The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 13, 1899, Page 28

THE SUNDAY CALL A SAN FR ANCISCAN WHO WAS A BOYHOOD FRIEND OF DREYFUS Curious Customn of Vassar Sirls In J{nnounciny Cheir gnyayemam‘a Vassar’s recent commencement brought again to the front a curious old custom which recurs there each year, and around which centers the main interest of the senior class supper, the public announce- ment of engagements by those girls who e been rash enough to wander Into love's young dream during thelr college course. For years the class supper has been se- lected as the fit and proper place for this proceeding. After the toasts have been responded to and the songs have been sung and the hundred and one- little things done which onfy college girls would think of doing, the class secretary stands up on her chair and, looking round on the long row of faces beneath her in the candle light, announces that she is going to call the engagement roll. There are always some girls in the class, ho have made an open secret sposal of their affections and of have worn their rings without reserve. The whole college knows about them. But there some who, for W Teas , have locked up the Tomances securely 'In their own hearts. Woe to such as these! Every girl is on her honor to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, and her secret is bound to be dragged out into the candle light for the plaudits of the crowd. Tt is a pretty sight to see the diners when the secretary commences to call the Every face in the class is full of roll. interest and expectaney. Bending.far forward over the tables the seniors— raduates they are by that time, for they have received their diplomas on the morn- ing of that eventful day—bending far for- ward they wait eagerly for the word that is a signal for individual and collective congratulations. All that a girl has to answer to her name is a simple ‘‘yes” or “no,” accord- ing to the state of her affections. Som times, in the embarrassment of the mo- ment, fux‘n( little expressions come out unexpectedly. “Provided for” was one shy reply that issued from the corner of the Toom as a certain name was calle There is much rejoicing over an enga; ment. The slurs that have been cast on college_girls are fortunately true. No profession is held higher in e teem by them than that of a home make: Of the class of one hundred which been out of Vassar College for just years ten are married, arfd as many more engaged. Twenty per cent is not a bad record for a class where the average aga is now only 23 and where the years of graduation have been only two. If the various secretaries had kept rec- ords of the number of engagements an- nounced at senior class supper each year they say that it would be found to have increased steadily each year. Where D’ Artagnan Lived. One of the homes of the great D'Ar- tagnan has just been discovered in Paris by M. de Grouchy, the well-known anti- quarian. In a daybook belonging to the Maitre Calllet, a Paris not v in 1689, ) de Grouchy has found an Inscription stat. ing that “Maitre Pierre Cadeau does le: and duly devise to Pierre d'Artagnan chevalier, brigadier captain and Major General of the King’s army, a house with large entry, situated in the Ru = 1o tor 1706 fivhas & yeanss uo de Riche The lease is signed “‘Cadeau and Ar- tagnan,” the latter being evidently not as proficient with the pen as with the sword. This interesting discovery—and it is amusing to note that D'Artagnan should choose a house in the street named after his most powerful enemy—is rendered doubly interesting from the fact it clears up once and for all the vexed question as to D'Artagnan’s Christian name, which ess Maltre et was $ plees in error, was ——————— Parllamentary Candidate (explainin away his defeat)—Yes, gentlem(en,p T tuvs been defeated; but how have I been de- !e‘x}xed? arehi ’ oice in the Crowd—You didn’ enough votes, Gk et Dreyfus Linen Factorles Are Located. vfus Hved and where later they at- same schools. en s situated in Upper Alsace, e foot of the hills of the Sundgau and e head of navigatidn of the river wich flows parallel to and empties e just below Strassburg, e miles to the morth. ‘the town of mills”) is, as its a manufacturing city, the t tn Alsace. It is the seat overnment, with a pro- and has a population of R 1 tribunal, ¥ persons. s once a “free city” of the Ger- pire, and from 1506 to 1795 was a confederation. fts > all members ted by marriage, ish clans, an e they prospered one of the m centers of paper, ironware, mach! formerly the that long ading place and and | amily have alth thereby. fus’ fatner was a member of the des Cites Ouvrieres,” established