The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-14
DREYFUS LETTERS.
CONTINUED from LIST Page.)

70 the emo. / cannot tell. 4NO OliC
you can give me courage. 1t is only
from your love that can draw 1t.
above all else, no matter what may
become of meg search for the truth;
move Earth and heaven to discover 1t;
sink in the effort, if need be, all our
fortune, to rehabilitate my name,
which now is dragged through the
mud. No matter what may be the
cost we must wash out the unmerited
stain.'
After his fate was sealed and he had
been removed to Devils Island, his de-
termination that the truth shall be
brought to light is stronger than ever.
From the first of the letters written
from Devils Island we select the fol-
lowing, which is in itself sufficient
evidence of the bold and undaunted
resolution with which he faced his
fate.
II made for your sake the greatest
sacrifice a man can make in resigning
myself to live after my tragic fate was
decided. did this because you had in
culcated in me the conviction that the
truth must always come to light. In
your turn, my darling, do all that is
humanity possible to discover the
truth. A wife and a mother yourself,
try to move the hearts of wives and
mothers, so that they may give up to
" =
must have my honor if you want me
to live. 1 must have it for our dear
children. Do not reason with your
heart; that does no good. l have been
convicted. Nothing can be changed in
our tragic situation until the decision
shall have been reversed. Reflect, then,
and pursue the solution of this enigma.
That will be worth more than coming
here to share my horrible life. Say to
hof iS
death for me, as we'll as for our chill
dren."
And what could be more touching
than the following letter to his little
boy, written from Devils Island:
Cher Petit Pierre:
Papa sends good big kisses both to
you and to little Jeanne. He thinks
very often of you both. trust you. Twill
show little Jean how to make big high
towers of blocks, Which it is such fun
to tumble down. Be good children, and
pet your mother when she is sad. Also,
be kind to your grandfather and grand
mother, and play no bad tricks on your
aunts. When papa returns from his
journey, you will come to meet him at
the station with little Jeanne, with
mamma, and all the rest.
More big kisses for you and for
Jeanne. Your Papa"
In conclusion, If there existed the
slightest doubt of Alfred Dreyfus' in
nocence, the publication Of these let
ters cannot fail to dispel It. AS lola
says, mo guilty man could have writ
ten them" One feels from the very
first letter that the writer is brave
and innocent man. Here is passage
from one Of the letters written from
DEVILS Island. my mind" he writes,
cannot extricate itself for an instant
from the horrible drama of which I am
the victim, a tragedy which has struck
blow not only at my life-that Is the
least of evils, and truly it would have
been better had the wretch who COM
mitted the crime killed me instead of
wounding me as he has-but at my
honor, the honor of my children, the
honor of you ALL"
And his own view of the tragedy IN
which he was the silent hero: you see,
darling, a man of honor cannot live
without his honor; it does no good to
tell himself that he is innocent; he eats
his heart out. In solitude, the hours
are long, and my mind cannot compre-
bend all that has come upon me. Never
could a romancer, however rich his
| Imagination, have written a story more
| tragic. Some day when my story is
told 1t will be incredible. But what we
must tell ourselves now 1t that must
| be vindicated. My name must shine
anew, with all the lustre it should new
| er have lost. / should rather see my
| children dead than to think that the
name they bear is dishonored one"
| This thought is repeated again and
! again. 1t is the grim resolve that his
honor must be saved that prevents him
| taking his life. Throughout he express
es the solicitude of a loving husband
and father. He must live to save his
| honor and for the sake of his wife and
| children. And. now from present indi-
| cations, the whole pitiful tale will have
happy ending, for it is practically
| certain that the decision will be revers-
| ed, and that Captain Alfred Dreyfus
| will realize the dream which he has ex-
pressed so beautifully in the following
| letter:
THE body may give way under such
burden of grief, but the soul should
remain firm and valiant, to protest
against lot that we have not deserved
When my honor is given back to me;
b'tten only, my good. darling, we shall
have the right to withdraw from the
| field. We will live for each other, far
from the noise of the world; we will
take refuge In our mutual affection, in
our loye, grown stfll stronger in these
tragical events. We will sustain each
other, that we may bind up the wounds
of our hearts; we will live in our chill
dren, to whom we will consecrate the
remainder of our days. We will try to
make them good, simple beings, strong
in body and mind. We. will elevate their
souls so that they may always find IN
them a refuge from the realities Of life.
May this day come soon, for we
have all paid our tribute of sufferings
upon this earth! Courage, then, my
darling; be strong and valiant; carry
| on your work without weakness, with
dignity, but with the conviction Of
your rights. am going to lie down,
to close my eyes and think Of you.
Good night and a thousand kisses"