River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-09-17
A NOBLE LIEE-

On the 9th May, 1871, they celebrated
at Nancy, given up to the Prnssians, the
obsequies of a young girl. The whole
town followed the modest coffin draped in
white and covered with flowers fifty
French soldiers, hardly recovered from
their wounds, formed part of the process.
sion, walking between women and child
ren.
This coffin contained the body of Marie
Edmce Pau, young girl little known
during her short life, but upon whose
remains there rests tardy ray of glory,
for she seemrd to be true representative
of her proud and gentle Province of Lor.
raine. Her story is short but very in
teresting.
Marie Edmee Pau was the daughter of
a superior officer who returned wounded
from the seige of Rome. She was
brought up at her fathers sick bed she
received his lessons and those of tender,
intelligent mother with reverence, and
she early showed taste for all that was
great and noble.
The heroine of her country, Jeanne
d Arc, inspired her with an enthusiastic
love, and she conceived the drawings Of
the history, not Of the female warrior,
but ofthe shepardess. She visited with her
mother the places that Jeanne had lived
in; she saw with her own eyes the Bots
Cheme, the Mouse, the church of Dom.
remy, Jeanne's cottage and garden, and
the half dried up fountain where ST.
Michael appeared to her.
When her eyes had gazed on these
| sights, her mind being full Of remem.
brances, she took up her pen and wrote
a History of our Little Sister Jeanne
d Arc in childhood; she illustrated it
with charming drawings which represent
ed Jeanne dare in childhood she drew
her tending her fathers sheep, plying her
distaff' By her mothers side, with her
companions, praying in the fields and
listening to the voices in the shade of the
Fairies tree. The book ended with
Jeanne's pastoral life; when she handled
the sword and headed the troops Miss Pau
stopped.
She had before her promising future as
an artist. She had studied in Paris with
NJ. Leon Coignet, and when she return
ed to Nancy she opened drawing class,
and the sympathy and confidence she in
spired brought her many pupils. During
her leisure time she studied hard and also
introduced the children of the poor.
The fatal war of 1870 fell like a thund.
crbolt on her quiet and studious life, Her
only brother joined his regiment and he
was left among the dead after the battle
Of Woerth. She loved him dearly, and al
though every body assured her that he was
dead, she would not be convinced, but set
out to hunt for him, and at last found him
in a miners hut; he had his right hand
injured and was also wounded in the leg.
The Prussians laid claim on him and want.
ed to send him to Germany, but Edmee
prevented them and was so fortunate as
to bring back the wounded son to his
mother 1t was the last JOY she had in
this world. Some time after tn young
man, being nearly well, returned to the
army with the rank OF captain, and the
anxiety of the mother and sister began
again. Edmee now devoted her whole
time in attending to the wounded sol
diers and unfortunate prisoners. Trains
containing prisoners were constantly ar
irving at Nancy. Miss Pau looked into
every carriage, checking the German
rounghness by her gentleness and courage
She distributed clothing and provisions
to the halfnaked and starving soldiers.
and then she took down their names and
the addresses Of their families, and caused
them to write, or wrote herself. when
they were unable to do so, two or three
lines forward to their friends.
Who can tell how much comfort she
gave by her charitable means Some.
times even, when her services were not re.
| quired at the station, she went to the
ambulances and drew portraits Of the dy.
ing to send to their relatives. She had
even the courage to go INTO the dissecting
room, where they had just put the corps
of a young tranctireue, named Frontart
it was lrightlully mutiated; but she,
nowise daunted; copied his fine head, cut
off a lock of his hair, and sent these pre-
cious relics to his poor mother
During the mouth Of January, 1871,
Bourbani's army was dying on the road.
side and amid the SHOWS Of Switzerland,
Edmee's brother was among them and
he had not been heard from for three
weeks. His afectionate sister set out
second time TO look for him. She went
through Switzerland, stopping at the am
balances, searching anxiously among the
dead and dying, but she failed to find
him. At last, however, she learned that
he was alive and well, and that the infor.
nation was to be relied on. She set out
Immediately, without waiting to see her
beloved brother, to return to Nancy and
carry the good news to his anxious moth.
err. That was her last sacrifice. Worn
out by all she had gone through, she fell
III and died.
Such was Tarie Edmee pau's brief life
a life Of faith. devotion and noble acts.
She leaves behind her an everlasting re.
mtmbrancc, and also work OF art which
ought 20 be published, so that this lovely
flower o. Lorraine may arise side by side
with the memory Of Jeanne dare.
TIGHT BARNS.
II has been the custum TO side up barns