The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-08
THE DREYFUs CASE.
Reviewed by Miss Beaston
Yesterday at Residence
of Miss Louise Edge.

Miss =
second of her course of Lenten lectures
at the residence of Miss Louise Edge, No.
IS Wayne streets. 1t was current events
day. and Miss Beaston limited herself
principally to two recent events, the ap-
pointment of President Loubet 10 the
French Republic, and the death or Lord
Herschell.
In speaking on the first division OF her
subject, Miss Beaston went back a lew
years tracing the history OF the "Drey-
fus case, She spoke of the great IN
iuence the affairs of private individuals
might nave on a nation, mentioning as
an example a necklace worth something
less than SIPS 900, which brought ABOUT
the French Revolution.
Captain Dreyfus," she said, was the
first Jew who ever worked himself up 70
the position of an officer In the Frencn
Army and the described with apt and
appropriate side lights, the arrest, trial
and condemnation of the French ohcer.
His exile to Devils Island, she said, made
her think of the story of Elijah and the
ravens it was so marvellous. NO white
man had ever lived there over SIX months
besides which it was a leprous country.
Captain Dreyfus was sent there January,
1895, and in 1899 was still alive. Vie woulo
have solved everything" continued she,
IF he had only obligingly died at the
end of six months as was expected.
Miss Beaston said she, herself, was a
firm believer in Captain Dreyfus IN
nocence.
This brought the speaker to the ap-
pointment of Lucille Loubet as President
of the French Republic, and she gave a
brief sketch of the Presidents life, de-
scribing, how. when free from the eneum-
FRANCES of his office, he dressed himself
in the blouse and shoes of the working
man for ease and comfort. His grand
parents" said she, could not write
.aCan you think" continued the
speaker, ''of any revolution where Inc
leader has not come out of the masses!
You cannot make a man TO lead tue
people put. 1t is the old story. Moses Zee
the Children of Israel out OF bondage
Abraham Lincoln, who had been prought
I'D in a log cabin, and never seen the
grand old Colonial houses, such as we
are in now, freed the slaves, and now TOT
the first time in over eighteen hundred
years France has a leader out OF Inc
bosom of her people. 1t is a wonderful
piece of history made right under your
nose" Miss Beaston also mentioned the
speech made by the French President, IN
which he said that he intended to see
Justice lone to all without favor, calling
him the abraham Lincoln of the French
nation" and saying she now had some
hopes for Dreyfus.
The speaker next touched upon the good
influence of the press, saying that much
had been said on it's bad side. but that II
annihilated boundaries. bringing people
from all parts of the globe in touch with
each other, n giving two examples OF
the result. First, that it had united
Protestant and Catholics, as in the case
of the Pope, when $4,000 kilograms IN
curing after the state of his health, were
received in one day, over one-half OF them
from Protestants. The other example
was that of the illness of Rudyard Kip
ling, in which Miss Beaston pictured the
whole English speaking world as wait
ing breathless for news in front OF the
Grenoble Hotel, New York
AS Dreyfus was mentioned as the first
Jewish officer in the French army. so
Lord Herschell was mourned as the first
lew who ever attained to the office of
Lord High Chancellor in England. If
he had lived one century earlier said
Miss Beaston, HE could never nave at
tanned this post on" and then went on
to trace the history of the Jews in Eng
land as controlled by the guilds, which
prohibited them from pursuing any trade
save that of usury and ags which the
established church of England did IN
clude. This, she said, accounted for the
social position of the Jews. 80" con-
tinued the speaker. Lord Herschell
stands for the emancipation of a great
nation"
Miss Beaston then went to explain just
what the position of Lord High Chancel-
lor meant, giving the difference or the
House of Commons and the House of
Lords, to which latter only the eldest
sons of peers were admitted on the
death of their father, while their
younger brothers might sit in the former,
save for the Lord High Chancellor who
was chosen for his ability as a lawyer,
and usually sprang from a poor boy be-
cause the sons of rich men would not de-
vote the time to the necessary study. and
because he must know the common law
better than any one else.
The speaker pictured Parliament in ses-
sion n the Lord High Chancellor on
his throne, impressing her audience with
the honor of The position, THE first law
yer in the land! The Keeper of the Sow
ereign's Conscience"
At the conclusion of the lecture hot
chocolate n fancy cakes were served,
while the ladies' INDUCED in a social chat