The Red Cloud chief., 1881-07-14
JENNIE Dare.

France had never has never been
SO ncar extirpation. The people," as
the historian Martin expresses it, "werc
ground in their blood, debased below
the beasts of the forest, among which
they wander, panic-stricSen, mutilatcd
in quest of an asylum in the wilder
ness" This feryent and sympathetic
girl came at length to see the desolatiOn
of her country; her own village was
laid waste and ~plundercd by a maraud-
inc band. From childhood she had
been familiar with the legend, France,
lost through a maid, shall by a maid be
saved"
The story of her exploits nj court, in
camp, in the field. is familiar 70 all the
world. A thousand vulgar fctions OBJ
scure and degrade its essential truth
What this untaught girl did for her
country was simply this: She brought
to bear upon the armies of France the
influence Of what our own Western,
preachers would call a powerful revi-
val OF religion" From bands OF reek-
less and dissolu,e plunderers. she made
French soldiers orderly, decent, moral
and devout. Hope revived She made
the King believe in himself; she made
the court believe in the cause. Men
of faith saw i'm her the expected
virgin savior; men of understanding
perceived the advantage to their
side of having her thus regarded. She
may. too (as some Of her warrior CON-
rades testified in later iyears). have
really possessed some military talent.
as well As martial ardor and inspira-
ton. They said of her that she had
good judgment 10 placing artillery.
Later in her short public career she
showed he self restless. rash, uncon-
trollable; she made mistakes; she in
Cured disasters. But for many months.
during which France regained = place
among the powers Of Europe, she was
a glorious presence in the arniy--a war
riOr virgin. in brilliant attire. sp'endidly
equipped, superbly mounted. nobiy at
tended leader whom all eyesfollowed
with cOn6ding admiration, As One who
had been the r dcliverer. and was still
their chief. The lowliness of her orr
gin was an element in her power over
people who worshipped every hour a
Savior who was cradled in a maRger.
We can still read over the door Of an
ancient inn 1T Rheims, the Maison
Rouge. this inscription: '.In the year
1923. At the coronation of Charles VII,
in this tavern. then called The Zebra
the father and mother of Jeanne Dare
lodged. at the expense OF the City
Council"
Her career could not bu. be brief.
When she left home 10 deliver her
country, she had lived. according to
the most recent French authorities,
seventeen years and two months. Fif-
teen months later, May -, 1880. after
aseries of important victories followed
by minor defeats. she was taken prison.
er under the walls Of Compeigne. which
she was attempting to relieve French
troops, fighting on the side OF the En-
glish, captured her and held her pris-
oner. French priests, in the metropol-
titan church of Notfe Dame, at Psris.
celebrated her capture. by lie
Deum.' II is doubtful il her Own
King Iamented her loss; for this de-
voted. deluded girl belonged TO the
order Of mDrtals whom the powers OF
this world often end il IS Convenient to
be rid of Is to use. It IS probable that
she had expended her power TO be OF
service and bad become unmanageable-
Small. needless failures. chargeahie to
her own rash impetuosity. had lessened
her prestige. For the fair and wan;on
Agnes Sorrel the idle King Of France
would have attempted much; bus he
made no serious e4ort 10 ransom or TO
. the Haid 10 whom he o~ed his
crown and kinSdom-Jbn-s Pn1tsn. -
Hoyp0's Nag9siRs.