Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-24
Death OF Jean dare.


We make the following extract froll Ap-
'pleton's work, 'sThe World Noted Wo-
man" 1t il from the pen Of Mary Cowdcn
Clarke .. .:a.
ing in the saints and here's relapse into
simple humanity and womanhood, on TIC
dark, unnatural May morning, when the
heavy news was told her that she NUT. die
before morning. She wcpt- bitterly Like
Jleptha's darghto-, she nrourned that her
pure AID beautcous body should be thus
early sacrificed, exclaimiDg: silelas Me
traita ton ainsi herriblencnt ct crucllcmcnt,
lu'ii faille que mon cops, net ct enter, qui
Ire fit iamais corrompu, scit aujourd hui
cens,.i.as et. rendu en- ccndrcsD She shrank.
and shrieked, and writhed at the thought
of the flames, plying herself for the. pain.
But tile saint triumphS socn-even through
| tie fiery vista before her she sees better
kingdom than Franco, better homo than
Domremy Even in this death she recog-
nizes the deliverance' promised her by the
voices
'.Sbe appealed. to God from the injustice
and cruelty Of earth she partook Of the
holy sacrament with many tears; she ut
tered her touching and tremendous words
to the Bishop Of Beauvias, a summons to
answer for her death before God. !. What
child-like naturalncss, naivetc marked
the words she addressed to one of the
preachers standing by: All, Maitre Pierre
where will | be this evening?
'sWe can fancy the fearful, wistful look !,
the terrific trcmble of the hands, and all
the voice broken in sobs with which she
said this Then as the priest replied /:
Have you not good hopes in the Saviour
the light Of reinsurance, the smile, the
hands, the heavenWard gaze, the voice clear
and fervid, as she said: 'Oh, yes, God
aiding, [ shall be in Paradise
Bound and borne in cart, like a COM
mon malefactor, surrounded by a guard of
eight hundred English soldiers, Joan d Arc
passed through the streets Of Rouen to the
market place; but in the eyes Of the angels
that awful hour must have thrown into
shade all foregone hours Of triumph grand
er than the proudest conquerer in his tri-
umphal car, followed by princoly oaptives
and the spoils Of kin gdoms.
eat the stake the maid again bravcly
proclaimed her faith in the voices, and
nobly defended her King. Her sublime,
yet meek composure, her marvellous woman
ly sweetness, filled many Of her prosecutors
with wonder, pity, and vain remorse. The
people looked on as in a horrible dream,
weeping, groaning, praying, but powerless
to help One last word Of reproaeh shiv-
cred the petrifed heart of the Bishop Of
Bcauvias, cleft its way to deep and un-
suspected vein Of human feeling, and let it
out in tears.
ssThe scafold lowered high above the
crowd, huge pile of fagots 1T it at the
base, a gigantic altar Of the sacrifice, fiery
Calvary. T.. ~.
"When the flames uncoiled themselves
from below, and darted upward, in angry
flashing lengths, Kissing and vrithing-
when they struck their .fangs into her flesh,
the flesh cried out in shrieks that must have
echoed forever through the guilty ard era
ven souls who heard. s
"Well had the young martyr learned the
self-forgetful spirit. In Ter agony, through
the flame and smoke Of her torment, she
saw the danger Of che faithful priest who
held The cruoifx above, and entreatcd him
to leave her. He went; he bore from her
the sight o. Ter crucifed Lord, bat he left
beside her, in the midst of the flames the
Lord. himself. May not her last cry Of
jesus have been not a, cry Of fear or sup
.plication, but Of JOY and recognition, as she
sprang through the fiery path Of martyr
dom into the welcoming arms Of his COM
passion-into the bosom Of bis Infinite, in
efable loye?"