The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-03-25
COURT MARTIALED.

i
since burned 10 ashes in my heart. l
live alone in hut in forest Today
the snow is falling white upon the
trees outside. and melting in the black
bayou.
At night when the wind dies low in
th branches, and the wood in the flre
place throws out the sunlight it alb
sorbed in the past. sit by my window
and read and write. and watch the
shadows of the trees east by the moon
upon the frozen earth and think much
on The subject of life. For though l
have lived many years in solitude. l
have not forgotten the world, nor its
painted, poisoned fruits; its fascina-
lions and allurements. nor its
cruelty, any more than the lightning
blasted tree, which grows near my
window, and which is white and gaunt
even in the spring time, when the 9TH
err trees put forth their tender green
leaves, has forgotten the day 1t blazed
in autumnal crimson splendor. king
among its fellows.
NV father was French soldier. my
| mother Partisan woman. Even as
child heard stories of war and its
glory, but alas! not Of its shame.
NV father often took me to the Hotel
des Invalides and showed me the tomb
of Napoleon 1. 1t is a great. black
sarcophagus. situated in the base
ment of :. the building. Above it
are the flags of the Nations conquered
by Napoleon. My fathers eyes bright
ened beneath their bushy eyebrows.and
his face grew young in spite OF its
wrinkles, when he spoke OF the En-
peror.
How the soldiers loved him. and for
his sake bore gladly the long march
over the Alpse. even when the snow lay
knee deep on the rocks, and the men
had no shoes and the food was scarce.
What difference did it makeP They
were marching to Italy; and Rome and
Florence and Naples and Venice
would soon be theirs. and the French
Empire! it would be greater than
the Roman Empire had been.
). Little wonder under such infiunce.
grew to regard soldiers life as the
highest honor. When boy at school,
I organized regiment. 1t was called
"The Old Guard" l was Napoleon
and right valiantly we fought the Other
bows. AS soon as I became a man.
enlisted in the French army. anc
plighted my troth to my country.
All, no youth of the Middle Ages IL
the lone vigil he kept before the altar
} the night preceding the day he received
t his belt and spurs ever had pure'
E dreams of chivalry than had on en-
tering the army. No Crusader, setting
forth to fight for the Holy Sepalchre
ever felt higher enthusiasm.
! But new element had crept int
France. The Jews, holding the none.
: ba gs of Europe. received commission
Z IN the army. Many soldiers distruste'
u them from the first. They knew the.
: could not love the French nation. no
0 any other nation of Europe for tina
c matter. because of the persecution
: their race had suffered. However
j. they proved good soldiers-pruden'
8 tenacious of their positions. and brave
n They fought we'll for us in the Franco
o Prusian war. They showed themselve
v faithful servants of France worthy G
y good salaries, and they got the salaries
\ II always disliked them. l Away
= showed my dislike, therefore was nc
at all surprised one evening. when
IL Count Esterhanzy, entering my privat
d apartments. and drawing his cha
o close to writing table. at which sa
e said in n whisper: "A Jew has b'
/, trayed our military secrets to the &c
,r mans. His name is Dreyfus! fes
3. there will be trouble" Truble! Dire,
r. fus was tried by court martial. b
" was sentenced to imprisonment o
4 DEVILS Island. He was chained to h
% bed to prevent his escape. Trouble
!, The Jews threatened another revolt
. !. ton. Dreyfus was innocent. He WI
= victim to his religion. His cou
:, martial had been held secretly. III
n real traitor was a prominent Frenc
et man. probably Esterhanzy. The
3. must be an open session or uninsured
Is ion of all The Jews of Europe won
at follow. Thus began to rumble b
he meath the fair surface of French IL
e. Qike the foul water in the sewers
Of meath the white Paris streets) the ra
r. hatred that had been accommodating +
" centuries.
10 i The army grew alarmed. Soldi
- after soldier concerned in the cou
~ martial committed suicide. Esterha
. zy fed to England. And 1! tn
~ had loved France as son loves L
IN mother that bore him. that won
ST have shed the last drop OF my blo'
ne for my country. 1 was suspected
being a traitor and was court ma
tailed. This, because my hatred OF
Jews.
1t was fair day in April. L
soldiers were ordered to wear the
~ dress uniforms. The drill was to ia
~ place at 10 o'clock. At that hour t
st regiment promptly formed itself In
< ranks. There was an immense Grow
: of people around us. They were SEA
~ ed as in an amphitheatre. The su
% light smote into brilliaucy the gold
he our uniforms. The people cheered
us our drilling. Then the Colonel
the regiment lifted his sword, a
silence fell. He gave the orders. 70
men escorted me into the open spa
az or arena, as it were. of the amphithe
y tire. The charge of bearing false W
$50, ,ooI o~a;nct me- and