The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-08

falls His complexion is 1resn, the kinu
OF freshness that accompanies auburn
hair. The lips are rather tnin. ana tne
chin is that OF strong man. Indeed, the
| chin contradicts the impression OF the
ewes. Captain Dreyfus crossed the hall
close to me and entered a room, the door
OF which closed behind him.
1 saw also the arrival Of the witnesses
who we're taken to the rector's room, GEN
erals Billot Mercer, Chanoine, Zurlinden,
C,onz and deBoisdeffre were in uniform A.
we're many of the field and subaltern of
ecers. The widow OF Colonel Henry leaned
upon the arms OF Captain Wunois. she
| was most amiably saluted by Generals
BoisdefIre and Mercier. She looks stacy
and not ladyllke. General dePelieux Kept
aloof. NJ. Cayaignac's cheeriuiness
seemed forced, but former President oasi
mir pcrrier was blythe as boy he
wore a summer suit of shepherds plald,
a white waist coat and straw hat. Lieu
| tenant Colonel Picquart was IN pain
| clothes and was cold shoudered py the
army people. But apparently he did not
mind. He played the winning card ana
| could afford to beindifferent, NO members
of the Dreyfus family were anywhere
| visible, but most of the leading partlsahs
| OF Dreyfus had come.
| The concert room where the trial is heo
has vaulted roof. The walls are adorned
with tablets containing the names Oh
| famous Bretons Just behind the seat
placed for Dreyfus is tablet on which the
last name is that OF Roman
At o'clock the coming Of the court was
announced in military, the soldiers pre-
senting 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. Colonel Jouaust, pre-
siding officer, is man of dignihed APP
pearance not unjudicial, and has an up
right martial appearance. The counsel lor
the defense have seats and desks on lne
stage or platform to the left of the judges
table. The seat for the accused is IN
front of the stage. Facing it on the right
side are the desks for the registrar and
prosecuting officers. All were IN view
Colonel Jouaust, in a stentorian voice, de-
clared that the trial had begun and ordered
the accused to be brought in.
All eyes were turned upon Dreyfus HIS
fresh complexion astonished all. The fig-
ure remains clean built. lie entered With
measured step. His mode of saluting the
court was jerky and very composed, but
his fingers betrayed nervousness. His
voice is not good but 1t was out OF prac-
tice for five years.
The first incident was the declaration
of the president colonel that he had un-
limited power to call witnesses He then
ordered those of NJ. Quesnay de Beaura-
paire to be cited.
The indictment is that Of 1894.
Dreyfus answered cautiously all ques-
tons The judge was fair, but evidently
not friendly. He showed himself, how
ever, sensible and sober minded and i'm
pressed everyone favorably
The accused is unfortunate in not being
able, apart from his sufferings as told by
others, to command sympathy. His coun-
tenance only expressed wish to hide mis-
feelings. 1t is reticent face, but not
bad one. One would like it to be more
frank. The voice is not pleasing and the
diction is less so.
Dreyfus seems without dramatic feel
ing and lacks ease in all things. However,
he passed today through cruel ordeal. !
1t was trying after the experience Of the
last five years to find himself in the full
blaze of publicity and stared at and scruti-
nized by 700 observers.
In the course of conversation with NJ.
de Mango remarked that Dreyfus seemed
TO me to be unresponsive and incapable
of emitting a flow of feeling.
Think he answered. what / or you
would be If for five years out of humanitys
reach, constantly under the eye of a surly
jailer and not Only under his eye but
within the aim of his revolver. He was
bound to silence unless when given leave
to speak. he was beset with enemies. was
treated as the vilest Of mortals. was put
IN irons. tnougn dOClle ana SUBMISSIVE
"He almost learned to COVER He found
he was losing the lingual faculty and had
to speak to himself to keep it up l knew
him before he was sent to Devils Island.
He was then heartily responsive and really
CORD company with those he liked. His
' ice was singularly tuneful aud express
We but he lost 1t. ! remember from the
fleet of anguish and anger the passions
greatly influence the voice.
''Dreyfus is now the ghost of his former
self All spirit was broken by the tyran-
lical treatment, vapor bath, the noxious
Insects and the isolation from all intel
igent human beings He is still proud.
,ut he is cowed. That hollow voice il
such evidence to me of long and indie
cribable suffering. 1t is far off voice
ike that one hears In telephone His
glands are worn out In short, {
lie is a wreck.
II wish his pride would suffer him to .
collapse, If it did he would draw tears
rem the most stony hearted He seemed
o me miraculous as he bore himself =
through all these long hours the center i
o which all eyes converged. Dreyfus. I !
epeat. was n charming man five years !
go. He was thought fascinating by the !,
ther sex. Only lovabe man could have =
'een loved like he has been by his wife"
Emily Crawford. b
=