M. Meyer.--“I was going to say a word on that point. In 1882, the year
that I entered the Institute, when I took the biennial Grand Prize, the
most important that the Institute awards, M. Drumont, in three odious
pages of the first edition of ‘La France Juive,’ declared that I was
the son of a German Jew, and that that was the reason why I had been
awarded the principal of the Academy prizes. I wrote to M. Drumont to
deny that. I was born in Paris of French parents. My grandfather on my
father’s side was a native of Strasbourg, which explains my Alsatian
name. I was baptized at Notre Dame. I made my first communion, and
was confirmed, at Saint-Sulpice, where I studied the catechism until
I was sixteen. It is provoking that without proofs a statement should
be printed that I am of another religion, or have changed my religion,
which I declare that I have not done, and have no intention of doing. I
am glad to make this declaration, in order to save myself the trouble
of writing letters of correction to newspapers in which I should not
like to see myself in print.”