The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-03

Authors

THE LETTERS OF CAPTAIN DREY-
FUs TO HIS. WIFE. New York ana
London. Harper q Bros. Bound in
cloth Price. &LG.
More talked of than any other man.
the cynosure of the thoughts of the
civilized nations. Dreyius is to-day the
most prominent figure I'm the world
drama After having suffered the see
we're penalties OF the law, DE is again on
trial 10 prove. If possible. his innocence
of tho crime Of treason. Leaving his
beloved Alsace. after the Funeo-Prus-
sian War; rather than be- a subject az
victorious Germany. he cast in his for-.
tunes with France. joy DIS fminiu.ne5
and val0r. DE attained distinction ~
thc French army TO such man.
soldier and a patriot. to- Doe charged with
treason was worse than death. i1s
spirit Droathes through hi letters to hs
devoted wife.
one always feels. En- reading an inN-
mate personal letter address ed to- s04
one else. like ap0ioe'zinr for Che intru-
s'0n Tho reader cannot help having
much of this feeling when reading The
letters OF Droyfus. in which Doe lays bare
20 The only person In The world. whose
sympathy ho can demand. his agony Of
deepest despair jim publishing them to
help IN the establishment of DIS iuno-
cence. his WHO seems 20 have been guid-
cd by an inspiration. for no ono can read
them and believe The writer other than
an innocent man. and patriot Of
france.
The letters begin in the prison Of
Chcrche-Midi in December 1904 arc cone
tinucl from tho Saute and Saint-Martn
de Be and conclude iu the Isles du Sa-
Tut March E.. 1893. The appendix contains
two or three later letters and Drcyfus'
own statement to his counsel. 0lr. Wall
ter Iitt'edelds Introduction is an exc
ceueut presentation of the "aGairC' ANA
states in the most distinct way the p0-
sit.On into which the army admiuIstra-
ton and especially General MERCER ale
lowed themselves TO DE put
The following extracts show the spirit
of the letters.
December l5 1894. he writes fin regard
TO tho approaching courtmartial, "My
confidence is absolute. when the con-
science IS pure and tranquil then can
we present ourselves everywhere. our
heads high. I shall be tried by soldiers
who VIII listen TO me and understand me.
rhe certainty that L am innocent VIII
enter their hearts. Ny whole life
has been the guarantee Of my innocence.
Writing from his island prison. n
March 1895 DE Says. "Aly mind cannot
cxtricato itself for an instant from the
horrible drama OF which ! am the victim.
a tragedy which has struck a blow not
only at my life-th1t SIS the least "f
evils. and truly it would have been bet-
ter had the wretch who committed the
crime. killed mc instead Of w0nllng me
as he has-but at my honor the honor
OF my children the honor Of you al.
This piercing thought OF my honor torn
from me leaves me no rcst either by daJ
or by night"
February. 1QS. after four years I'm
pris0nmeut he writes:
To-day I am re.teat.ng mv former
appeals 20 the chief of the st9te ana
TO the Government. with still more ener-
cv 81 that could be. for you must Doe no
longer subjected 10 such ID m1r.yrd0m;
our children must not grow uo dish0nor-
cd: j can no longer agOniZe in black
hole for an abominabie crime 7 d!d not
commit And now / ann waiting. I e1-
pect each day 20 hear that the Tight az
truth is to shine for us 40 last'
The Macmillan Company in their fau
announcement Of new books now ready.
and in preparation. promise many works
of interest I'm biography. Marion Craw-
fOrd's Life OF Pope Leo. NIL and The
Life and Letters OF Archbishop Benson,
edited By bis son. and "a new and cheap
or edition of Justin Mccarthy Llla
of Gladstone are noted I'm fiction, Young
April. by Egert0n CASTLE. Zola's new move
e.. "Frutfuluess." and ZDngWils "lhey
That Walk in Darne attract nt-
tlution.