The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-05-25
JEANNE DAR0.

1t Is more than four hundred and fifty
years, since, in the village Of Domremy
On the Eivcr MenEe, was born little girl
to whom they gave the name Of Jeanne
Ga English, Joan or 5ane.> It is prob
able thai Ter father, poor and respect
sb,e peasant, WAC named Daro. Later,
when the little girl had grown famous,
people altered the name and called hes
Jeanne dare (of Arc.) which is IS tho
one Of you should be called Kate OF
Rochester, or Lucy Of Minneapolis
France was not then the rich and power
fnl country which it has since become.
For long time il had been governed or
nisgo~erned by king who was insane.
and first one party and then another,
getting tired OF bis rule, had thrown it
off, SO that the nation vas In q state Of
civil war.
It wes In the midst ct these unhappy
times that Jeanne Was born, and grew
to be. first hardy little girl, and then
vigorous maiden, with noble, beauti
full face, though its expression was
thoughtful and sad. She had a rough,
hard life, working in tho fields and car
ing for the farm animals; and when feed
ing the oxen or tending the sheep in the
dim twilight, she had plenty OF time to
think Of tho miseries amid which she
lived The peasants in that part OF the
country used TO repea. an CD prophecy
thu. France, In her true Of deepest dis
tres., would be saved 81 maiden
Nobody knew who made the prophecy,
bu: every one believed it, for those were
superstitous days, and people put great
faith in Legends and old sayings. There
vere no books and newspapers, as there
are now, to nake persons wide-swake
and intelligent. .-o1o believed with
the rest. And when she felt sad and
hopeless ct the sufferings she saw and
the worse soferings she heard about,
she thought great deal about this pro-
phecy, and wondered when the wonder
fnI maiden would come to aid them.
She dwell 80 much upon these things
that at last it seemed to her that voice
spoke, *fiefhe, from within or without
she could not be sure, and said that she
was the maiden appointed to Save the
land from lis troubles. Just then the
crazy king died, end bis con, Charles
VII. youns man OF twenty, succeeded
to tho throne. It was miserable inner
itance truly, for few acknowledged his
authority, and he was too poor to pay
for soldiers, who, in those days were al
ways to be had for pay. He and the
little army which he contrived to get to-
gcther, Tough two or three times with
the English and were beaten, and at last
the only important city left him, the city
q Orleans, was closely besieged by the
enemy. For months it held out, but
little by Little the foe gained, till it be-
came evident That before long Orleans
would be forced TO yield, snd with it
would so The last hope ct the royal fam
ii5 Of Francs.
Jeanne Daro wes eighteen years old
at this time, and the s'foices" which had
beer speaking to her TO. Ave years were
growing each day louder and calling her
to do something. she knew not what, to
sare the country. at last she became
90 certain OF her divine mission that she
could keep silent no longer, and she
persuaded hsr uncle to take her to Bau-
drieourt, one Of the kings officers, who
WAS governor OF The town Of Tancoul-
eurs. To him sho explained about the
voices, and begged him 10 send her to
the king, promising tina. il be would do
20 she would raise the siege Of Orleans,
and that the king, In less than three
months, shocid be crowned in the city
OF Rheims, which was ct that time fast
held by the English The governor did
not believe Ia her q bit at frst, but mat
ters had got go desperate that he sent
Jeanne 10 Chu,on. where the king was
residing.
II must haro been singular sight,
Jeanne in heE simple feasent's garb in
the midst Of tie gay conrt. But ehe was
too much in earnest to think about her
self or be frightened The king stood
among the other gentleman, dressed
eIacsi- Ike them but Jeanne went
straight up and krelt before him without
moments hesitation. which surprised
everybody very much.
So eloquent IVES she. 30 full of-en-
thusiRsn end confidence IN her own
powers, that tbs king and his counsel
ors believed u her az once. They gave
her suit o. srE.or and horse, which
she knew very veil how to manage, for
she had often ridden tho horyes to water
in pomreny. Then they fetched the
sword which belonged 70 her armor, she
rejected it, and begged them to send 10
thu church Of st. Catherine OF Fisrbois,
where. buried in the ground. would be
found Q eonsoe,a.od sword which il was
mean. she should carry. They did 80,
and. sue enough. the sword vss discoy-
ed inst ss khs had said, which made peo-
pie believe n her more than ever. Thus
equipped. vith 3 white banner In her
hand, che took command OF ten thou
sand troops headed by The brave Dunois
and marched straight 10 Orleans. Tho
naws Of this wonderful event spread
everywhere. Tho English. who were as
saperstitious as the French. took fright.
Whole regiments deserted. 'sfor fear Of