The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-03
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.


1t has happened to few persons to be the
central figure in a series of events as dra-
matte in themselves and as important in
their bearing on contemporaneous history
as did happen to Alfred Dreyfus. formerly
captain of artillery in the French army.
and the victim of one OF the most remark
able prosecutions recorded in history. No
trial of modern times has excited as wide
interest or caused as much indignant COM
ment as did that of this man. prosecuted
by a government. The main features Of his
degradatio from rank on a false charge.
OF his Punishment 10 remote island. of his
long and weary confinement, of his subse-
quent trial, conviction on perjured testi-
mony and final pardon are still compare
lively fresh in the public mind. but now
Dreyfus himself supplies some missing
links in a book entitled. Five Years of My
Life-1S9i-1S99" These are the years of
Dreyfuss Imprisonment In an introduce
tory note he says: In the following pages
tell the story of my life during those five
years in which cut off from the world
OF the living The events which took place
In France in connection with the trial of
1894 and during the following years. re-
manned entirely unknown to me until the
trial al Rennes." Thus for the first time
we have in this book the terrible events in
which Dreyfus took part described by him
self in a vivid contemporaneous record. The
book Is divided into twelve chapters, viz:
l. A Sketch of Ny Life. III. The Arrest.
III. The First Court-martial of 1894 ".
After the Condemnation. Y. The Degrade
ton VI. The Isle de Re Prison: VII. The
Journey to the Isle du Salut. VIII. Devils
Island Diary. TX. Devils Island from Sep
TENDER, 1896, to August 1897. X Devils
Island from Aug. 25. 1897. to June. 1899 NJ.
The Return to France. XII. The Rennes
Court-martial. Very little space, only two
pages, ia given to the authors ancestry
or life preceding his arrest. and very little.
also. TO the trial at Rennes, but the events
in which the public feels most interest are
fully related. The narrative shows beyond
doubt that the French military authorities
and government lent themselves TO an in
famous conspiracy TO punish Dreyfus for
the crime of another His cruel treatment
and suffering during his confinement on
Devils island are wildly described in the
diary he kept. At one point he says: Yes
terday / was put in irons. Why ] know
not Since | have been here / have scru-
pulously obeyed the orders given me- These
nights in ironsi | do not even speak OF
the physical suffering. but what moral ig-
nominy. and without explanation. without
knowing why or for what cause What an
atrociouS nightmare is this in which have
lived for two years. Nearly two years OF
this have worn me out. | can do no more.
The very instinct falters. 1t is too much
L
my grave? oh. for everlasting rest. Once
again. If / do not survive may my beloved
country accept my children as a heritage.
From the beginning of his Imprisonment
Dreyfus was subjected TO every possible
indignity. Every sheet Of paper given him
was numbered and initiated. His letters
from home were kept back after he knew
the mails had arfived-this with the hope
that he would torture himself with the be-
lief that his wife and friends had deserted
him. He was locked up for months in a mar
raw sitting cabin without exercise. When
brief exercise was permitted he must not
walk fast. because he tired guards" Even
the windows were eventually built higher
up in the hut wall SO that he could not see
the sun or the sea; by night he was man.
acled; by day he Systematically
starved. Every moment he was watched.
OF his final trial he has little to say, as it
has been fully related elsewhere, but he
tells how he was offered a pardon If he
would withdraw his appeal. He agreed to
do so and was pardoned. Ion the very day
of my liberation" he writes. Il published
the following. expressing my thought and
my unconquerabie purpose: The govern
ment of France gives me back my liberty.
1t is nothing to me without honor. Begin
ming with to-day / shall unremittingly
strive for the reparation of the frightful
judicial error OF which | am still the VIC
tim. " He might have said judicial out
rage. The letters that passed between Drey-
fus and his wife during the period of his
impr:s onment beautiful and touching.
and show where he gained strength to bear
up under his hardships and the terrible
mental strain to which he was subjected.
On account OF the facts with which IL deals
as well as the manner of their narration
the book is unique among autobiogra phies.
1t supplies missing pages in history
which fix an indelibe stigma upon the ma
eminent. New York: Mcclure, Phillips &
Co.