The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-24
SCENE OF THE DRYEFUS TRIAL

Rennes the Ancient Capital of Brittany.
Inasmuch as Rennes, the ancient capt.
tai OF Brittany, Is The headquarters of
the old aristocracY of the west of
France, a caste wliiet'is reactionary in
it's political ideas, bigoted on the sub
ject of religion, fanatic in its hatred of
the Jews and irreconciliable in its an
tagonism to everything pertaining to
republican institutions it Is difficult to
understand why the French government
should have chosen this city, of all
others in France, i for the retral by
court-martial Of Capt Alfred Dreyfus,
brought back to France for the pur-
pose from the terrible Devils island.
1t Is inevitable that the officers stationed
there are forming part of the court
martial should be subject to the infiu-
ence of the local aristocracy and gentry,
upon which the military element Is COM
PEELED to rely for social relaxation and
intercourse This being the case, Drey-
fus stands far less chance of securing
fair and equitable hearing there than
If the trial were to take place in Paris.
Rennes, which is a strange medley of
modern and ancient France, bears dis
tinctly aristocratic stamp. Its streets
in the old, as well as in the new, quar-
ters of the town are lined by stately
mansions, with huge portes- cocheres
and immense windows, such as one sees
in the aristocratic Faubourg st. Ger
main at Paris. At Rennes also the
territorial nobility from all the sur
rounding countries establish themselves
for the winter season. after having
spent the summer and autumn at their
country seats and chateaus. The whole
city bears an intensely dignified and
stately aspect, and there is nothing to
suggest that frivolity which one Is ac-
customed to associate with the French
character.
The mixture Of the old and the new
at Rennes is due to the fact that dur
ing the last century two-thirds of the
city was destroyed by fire. The older
part is very old-the cathedral, for in
stance, having been begun as far back
as the 18th century. King Henry VII
Of England presided over meetings of
The English Parliament at Rennes, and |
1t was near Renes, too that the French |
hero, Bertrand du Guesclin, routed the |
English and performed some of his |
greatest acts of valor. The celebrated |
Madame de Sevigne made 1t for a |
lime her home, and from here she dated |
many of her famous letters. Up to the |
time of the revolution Brittany, as a |
more or less Independent ducly, enjoyed |
certain degree of autonomy and had a |
parliament of its own, which sat at |
2ennes
1t is in the palace formerly occupied |
,y the Brittany parliament that the |
of Capt Dreyfus will take |
place. 1t is rather grand and pom
,ous edifice designed in the reign of |
King Louis XIII, by the architect De-
presses. and in its aspect recalls to mind
he Pitt palace al Florence IT is
adorned in Italian fashion, with pilas-
ers and colonades, as well as With stat
es of Breton lawyers and judges, while
he roof is decorated with balustrades
nd all sorts of fanciful gargoyles and
of most fantastic design.
Nowadays it is occupied as the palace
justice It's interior decoration Is the
cork of Jouvenet, Erard, Coypel and
ferdinand, four artists of the reign of
ling Louis XIV. The principal gate
!; superbly carved, and above It is
'arre's statue entitled "Religion.
correspondence of New York Tribune.