The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-15
LETTERS FROM DREYFUs.

1t would De difficult indeed to find in
ain literature anything more patheuc
tnan the letters Of Dreyfus which are
soon TO be printed in full in this country.
rnese letters are to his wife and cover
the long period from his first arrest to
mis- Incarceration on Devils Island. No
human being could read them and not
feel intutively that the author Of them
was innocent of the crime charged
against him.
The letters stamp Dreyfus as q man
OF quick impulses but most tenderly at
tacned TO his wife and his country Be
fore his trial Dee seemed TO be thorough
~ convinced that Doe would be acquitted
as ms mind never setmed TO grasp the
posaDpIty that evidence might be man
ufactured against him. and even after
conviction he cherished the almost for
lorr nope that in some way Of which
mo knew not. the truth would eventually
prevail.
Inc letter written after his trial Is as
follows:
Of suffer much. but ] pity you still
more IMAM myself I know how much
Won love me. Your heart must bleed. on
mv side. my adored one. my thought
mas always been of you night and day.
TO be innocent. So have lived NE
without "a STAIN and 90 see ones self con-
demned for the most moustrous crime
mat "a soldier can commit. What could
be- more terrible? IL seems 10 me at
times mat 4 ann the victim of an awful
nightmare.
"It is for you alone that have re-
sisted until to-day. 30 is for you, my
adored one. shat ] have borne my long
agony VIII my strength hold out 90 the
endy [ cannot tell No one bat YOU can
give me courage 20 IS only from your
love that | can draw it
Above an else no matter what may
become of me, search for the truth. move
carn and Heaven 90 discover 20. sink in
the eu0rt 81 need be- an our fortune. 20
rehabilitatc my name. which now is
dragged through the mud. No matter
what may Dee the cost we must wash out
enc unmerited STAIN
What a great sustaining power the
love of his devoted wife was 20 Dreyfus
is clearly revealed In This passionate
epistle, and yields SIS place to no charac-
Ger sMumlly drawn by the great writers
OF ncuom
Aecr his fate was sealed and the
gates of his cell closed upon him on The
lone island. the determination that the
truth must bc brought 10 light seems 10
nave taken stronger hold upon his feel
,nps and thus he writes again:
81 made for your sake the creates, sac
rince "A man can make 900 resignlng my
sem 20 live after my tragic fate was ae-
cided / did this because YOU had incul-
Gated in me the conviction that tho truth
fruet always come 90 nght. In your
rurn. ms darling do an thal is humanity
,oesiblc 10 discover the truth. 4 wife
and a mother yourself try 90 move the
hearts OF wives ana mothers so that
tney may give up 90 you the key OF this
dreadful mystery. I must have my honor
IL you want me 90 live. ] must have II
Tor our dear children. DO not reason
with your heart. that does mo- good. 1
nave been convicted. Nothing can he
changed in our tragic situation until the
decision shall have been reversed. Re-
fleet. then. and pursue The solution OF
mis- enigma. That VIII be worth more
fnan coming here 20 share my horrible
ne. 81 VIII be the best. the only means
of saving my life Say 90 yourself that
uts n question Of iife cr death for me.
as wen as for our children"
What the verdict OF the coming court
martial viii be no man can tel, but az
me bar OF public sentiment Dreyfus IS
A. innocent OF the charges against him
as man can be, and the general feeling