The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-17
lew Books
Dreyfns' letters ana
"GrclttWeII'$ Own"


One little feature of the Dreyfus case
was this: Somebody having committed
treason, Dreyfus was fixed upon, tried,
sentenced, degraded and sent to Cherche-
Midi prison, then TO another prison, and
finally to Devils Isle. He wrote hundreds
of letters to his wife from these three
points, the most pathetic letters the world
has ever produced from one of its sol
diers. They cry but one thing, Il am in
nocent," in a thousand varying forms.
After Dreyfus' degradation and depor-
tation. the papers of Paris set to work
assiduously to prove that he was incon-
tinent a libertne, who was faithless to
his wife. The papers which did this were
L'Echo, LIE Petit Journal, lie Gaulois, La
Libre Parole LIntransigeant Dreyfus'
friends made what defense they could,
but without effect. Finally Madame
Dreyfus, her soul torn by the accusations,
attempted to reply in the Figaro. The
French snickered and guffawed. A
trusting wife defending the confluence
of her husband Men were deceivers
everi
Failing in her defense in the Figaro,
and being laughed at, Madame Dreyfus
brought out in book Dreyfus' letters to
her during his trouble.
These letters extend from the day Of
her arrest to the time the Court of Cas-
sation granted him new trial.
They have been published in America
by Harper and Brothers, New York, and
are kept by the Goldsmith Book company
of Wichita Here is a letter written in
his cell December q, 1894, thr-e days at-
ter conviction. but ocIo-e his degrada-
ton:
''My dear Lucie-Your heroism has con-
quered me. Strong in your love. strong
in my conscience, I feel my courage born
again. 1 shall struggle, therefore to my
last breath. I shall struggle to my last
drop of blood. 1t is not possible that light
shall not some day be let in upon this
crime. With the feeling that your heart
IS beating close to mine shall bear all
the martyrdoms, all the humiiiations.
without howing my head. The thought of
you, my darling, will give me the strength
needful My dear adored one. women are
certainly superior to us; and among wo-
men you are Of the most beautiful and
the most noble. l have always loved you
deeply; you know it, Today I do more
I marvel at and venerate you. You are a
holy. a noble woman. I am proud of you
and will try TO be worthy of you. Yes.
1t would be cowardice to desert life 1t
would be a faint to my name. the name
of my dear chudren-to sully that name
forever. I realize that today. But how
could it be otherwise? The blow was
cruel. it broke down my courage; It was
You who lifted me up Your soul makes
mine tremble"
Here is another letter written the night
Of the last day in the old year:
My dear Lucie-I thought a long time
last night Of my father of all my family.
! do not hide from YOU that I wept long.
But the tears comforted me. Our conso-
lation is the deep affection that united
us all; it is the affection which I find in
your family as my own. 1t is impossible
when We are so bound together. when we
are upheld by the wonderful devotion
shown us by NJ. Denange. that We shall
not sooner or later discover the truth
was wrong to wish TO desert life. had
not the right TO. I Will struggle as LONG
rs l have the breath of life In these
long days, in these sad nights. nv soul IS
purified and strengthened. NV duty is
clearly traced. must leave my children
a name pure and unstained. Let us strive
for that my darling. without a truce.
#Ts.rs-
the difficulty OF any step. Of any attempt
We must try everything. Nothing must
be neglected. Everything must be tried
! embrace You as love you. Good
kisses 70 the darlings. dare not wish
you Happy New Year
After his degradation we find this let
Ter Of anguish:
1t is the hour when We are oblieed -
90 10 bed. What will become Of me-
What am I going to do when am in
my bed. Il straw mattress supporte5 a.,
Iron rods? Physical suTerinSs are moth
ing; you know that do not fear them
but my moral fortunes are far from bainv
ended on. my darling. what di5 7 do
the day promised you TO livei though,
then that my soul was stronger II i
easy 10 talk OF being resigned because
the heart IS innocent, but 1t is hard TO be
50. Write to me soon. my darling: try
TO see me. 1 need 10 draw new strength
from your dear eyes. a thousand kisses.
After his arrival at DEVILS Isle, this IS
found in one OF his letters:
Courage, and always Courage. All.
suffering. under all its forms. know