The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-12-24

AZ s4AO fNhOyS NA tAAS, t,SD8Sep IN SAAO
old frontiers Of Lorraine, in the vii
lage Domremy. L. Pucelle, on the
banks Of the Meuse, lived > peasant
girl, Jeanne d. Arc, whose parents were
common country people Of reputable
character and in good circumstances
for their station. In the midst Of
timid and superstitious persons, who
were in continual trouble and alarm ct
the misfortunes Of their country, Joan
was quietly occupied In domestic em-
ployment, and sometimes Ia driving
the cattle to pasture. She was Of deli
cate frame and uncommon sensibility
of temperament. This, perhaps, was
heightened by the circnmstance Of
her being exempt nom the common
law OF her sex; and Dnfreanoy has
remarked how thii circumstance and
her spirit Of devotion may account for
visions. Her enthusiasm and her
habits Of solitary meditation help to
explain the angelic voices and visions
Of the maid. While her companions
were sporting beneath the fairies tree,
the beautiful Nay (le 6eau Mas a..
Farbre de- Jees), NO. hr nom the
fountain of pomrcny-a tree which
was once sacred to the Druids, and
famous In many . ghostly tale-Joan
was singing and dancing by herself In
pious enthusiasm, and binding gar
lands for the Holy Virgin, In the little
chapel Of "Our Lady Of Befiemont,"
which she usually visited ON Saturday.
Joan finally became the most illus.
trious parsonage OF France during the
age in which lived. In male dress,
armed cap a pie, she bore the sword
and the scored banner, - the signal Of
victory, ct the head Of the army.
Still, no unfemine cruelty ever stained
her conduct She was wounded sew
eral times herselE bpt never killed any
one, or she'd any blood with her own
hand. After sunset she avoided the
society Of men, passed her nights with
women, and kept sll loose females, ss
mach as possible, away from the camp.
The general belief Of her elevated
mission, Of which she herself. wss
piously persuaded, produced the most
extraordinary effects. Resolnte, ehiv.
Alrous, pious and brave, looking to ONE
single aim, she was skillfully employed
By the generals to animate the army,
while they did not implicitly follow
her councils. Tho Arst enterprise was
succassfal. With 10000 men, under
st. Severe. Dunois and La Hire, she
marched from Blois, and ON the 29th
Of April, 1439, entered Orleans with
supplies. BY bold sallies, to which
she animated the besieged, the English
were forced from their entrenehments,
and Suffolk abandoned the siege May
8, 1429. Joan next captured several
places in the enemy's possession, and
defeated them in battle near Patsy,
where General Talbot was taken, and
the valiant FalstaG was forced to Ay.
Bnt after many brilliant achieve
ments, Joan fell into the power Of the
English, through whose influence, and
at the instigation OF one Of her own
countrymen, Pierre Conchcn, Bishop
Of Beanvais, . process was instituted
against her, and the Uniyersity Of
Paris demanded her execution. She
was condemned by the Church as .
sorceress and. . heretic. The secular
arm had no control oxer this decree.
She Eas sentenced by the inquisitors
NJ Rousn TO be burnt for soresry and
intercourse with internal spirits. She
was burnt by Q slow fra At Rouen
May So 1kS1, and her ashss were
thrown into the Seine. She died with
undaantea fortitude. when they were
putting the iAsaisition esp en- her