The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-28
Lowe, n,Apc-Washipeton Hall

JEANNE u ARC.-W dehin6~"
fairly glistened last flight with the el''s
and beauty OF Wheeling, drawn out 70
hear the lecture OF Anna Dickinson
upon the heroine Of the Fifteenth Cen .
tury-Joan Of Arc. The. appearance OF
the fecturess was the signal for burst
Of applause. Her hair was cut short
in her usual fashion. She wore a brown
silk, trailing, band of velvet about the
skirt, and a sacque Of velvet fitting
about the bust and throat Her whole
attire had q Quakerish simplicity, which
perhaps toned down somewhat the ar-
regularities of her unsymmetrical figure
After having inspected every individual
in the audience, the lecturer commenced
She commenced by saying that among
the names that time will consign 20
eternity is that Of Joan d Arc, and that
was reason. 1t was necessary to consid-
er the the work she wrought. the lie
sbe lived, and the death she died. The
speaker gave history ofthe period and
the desperate circumstances in which
France was placed. 1t was at the close
Of a war which had lasted 40 years.
A war which began by denying right
to a woman, was ended by a woman,
The situation in which her country was
placed impressed her profoundly.
She was young and unselfsh girl.
Her history can easily be traced. Over
four hundred and twenty histories have
been written in regard to her, and an
immense amount Of documentary EVIL
dence is accessible TO any who may
wish to read it. Her birthplace was
named. Her life was carefully traced
by the lecturer up through her child
hood. Her excellent and generous
qualities were recounted. The village
priest said that che was the only ore
who had nothing to confess. She pos
sessed a character that was deeply
earnest. When others laughed she
prayed. With her, patriotism and re
iigion were the same This one
idea 90 filled her that it at las
took absolute possession G. her being
The mere details OF living were finally
entirely lost to sight.
She went to the Dauphln, escorted
BY a small band of knights, sleeping
side BY side with rfhem in the oper
meadows, and this at an age when wo
mans virtue was regarded as hghtel
than the thistle-down. Yet none o
these men ever ventured to make i'm
proper advances toward her, which
proves that the woman who reverence'
herself who reverences her own woman
hood, her own purity, her own soul. ii
safe, although she be surrounded by
the dangers and temptations Of hell.
The manner in which the. Dauphln
| received the peasant girl was described
at length, the council which was held
and the questions which were asked
Two noteworthy facts in connection with
this visit were stated, the prophecy o
speedy death to a disappearing soldier
and her detecting the King among hi
knights. Yet the first might have beer
from merely natural causes. and if sh'
had not actually seen the King, mus
have often heard him described.
Her claim to be Inspired was so far
acknowledged that she was allowed t.
20 to Orleans in charge Of about 20l
men and a quantity Of provisions
Wind and tide favoring they entered
the place without molestation, though
surrounded by Gordon Of forts and al
army of $4,000 men.
An animated description was given o
the attack on the first fort, which ended
| in a rout, and the recovery Of the da!
by Jeanne d Arc, who was awakened
and hurried to place herself at the heac
of her troops. In five days all the fort
but the Tournelles were In the hands o
the French. A vivid picture Of the at
tack on this, contrary to the advice off
council of Generals, the repulse, TIT
wounding OF the heroic Jeanne, bel
reviving and placing herself at TIT
head OF her troops, and the final victory
were drawn with a skillful pencil, anc
in lively colors.
The rest OF the lecture gave an &C
count OF the remaining events Of he
life in a very succinct manner-he
presence in full armor and bearing he
flag at the coronation, her ungratifie'
desire to return home, and her fina
capture at Compiegne, with her subse
ouent trial and msrtyrdom.