The record-union., 1899-09-11

RENNES, Sept. TO- Dreyfus has
borne the terrible shock with marvellous
fortitude, one might almost say with
unnatural calm. Yesterday he seemed
stupefied when M. Labori communicate
ed to him the verdict, but has since
rallied. He passed quiet night and
J when his orderly brought him wat
"a at o'clock this morning, just as he
did during the trial, when it was nee
essary
Madame Dreyfus and Matthew Drey-
fus, his brother visited him during the
course of the afternoon. His brother
subsequently left for Paris.
The application TO the Court of Revi-
sion was taken to him at noon by NJ.
Labori's assistant and he signed it.
To-day he has spoken but little,
though he has seemed in better spirits
than might have been anticipated. The
meeting with his wife was naturally
very affecting, but both held up as well
as possible. He said TO her:
Il am not uneasy regarding myself,
as I shall soon be free, but l think of
you and my poor children as the chill
dren Of a traitor"
He is convinced that the ten
years Imprisonment to which he is sem
fenced will be wiped out by the five
years of solitary seclusion he has un-
dergone, and he expects to be released
by October 18th. which will be five
years from the date of his former con-
demnation. He is so sanguine that he
has made an extraordinary request of
his wife for novel to be read in the
meantime, explaining that his mind is
oh
events that he needs to divert his
thoughts and TO try and get all the rec-
objections of the last three months out
of his mind. He thinks that reading
a novel will afford the desired mental
repose and keep him from brooding.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press called upon Madame Dreyfus this
afternoon after her visit with ksE has-
band and saw her father. NJ. Hada-
mard. who said his daughter was bear
ing up wonderfully well, considering
the circumstances, but desired to re-
main undisturbed to-day in view of the
emotional strain of the interview
NJ. Hadamard said that Madame
Dreyfus and the family We're hopeful
and looked forward to some favorable
developments.
The verdict" he added sis an in
fanny. Captain Dreyfus is in poor
health as everyone knows. He has been
extremely i'll from the moment of his
arrival in France and has been put on
a special regime. His health has not
improved and the nervous effect of yes
terday's terrible blow is bound to react
on his general condition. His suppress
sion of all outward emotion is due to
his almost incredible force of will, but
1t does not imply that he is insensible
to the mental and physical torture he
has undergone. On the contrary, the
family just now see in his weak state
of health and abnormal impassivity, an
ugly sign and fear for him more than
they care to express"
The town to-day was perfectly calm
There has not been a sign nor a dem
onstration nor a cry for or against
Dreyfus or the Jews heard any
where. A number of people gathered
to see Madame Dreyfus visit the pris-
on, but they were quite respectful.
The troops and masses of gendarmes
who yesterday gave the center of Rem
nes the appearance of a military camp,
have completely vanished. There are
hardly any gendarmes in sight except
near the Dreyfus residence, where a
few are posted. Cavalry officers We're
seen frequenting the cafes this after
noon, showing that the authorities no
longer fear any trouble here and are
allowing the officers to leave their bar
racks. So far as can be ascertained,
military men are perfectly satisfied
with the verdict which they interpret
as safeguarding the honor of the army
and at the same time doing an act of
mercy to Dreyfus, who, they say, sufi-
GENTLY eXpiated his crime in the awful
existence he passed on DEVILS Island
They point out that even if he is sent
to Fort Corte. it will be to receive
henceforth the humane treatment he
has experienced since his return to
France.
One strange fact is the extraordinary
defense of the opinion expressing the
exact effect of the judgment, whether
he was to be degraded again and
whether the five years solitary con-
finement he had undergone will be re-
garded as equivalent to the ten years
detention to which he is now sentenced
and whether he will be released next
month. This matter is quite aside from
the general impression that he Will be
pardoned in a few days by Preslcent
Loubet, who will find some ground to
exercise clemency.
NJ. Demange thinks the five years
will count for nothing, and that Drey-
fus, according to the law, will have to
suffer ten years detention. Many 9TH
ers, however, including several lawyers
hold a contrary opinion, and declare
that he will be released in October.
This, as already cabled, is the belief of
Dreyfus himself The correspondent OF
the Associated Press this afternoon in
terrogated M. Coupers, the Clerk of the
court-martiaI, on this point He was
most emphatic in declaring that Drey-
fus must serve ten years from the date
of a fresh degradation, the court-mar-
tial having considered the case as be
ginning when Dreyfus appeared before
them, disregarding altogether his pre-
vious sentence.