Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-08
Copyright, Associated Press.)

RENNES, August THE ancient
capitol of Brittany was never less
moved, never more sluggish, than on
this memorable day. 1t seemed a
hundred thousand miles away from
Dreyfus and his exciting case. He,
Dreyfus, was known to be a great deal
excited, but he had been keeping
stiff lip, and yesterday he refused TO
see the last set of photographs of his
children brought from Paris by his
brother-in-law.
He had remarked to his brother,
Matthew Dreyfus on the strangeness of
his fate, so strange that he himself
could not yet realize it. Nothing, he
said, astonished him more than to find
factions disputing furiously about him
and to learn that he was an object of
hatred t. most of the officers. He said
it grieved him to think that if there
were an acquittal it would not change
their minds.
But he was spared such unseemly
manifestations as those which so
shook Zola's nerves last year and ter
rified his wife. There was no bowling
in front of the prison. There was no
crying of Death to the traitor" or
death to the Jews" or anything like
that. The Paris journalists who had
come to report the trial seemed calm
ed by the quietude of this dead city.
1t was expected that the Dreyfusites
and anti-Dreyfusites would shun each
each other and put up at different ho-
tells, but they have tacitly agreed to
sink their differences in each others
company. They not only lodge at the
same hotels, but they take their meals
at the same tables and amicably pass
TO each other the dishes. Rennes does
not want them to be theatrical and so
they do not pose
AS FEROCIOUS PATRIOTS
but are glad to drop the characters as
sumed for the drama loving public of
Paris.
No idea has Rennes that the eyes of
the world are upon her, although there
must be within her walls 300 press
men representing journalism all the
world over. 1t never before occurred
to me what far-reaching institution
the press is, or at least | never realized
it so peculiarly. We were all up at five
this morning and after a hurried meal.
we rushed to the concert room of the
Lycee, where the trial takes place.
The prisoner was to cross the street
from the prison to the Lyeee at ten
minutes past six and to wait in a cri-
vete room for the summons to appear
before his judges.
Precisely at the time named. the door
of the military prison opened and Drey-
fus, guarded by a captain Of gendar-
merle, appeared. He wore brand new
uniform. The stiff Innings had not yet
formed into the shape of the figure, the
whole suit seemed an awkward fit The
three rows of gold braid that were torn
from his cuffs on the day of his degra-
dation were glinting in the sun. The
man was as stiff as his uniform. He
held his head high as if on purpose, but
his shoulders stopped. The step was
that of a man not used to freedom and
extremely measured and mechanical.
One might think he marked the time as
he walked.
His hair is of reddish gray, his neat
moustache is frankly red. The face
had a drawn and worn expression, the
eyes furtively inquiring as if looking
out for
TRAPS AND PITFALLS.
His complexion is fresh, the kind of
freshness that accompanies auburn
hair. The lips are rather thin, and
the chin is that Of strong man. In
deed the chin contracted the impression
of the eyes. Lieut.. Col. Picquart was
in plain clothes and was cold-shoul-
dered by the army people. But appar-
emily he did not mind. He had played
the winning card and could afford to
be indifferent No members of the
Dreyfus family were anywhere visible,
but most of the leading partisans Of
Dreyfus had come.
At Z o'clock the coming Of the court
was announced in military fashion, the
soldiers presenting arms. The judges
entered from the wings and were in full
dress uniform. They proceeded in
Indian file to their places behind a
long table on a slightly raised platform
Col Jouaust, the presiding officer, is a
man of dignified appearance, not I'M
intellectual, and has an upright, mar
tial air The counsel for the defense
have seats and desks on the stage or
platform to the left of the judges
table The seat of the accused is in
front and also on the stage. Facing il
on the right side, are desks for the
registrar and prosecuting officer. All
were we'll in view. Col. Jouaust. in a
stentorian voice. declared the trial be-
gun and ordered the accused TO be
brought in All eyes were turned upon
Dreyfus His fresh complexion as
tonished ALL The figure remains clean
built. He entered with measured
steps. His mode OF saluting the court
was jerky and very composed. but his
fingers betrayed nervousness. His
voice it not good, but it was out of
practice for five years.
THE FIRST INCIDENT
was the declaration of the president
colonel that he had unlimited power to
call witnesses. He then ordered those
of NJ. Ouesnay de Beaurepaire to be
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