ss to improve the : classes, and took the founding of the artisans’ colony now known as the New Town, which consists of over 1000 hquses, each for two familles, with gardens, baths, etc., which was one of the ploneer enterprises of its kind and has been fol- lowed 2s a pattern in other countries. Mr. Brunswick attended the same public schools with Alfred Dreyfus, and his younger brother, Mathieu, for several years, and knew both of the boys inti- mately, in the classroom, on the play- ground and excursions and rambles in the country around, and has a very lively re- membrance of the lad, who, though some vears his junfor, was well up in the class- room, as well as a companion and even a leader among boys somewhat older than himself. Though a Jew, as were a number of his fellows, according to Mr. Brunswick, young Dreyfus always got along well with his teachers, who were Catholic, and also with the boys who were not of his own faith. Indeed, his kindly disposition and generous bearing toward his companions made him exceedingly popular, and though younger than many of them, his word and influence were of admitted weight. “He was never g Brunswick, “and though his peop rich, he mingled and played boys, rich and poor, without making any :rence. He never stood off and looked on, but took hearty part in everything. “He was very generous. Whatever he had he was ready to divide with the o ers. I a boy had no marbles to join in a game, Dreyfus would readily divide his stock with him. “Then he was & good boy, of fine feel- ings, not given to vulgar languags at all, many boys of 12 or 14 years of age are. “He never liked to see the others fight- ing, and would endeavor to make peace whenever a quarrel was leading to a fight. “He was very fond of ‘playing soldiers,’ and always wanted to be the captaln, and took great delight in the mimic war. fare. He went at it with ail his might and main, though always good humored about it, even when he got an unusually hard knock. “I was a little older and left school some time before Alfred, but I still saw much of him until the Franco-Prussian war, when I went into the French army and afterward came to America. My -‘BRUNSWICK IN 1883 father was a boss teamster, and I went frequently to Alfred’s father's linen fao- tory to haul goods for them, and my young friend would get up on the wagon beside me and go with me on my rounds, wherever that might take us. He was very democratic in his ideas and just in his sent!iments and actions. “As far as I can understand, race preju- dice was at the bottom of the prosecu- tion against him, with perhaps a strong feeling of jealousy toward him on account of his being rich and yet not inclined to be a spendthrift and run with the fast set, as many of the officers around Paris and other large citles of France are in- clined to do, especially when they have the means. “No fair minded man who ever knew him would believe for a moment that he was e guilty of anything like treason to France. Why, dldn’t he leave his peo- ple and his home and all his prospects POINTS CONCERN- e 1 DKEY- FUS FAMILY AND +HE BRARLY LIFE @ {HE “MOST BERSECUTED MAN OF THE CEN- TURY TOLD BY ONE WHO WENT T FHE. SAM FUBLIC SCHJJL for succeeding to his fath ness for the love of Fran: of patriotism were of the stro: ar most deeply rooted kind, and e it he were not already rich himseif and through his wife, no amour could have tempted him to betray an: thing that would hurt France smallest degree. “As to the result of the new tr! I think a strong fight will against him, yet still I am very the real facts about him wi and that he will be acquitted. Mr. Brunswick himself served as quar- termaster under Marshal MacMahon - ing the Franco-Prussian war; was twice taken prisoner, once at Graveiotte, t fought his way to liberty, and was wounded three times in the body at ths battle of Sedan. At the close of the war hs left Mulhausen with thousands of others ‘who were unwilling to remaln under Ger- man rule, and came to America, finally settling In San Francisco some twe 0dd years ago, where he has since sided. Since leaving Alsace he saw n ing of Dreyfus, and heard little of him after the latter’s leaving home to cast his lot with France until his trial and conviction in 1884. Since that time he has taken the deepest interest in the mat- ter, keeping up with every move and never for a moment doubting the entirs innocence of his former companion and triend. “Dreyfus could not be guilty ef such a thing,” he says; “and I am very sure the new trial will say the same thing and re- sult in his acquittal.” al City Hall Where Dreyfus’ Family Have Been Registered for Nearly Three Centuries. dollars a day! \ Think of it, ye men who are glad to earn as much a month— or maybe a vear! Yet that is the sum which ral Benjamin F. Tracy is sald to have THOUSAND Ge ] received for arguing the Molineux trial; and the amount which he is to get every day that the trial continues. 