The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-28


wholly finished. AS a champion of justice
and humanity you have yet to unron 10
the world the great tableaux of that his
toric struggle as it presents itself to your
mind"
Yes; that. too, intend to accomplish.
II is another of my numerous plans"
1t is of course, impossible that you
should give me at this early stage any
inklng as to the lines on which a great
masterpiece of this kind will be written,
but even now you might II you would
favor me with few insights into the in
ner springs and secret workings of the
DreyfuS drama What Is your theory of
what l would call the psychology of the
AFFAIR.""
"Ah" replied the master, that is ex-
actly the word The psychology of the
Dreyfus drama is an ocean. The difficulty
of sounding its depths and spanning it's
width borders on the impossible. But
what is feasible I shall endeavor to ac-
complish in my future work"
I'VE already know nearly everything In
the way of facts" continued NJ lola.
though even in this domain there are
still dark hooks and mysterious recesses
which may never be lighted up. Besides
the play of motives and intentions is
very delicate theme to handle and pre-
supposes a degree of impartiality which
Is closely akin to indifference. Later on
will set my hand to the work"
"And will you not also point out the
practical lessons to be drawn in the vari-
Gus branches of public life from the do
ings which you have been Instrumental In
dragging to light?" / asked.
"Oh, that you'd be a herculean work
which leave for others. l repeat that
have nothing more to say or do in che
matter-that is TO say, as an actor. Truth
and justice having triumphed, l return to
my daily work. But the lessons to be IN
culcated are, / admit, numerous, and II
is important that the practical conse-
quences should be drawn with as little de-
lay as may be. But Ii is not for me
to point out in what respects the military
code now in force should be modified in
consequence of the abuses which the Drey-
fus case brought TO light. Other people
should, and doubtless will, see to that.
Neither is II for me to comment upon the
ethical side of the drama, and to propose
ways and means of extirpating the sys-
tenn of righteousness on which the ORGY
fus case was built up. Moral phlloso-
piers may address themselves to that
task"
"Then you are determined to hold aIoof
from the matter in future?"I asked
Il am, absolutely. or rather / should
say conditionally; for, although we have
cleared the road for the advent of Justice
again be temporarily barrlcaded; and In
that case 1 will once more descend into
the arena and do what i deem my duty
there until the obstacles are removed for
good That, l say, is a not impossib bic
contingency, but neither is II a probable
one. Rumors and apprehensions are, it Is
true, in the air, but to me they are ru-
mors. and nothing more. My belief Is
that the battle has been fought and won
and the issues definitely decided The
courtmartal which will rehear the case in
Rennes will, in all probability, acqult the
prisoner unanimously, and close a historic
epoch. This, of course, Is only a mere
forecast, colored, it may be, by strong
sense of justice. But II is my belief; and
whSn the affair is eliminated in a verdict
in accordance with the now established
facts, / shall have no further cause for
action of that kind. The pen, as the in
strument of truth and justice, will have
effectually done It's work, and fulfilled
the saying that 1t Is a more formidable
Weapon than The sword"
'Will you not collect comments and pub
lish them all in book form, so that this
stirring chapter Of the great story may
be preserved TO the world?"
YES" replied the master, land that
will most probably be one of the very
first things | shall do. The story of the
drama must be told one day, and as com
pletely as our knowledge or the facts per-
mits, OF course, one man cannot do II all.
Every actor in II must narrate his own
experience Only in that way shall we
get to the bottom of IT,"
"And have you any idea of the form
which your contribution 10 the work is
likely TO take, and when you may have
1t ready?" / inquired.
III will deal with what you termed the
psychology of the drama" he answered
land / dare say shall work 1t out in
about three volumes; but / cannot fix
any date, not even approximately. But.
whether it be sooner or later, ii Is quite
enough to have on the stocks at once"
After a little further private conversa-
ton, / cordially thanked the greatest Of
Frenchmen, and as he accompanied me
down the staircase his last words were:
Il rely upon you adequately TO interpret
my thanks to the great people of England
for the hospitality l enjoyed in their
midst"