO
take place in Paris.
Rennes, which is a. strange medley OF
modern and of ancient France. bears
distinctly ariStCCratic stamp Its streets
in the old as we'll as in the new quarters
of the town are lined by stately man
siOns, with huge pOrtes-cOchereS and
immense windows, such as one sees in
the aristOcratic FaubOurg St German,
at Paris At RenneS, also, the terri
torial nobility from all the surrounding
countries establish themselves for the
winter season after having spent the
seats and ChateauS- The whole city
bears an intensely dignified and stately
aspect and there is nothing to suggest
that frivOlity which one is accustomed
to associate with the French character
The mixture of the old and new at
Rennes is due to the fact that during
the last century twO-thlrds OF the city
was destroyed by fire. The older part
is very Old-the cathedral. for instance,
having been begun as for back as the
twelfth century. King Henry VII Of
England presided over meeting of the
English parliament at RenneS, and
it was near Rennes too, that the French
hero, Bertrand du Guesclin, routed the
English and performed some OF the
great test acts of valor. The celebrated
Madame de SeV1gne made 1t Tor q time
her home and from here she dated
many of her famous letters Up to the
time OF the revolution Brittany as
more or less Independent duchy enjoyed
a certain degree of autonomy and had
q parliament Of its own, which sat at
Rennes-
1t is in the palace formerly occupied
by the Brittany parliament that the
court martial Of Captain Dreyfus will
take place. It is a rather grand and
pOmpous edifice, designed in the reign
of King Louis XIII by the Architect
Debrosses, and in its aspect it recalls TO
mind the Pitt Palace at Florence. It
is adorned in Italian fashion with pilas-
terS and COlOnnadeS. as well as with
statues of Breton lawyers and judges,
while the roof is decorated with baluS-
trades and all sorts of fanciful gargOyles
! and WaterspOuts of most fantastic de-
sign. Nowadays it is occupied as the
Palace of Justice. Its interior decoration
is the work of JOuvenet, Erard, Coypel
and Ferdinand, four artists of the reign
of King Louis XIV. The principal gate
is superbIy carved, and above it is Bar
res statue entitled Religion
The city stands on a sort of angle
| formed by the confluence of the rivers
Vilaine and lie. and especially at this
time of the year, thanks to the grand
| old trees that line its streets in every
/ direction forming species of verdant
settings for the various buildings, looks
exceedingly picturesque.