1t is added, by the legal gossips in Clty Hall Park, and on the Criminal Court steps, that General Tracy would not have taken the case for this small sum were it not that he wanted to oblige his old friend, .General Molineux, whose son stands in the current of the electrocution chair. Benjamin Franklin Tracy, the man wio can speak to the tune of a dollar'a word and more, began life in a very simple wa:~ in a country place—as New Yorkers would call it—namely Owego, New York, which town, though it has produced many great few pretensions to great- ess. salubrious, full of possi- bility, Owego lies quietly away in the northern part of New York State, yield- ing its fortunes to those who stick to her and sending her sons forth with brains and gold. Young Tracy went to the Owego Gram- mar School and then to the Owego Academy. At the age of twenty-one he married Miss Delinda Catlin of Owego and then he continued his studies, graduating in law soon after. Mr. Tracy began his political life at the age of twenty-three, when he was elected District Attorney of Owego. ung Mr. Tracy gained many honors for himseif and at the beginning of the war he was appointed recruiting officer for the One Hundred and Ninth and One Hundred and Thirty-seventh regiments, with the colonelcy of the former. He went to the war and served bravely, here gaining honors again. And at the close of the war he went to Brooklyn to practice law. It is doubtful if Mr. Tracy was known generally before the famous Beecher- Hilton trial, but, being given a chance to ghow his lexal ability, he conducted him- Self In the case with such eloquence and ease that his fame was, from that time, made. It was as a Cabinet officer that Mr. Tracy changed from a lawyer and a poli- tician to a statesman. In 188 Benjamin Harrison, who had known Mr. Tracy in he war. and had formed a strong friend- ship for him afterw appointed him Secretary of the Navy; and in the four following years the name of Tracy was familiarly before the public. The saddest casualty of the year oc- curred late in the winter of 18%, when Secretary Tracy suffered the loss ‘of his wife and daughter. Awaking one morn- ing at 7 he found the house in flames, Hurrying, he aroused the family and rescued the younger members, only to find when too late that his wife and fa- vorite daughter had perished in the fiames when he supposed them safe in the street. It was a long time before the Secretary recovered from the shock of that morn- ing, and many days before Washing- ton resumed its gayetles. The sad event put an end to the season of '9 and is sald to have been the beginning of the fliness from which Mrs. Benjamin Har- rison died, never having been able to shake off the sinking of the heart which she experienced that morning on viewing Can Speak to the Gune of a Dollar a Word GENERAL BENJAMIN F. TRACY, Who Earns a Thousand Dollars a Day. the sad sight. Secretary Tracy never remarried, but with the remainder of his family went to live in Brooklyn at the close of the ad- ministration. There are few men who have lived lives devoted so singularly to politics who have 80 escaped the unpleasantness of the call- ing; but General Tracy seems have been free from the criticism that has _nowned, it overtaken 80 many in a very unpleasant way. Just as prominent as Conkling for his party he has been more politic, more diplomatic and more pacific. Just as ag- gressive as Blaine he has managed to g::n his point in a more soothing way. acy may not be as great in history as these two men, but if he is not as re- will be because of his easy diplomacy, not because he has served his party less faithfully or in less important Dosts. In Brooklyn General Tracy is a unique figure. Thin, looking longer than he Is, handsome with the beauty of late years, gentlemanly, with manners born of a long line of wealthy and distinguished ancestors, he lives the life of a private citizen now, the life of a man of business who goes daily, forth to his work in Brooklyn and comes home at night to be gathered to his family. It is likely that the political arena Is closed to General Tracy, for he cele- brated his sixty-ninth birthday on the 26th of April and is now on the seventy stretch, with more than seventy’s love of quiet and retirement. But that does not revent the public from looking at a Iiv- Ez‘ statesman and studying his ways,