Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-12-03
miscellaneous.
From tho B.tton Transcript
a REMiNIsCENCE OF RoUEN.

whose cOuntonance wears a soft and dreamy beauty
which long haunts the memory Of the 6ehcldcr.
Upon her head is martial cap, with feathers, aud
in her hand shield aud sword. 1t is Joan of Are
the shepherd maid. whose memory, for years as
sailed ly detraction and the prejudice of race, now
grows brighter as time dcvcOpes her character aud
hor virtues.
Seventy miles from Paris. in the city Of Roucn,
that ancient capital of Normandy, within whose
walls William the Cunquoror PLAYED iu childhood,
Is anothcr memory Of the Maid6f Orleans. Indeed,
the wholo. aspect of the place recalls the aSc in
which she lived. | remember well how strangely
the sombrc old city seemed to me- contrastcd win
tho brilliant glicty OF Paris, | had come fresh
from the gildy whlrl of luxurious fashion along the
Boulccad HQtiea to tile sober quiet OF these narrow
streets; from She glded frippcty of the Church Of
the Madeleine to the solemn tranquility Of the
Norman Cathedral and tho still grandor Church o
St. Oucn; ali It was rs If between the rising and
the setting Of the sun, had breathed the aimOs-
paere Of fur distant centuries, The gray, old
buildings, on whose quaint carvings, arahesquCs
aud bls-rchef tc storms have bcatc for centuries
ecem 10 rchuke, with their stately gravity, the
brcathcss curiosity Of the passing traveller y
winding street darkencd by the projecting gables u
narrow windowed houses, leads from the principal
thoroughlare TO locality which is usually first
sought by tho stranger. 1t is where Joan uf Arc
porishcd. The details of tho scene have given n
fearful interest to the spot consccraed 10 her
memory, an in,crest which will live as long rs that
love Of noble courage which is inherent in every
modern
Investigators have developed many touching partlc-
ulsrs Of that terrible drama.
On the Both Of May, 1881, at o'clock in the
morning. joan of Arc, having been condemned to
be burned to death, was led forth to execution
Her crime was devotion to her country; that
try whose welfare she believed had been entrusted
20 her by special revelation from Heaven, and
whose interest she loved with the enthusiasm of
her sex and her race. For years she had lceu
commanded, by voices calling TO her from the
clouds to lead the French army on to victory. BY
day those voices urged her onward; by night she
saw in visions the forms Of holy saints who struye
to her shrinking courage and persuade her tu
fulfil her divine mission. She had obeyod their
summons; and after accomplishing her work, had
fallen victim to trcncheTy and lalschuOd. De-
serted by those for whom she had laborcd she was
left to the tender merccs of the Holy lnqusition.
Pierre Cauchon Bishop of Beauyais. had presided
at the mock trial which preceded her condemnation.
As she was placed in the cart which was bear her
TO the scafold she perceived her chief pcrsccutor,
and addressed him thus Bishop, die through
you; and for this summon YOU TO answer before
Cod! The cap Of the lnquiston then put
upon her head, and turning to a monk by her side,
she said 'Ah! Master Pierre, tonight by the grace
Of God | shall be in Paradise"
The procession left the Church Of St. Ouen, and
wound through the narrow streets to tho old market
place. Eight hundred sncers guarded the prisoner.
The streets thronged with people eager to look
upon the leader of armies now degraded to the fate
n
othcrs prayed aloud in her behalf. She had par
taken of the communion, and on reaching the place
OF execution, sermon preached by one Oi
those who had sat in judgment upon her.
A high scaffolding Of masonry, heaped with fag
gots had been built in tho centre Of the open space
and noar it, two platforms for the bishop, the judges
and the preacher, that they might watch the dying
moments Of their victim, and catch the slightest
expression of fear or regret that the agony of her
dying moments might wiring from her lips. From
4 ...f A Al "A. Il
confess her misdeeds to the people and TO truly
pent of her many sins She answered only by
knecling at the foot of her funeral pile and praying
God to pardon her murderers. 10 the bystanders
she said: pray for me- pardon and ask pardon
of ALL" She invoked the aid of the Virgin of 1t.
Michael, and ST. Catharnc. whose voices had from
her childhood sounded in her ears, aud then begged
the priest 10 say masses for her soul. Her sweet
and simple picty touched even the hard hearts
of those who hal labored for her execution. The
soldiers wept One of the chronicers of the time
says that even the Bishop of Beauyas tC
shed tears. II 50, his humanity was but Of shor
duration. lie called to the poor girl to listen to h
act of condemnation, and reminder her of he
griovous schism, idolatry and familiarity with de
mons.
The executioner. with two men-at-nrms, led he
DIP the steps of the scafold. From ITS summit sh
could see the dense crowd surging to and fro
eagerly watching her every movement. No wonde
that in that dreadful moment her memory recallc
the peaceful days Of childhood, and her woman
heart melted into tears.
As she was bound to the stake she cried: "Ah
Rouen, Rouen, fear greatly that you will suhc
from my DEATH" pacard with the word
"IIeretic Apostate IdOator," was paced over he
head. and the funeral pile lighted Sh
thricked aloud but quickly recovering her com
posure begged the monk who stood by her to g
down, lest he should share her fate. As he lef
her, the flames had reached her rote.
by the fendish orders of III Lord Bishop Beau
vais the fire had been arranged to burn slowly
that her suferings might be prolonged, and SOM
recantation perhaps escape from her dying lips
Standing at the foot of the pile, he asked the poo
creature if she ablured her delnson. Her repl
must have haunted him to his last hour ON earth
Bishop, | die through you'll" As the flames eur
ed around her, those who stood heard her vOic
above the cracking Of tho iaggots saying, Ie
the voices were from God they have not deceive
me-" Doubtless, in that moment there came to hC
soul strength which lifted it far above the roalit
Of the sulIerings that tortured her bodily franz
Amidst all her agony word of reproach or hatre
passed her lips. All gentlcnoss, and peace
and holy forgiveness She had placed in her b.
som a cross which one Of the crowd had given he
and at her request the Dominican, who with or
other alone befrended her, lifted the parish cruc
that she might see il through the smoke that wa
fast enyeOping her He heard her voice caln
upon her Savior. and again invoking the sain
whose fancied presence had sustained her sinkir
spirit. The lofty courage of the heart that ho
lelt beneath the peasants gown and the glt'erir
mail, did not now forsake the pale martyr in h
robe Of FIRE" As earth faded from her view, the
opened before her the gate OF Heaven. Soon b.
head sank upon her breast, and for the last tim
she cried, "Jesus, Jesus!" r.. f...
O. AZ sthese words escaped her an English soldie
who had vowed to add faggot to the pile. fell as
dead, just he reached the scafold. When i
recovered, he protested that he a white dove 4
out Of her mouth she breathcd her last sigl
Others had seen in the flames the Of Jesu
The most desperate and hardened Of the soldier
were like children. EVen the executoner hastene
20 confession, fearing that God would not parl0
his share in the bloody work. Pierre Cauohor
Bishop OF BeanYais. alone sustained the cruel an
relentless character be had played well. BY hi
orders the ashes Of his victim were gathered u
and east into the Seine; and with this final indiC
ofty ended the persecution Of Joan of Are