The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-03
WOMAN IN WHITE.
The Mysterious Per
son Who Haunts the
Dreyfus Case.
HER IDENTITY IS DISCLOSED.
An Unpublished Chapter
In the Great
Tragedy.

sent from any phase of the intricate
Dreyfus case? Who is the woman who
has attended every session of the Zola,
Esterhazy and Picquart trials? Who is
the one woman who secured a seat on
the dais behind the judges in the Lycee
at Rennes when the second trial of
capt. Alfred Dreyfus began? Clad ever
in white, she has earned the inevitable
sobriquet La Dame Blanche, But what
is,it that holds her keen interest in the
cause celebre? And who knows her
identify? ...s-...
These ere questions which have the
deepest interest to the public of Paris
today. They have the same, if not a
greater. interest in London, in Berlin,
in America. Who is the woman in
white? What is her interest in the
famous case?
All the actors in the great world
drama are known TO her. She is pro-
nounced Dreyfusite. Her advocacy of
the innocence of the 'haPassed captain Of
artillery is we'll known. She has visited
every man of prominence concerned in
the case to plead his cause. She has Of
fered her assistance to his lawyers She
has rendered that assistance unsolicited
when the opportunity has presented.
Now with the rev trial at Rennes she
again appears upon the stage. The in
evitablef string of gorgeous pearls was
there, for the lady is rich and fond of
jewels. Pearls are her especial delight,
and she always wears q splendid array
of them.
The pearls then would have distin-
guished her as effectively as the white
costume, had it not been. conspicuous as
usual. OF medium stature and fairly
heavy built, with blonde and waving
hair, with large and brilliant eyes and
dazzling white complexion, she is, in
deed, a striking figure in herself
At last the question, Who is the IA
nous La Dame Blanche? was to be an
swered. A newspaper correspondent led
to the unraveling of the mystery. Her
name was Martoul, he cabled to his
paper, says the Philadelphia Times.
But this was untrue, it was found 1t
furnished, however, the clue on which
to work, and the woman stood revealed
in the piquant, daring Corntesse de
Martel.
She boasted a srnan but select salon
in, the old-fasnipned villa where she
lives in the environs of Paris 1t is
essentially fin de steele and much be-
sought by recherche circle of wits and
writer's of the day.
Small as this circle was it would be
astonishing that it did not betray her
identity when her peculiar interest in
the Dreyfus case attracts public atten-
tion so strongly to her, but for one fact.
It made a habit of keeping closely to
itself and avoiding as far as possible
public discussion of its individual in
terests. 1t was absolutely unknown to
the usual ha'bitues of Bohemian resorts
of Paris and prided itself upon its select
obscurity.
Comtesse de Nartel then knew that
she was absolutely safe from identified
ton by her friends. Others she did not
fear. She came and vert freely, attract
ed continual attention, but successfully
obscured her identity A few beyond
dotrbt knew her secret, but they could
never be induced TO betray it.
She was held in too high regard to
render such possibility worthy serious
consideration. Her wit and biting satire
no doubt inherited from her distin-
guished ancestor, the great Mrabeau,
enshrined her queen among her friends,
while her geniality and extreme good
nature enabled her tc maintain her
power absolutely. Her risque stories
were much appreciated, but never led
to any liberty with her or her fair
name. To all she was known as a faith
friend.
Until the Dreyfus case assumed inter-
national proportions, though, this ultra
vivacious French woman had not start
led the world with any gaucherie or BIZ
zarre exploit But she ycarned for a
new experience, and Paris always
yearns for a new sensation. Prestoi
comes on the stage a new feminine fig
ure La Dame Blanchei''
fa =,
marked by the presence of this feecy,
fascinating, mysterious figure. ~ Some
how, nobody could tell how, she always
had the best coign of vantage at every
sitting of the courts. Why her interest
was SO interee and her sacrifice Of COM
fort so continuous none could say.
Here is the secret exposed. She
courted inquiry, while tantalizinglys re
served and secretly e; but she had lie
grande passion for the heroic figure i'm
i the center of the stage of this wonder
I full world drama In her heart of hearts
this handsome, cultured, wealthy wo-
man adored Dreyfus!.
Viewed in this light many things
hitherto obscure are cleared up. Her
! conspicuous presence at the y9rious
trials is not nearly so surprising as the
4 other feats sire accomplished in the
cause of the nartyred soldier. The most
notable of these was her visit TO the
1 German emperor.
Everyone will remember the story
that came from Berlin a few months
ago. 1t told how mysterious yelled
woman had visited the emperor and be-
sought his intervention in behalf Of the
beset Dreyfus. This mysterious wo-
man was none other than La Dame
Blanche. A daring and startling thing
to do, certainly. But quite in accord
with the wonderful woman. She ira
yelel to Berlin in disguise. She sought
in various channels, unsuccessfully
for an interview with the great Ger
man war lord. She failed along almost
every line she attempted. AT last she
secured her audience.
When her business with the kaiser
was asked she declined to make il
known. Her refusal almost lost her her
opportunity. Her persistence howev-
Ca, accomplished what to most any 9TH
Or woman would have been impossible
Che reached the kaiser's ear, and pour
ed into his ear a tale that brought the
sad fate Of the martyred captain in a
new light before the imperious Will
Ham. 1t is remarkable that his tenn
per did not lead him to some indiscre-
ton in the matter, but 1t did not. His
hands were tied, and he could do moth.
ing that would better the condition OF
the exiled man.
She did secure through that inter.
view the acknowledgement OF Colone
Schwartzkoppen that he had received
from Major Esterhazy no less than 19l
communications, all treacherous. She
gained the further acknowledgment
that he had never heard Of Dreyfu.
before the publicity given his unfortu
nate affair. Nor had he received from
him or any agent OF his any informa.
ton whatsoever regarding the French
army or its conditions.
Much good this acknowledgment dix
her, for Paris was In no mood to &C