The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-09
APPEARANCE OF DREYFUs.
by Max Nordau.1

1t was one of the most pathetic mo-
ments I have ever experienced, and am
ever likely to experience. Colonel Jouaust
had on the 7th of last month at $50 in the
morning, given the orders to bring in the
accused, Captain Dreyfus.' A door of the
small room in the background, to the
I II1Ia OF the raised platform on which the
companied by captain of gerdarmes
there suddenly appeared the man whose
fate is so profoundly moving both the old
world and the new.
ing his head sttnly straight, and with look
directed right in front away into the be-
yond he turned sharply to the right, as
cended the three steps to the platform,
stood for a moment before the president
placing his open hand with the palm out
ward, to his KEPT, took a couple of steps
allotted him.
That was the man, who, erased from the
list OF the living, had languished for over
fifty months on the Devils Island, con-
day and night by pairs of eyes, which
proclaimed their hatred and contempt,
Prometheus was, yet without the con-
seriousness of having like the Titans, dared
without his freedom and without his
pride, fighting single handed with nature,
by Lebon's iron bars and feet manacles,
in his very existence menaced by revolt
the guards could fire without fear of pun
ishmeHt--yea, indeed, were obliged to fire
if a single movement on his part appeared
suspicious suffering a thousand deaths
by the recollection of the disgrace he had
suffered and the continued cruelty of his
fate.
Lazarus. arisen from his grave! I hope
it is no blasphemy if I say that the wit
ness of that miracle which the Saviour
what I felt at the appearance of Dreyfus
self up in his coffin. I could not turn nv
eyes away from him. In all that great
saw nobody and nothing but him. Every
detail O a Significance
IN my eyes and stamped itself on my
Dreyfus seems to be between five feet
seven inches and five feet eight inches
tall. In England he would not in this re-
spect be regarded as specially out of the
common. In France, in the midst of a
smaller race. his height is stately. He
is not broadly built His shoulders are
somewhat high-drawn and small, yet very
accurately balanced, but to this result
is long and thin. His back is somewhat
bent, and in consequence of this his chest
appears to be a little incurved, even
when he makes an effort to straighten
himself out His legs are long and wasted
hands are long. small and bony. His head
quite short, as for the most part the
custom is with French officers. Formerly
it was brown 1t is now much turned to
gray, and the man is only thirty-nine
over the forehead and on the crown of
the head the skull has become quite bald.
On these spots the skin, white and smooth
quite shimmers, without the least trace
of down. The shape OF the skull, not be-
ing concealed by hair, Is visible enough.
Dreyfus is a brachyeephalic; I estimate
his index. at eighty-three or eighty-four;
bone is somewhat vaulted, and the ears
are fairly long and outstanding.
Now for the face. Dreyfus is cleanIy
shaven, save a short, thin mustache of
indefinite color. which, with light brown
as a base, is tinged with some intermin-
gled red and white lines The cheeks are
thin, without being actually hollow The
Jaw bones are very pronounced, the nose
is not large, thin, and boldly arched. 1t
is the nose which people style the Jew
ish'' enormously. for the real Semitic nose
is long thin and perfectly straight.
The crooked nose is Armenian. The