The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-25
THE HERO AND HEROINE OF
FRANCE

Very soon the letters from Captain
Dreyfus to his most devoted wife, M
of the noblest women in all the world,
will be published in a volume in New
York. We have read some Of the let
tiers, and they are alike creditable to
the head, the heart and the honor OF
the prosecuted, brave and honorable
gentleman of whom France is un-
worthy. His letters show a very noble
character with a great loving and SEN
sitive and patriotic heart. His letters
are a most painful, thrilling story Of
greatest wrongs and woes. The narra-
tive is said to be of most impressive
and romantic character, far eclipsing
any story in history or any creation
of fiction. Captain Dreyfus, in the
very midst Of his deepest sufferings
when made a victim of the most cruel
and devilish conspiracy, showed how
deeply he loved his wife and children,
and his country, so undeserving Of such
devotion and constancy. His cry to his
wife was for discovering the enemy
who has ruined n blasted him, and
that his honor should be at last vindf-
Gated. It was to him in the darkness
of his prison life like an awful night
mare that he should have been arrest
ed under such a false and grievous
oL1~oo 1~I ~ sd oc-1%
ed and savagely treated. 1t was to
him a most startling, bitter revelation,
one that he could not at first under
stanu or even realize that the France
he so profoundly loved had really ar
rested him for the crime of disloyalty
and treason and exiled him in his in
nocence and undying hope of being fully
vindicated and all suspicion and asper-
sion wiped out forever.
The letters begin on 5th December
1894, and end on 5th March 1898. They
show his wonderful love for his wife,
his ardent devotion to France, his hope
for deliverance and full vindication.
Never before perhaps in the history Of
nations or literature have such inter-
esting and remarkable letters been
written. They will be gladly read
around the world, and will carry con-
viction to every candid and receptive
mind. There is a great soul in that
most cruelty wronged soldier of the
Hebrew race. All through the years
these private letters written to the
noblest of wives reveal how intense and
unwavering in his loyalty to his native
France. His one aspiration and desire
was to have the approbrium lifted from
his honor and to be restored to the wife
he loved better than his own life, and
the children of their love. If we may
judge of the whole by some letters We
| have read taken from different periods
| of the exile and imprisonment under a
cruel keeper, no one endowed with fair
sensibilities, principles and sympathy,
| can possibly read them without intense
admiration of the man, and utmost
/ horror of the penalties visited upon
| him. -
In one of his earlier letters he writes
| to his gracious and devoted wife:
"Oh, dear France, thou that I love
/ with all my soul, with all my heart!
| thou to whom. I have consecrated all
my strength, all my intelligence, how
| could one accuse me of a crime so hor-
rible! I will not write upon this SUBJ
ject, my darling, for spasms take me
by the throat.
n man has ever borne the martyr
dom that l endure. No physical suffer
ing can be compared to mental agony
that l feel, when my thoughts turn to
this accusation. If / had not my honor
to defend l assure you that I should
prefer death: at least, death would be
forgetfulness. Write to me soon. My
love to ALL"
In another letter he tells why he
Hives and the great pity he has for his
| family-his loving wife and dear chill
| dren:
con my side, my adored one, my