The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-11
MISS ANNA DICKINsON'S LECTURE.
A FOrcible and Eloquent Account of the Life
of Joan of Arc,

There was large audience at Plymouth
Church, last evening, and it would be unreason-
able in any lecturer to desire intelligent or
better listeners. The lecturer was Anna Dckin
son, and her lecture was on "a Great Life" be-
ing glowing, graphic and womanly presenta
ton of the life of Joan of Arc-that grand char
acter which stands among the names to which
mortas have decreed Immortality. For the pre-
sentation of this character Miss Dickinson's
stage experience is no detrment, but gives her
Increased force and enables her to reach loftier
iohts She appeared upon the platform in
mo- mRgnifcence than in the by gone years,
when she will be remembered as a plain but We
hement little person in black with bit of white
at the throat and wrists, and no jewelry Last
evening she was magnifcently dressed, with
long and lingering train, many diamonds upon
her hands, and massy bracelets upon her wrists.
She said that considering the time in which
Joan Of Arc lived, and the needs of her day, the
work she wrought, the life she lived the death
she died, were marvellous. She pictured France
with an infant girl, as the rightful heir to the
throne, whose uncle had thrust her to one side
TO have himself crowned by the power of the
sword a verdict that people accepted in those
days when might made right She then por
trayed the English and Burgundian armies raw
aging France, conquering her cities and occupy
ing her territory, and that state of affairs
brought about by wrongng a woman was to be
rghted by a young girl-a peasant And thus
The whirligig of time brings in its revenges.
The Duke of Bedford the great captain
of the English hosts, wrote to his
king that he was about to bring France as vas
sal to the crown Desiring to 90 to the south of
France, he needed to have the city of Orleans as
- C..a... g.
soldiers to take the city The French were de-
termined to save the city or die.
The lecturer described the long siege of six
months OF the beleaeuered city and the des
peration of the furnishing but determined inhabit-
ants It was a duel in which France and Eng
land had all Europe for spectators and Orleans
understood if she fell the kingdom fell with
her. She cried for help, and while she cried out
the selfish dauphin was gathering his gold and
Jewels, preparing to fee from France turning
his back upon the people who were dying for
him to save himself.
Suddenly through this darkness and despair
light shone 1t was the Maid Of Domreny. Our
knowledge of her is not legendary. In all his
tory there is no character whose course can be
more readily traced than that of this girl Over
900 histories have been written Of her, and the
archives of France are filled with Contemporaries
Gus records of her. Attempts have been made
to send her TO infamy, and even Shakespeare
has trailed his great reputation in the dirt to the
national prejudices of his time. She was peas
ant, and lived a simple honest, ana wholesome
life, tending sheep for her father. The village
priest said she was the only one in the village
who never missed confession, and who never had
anything to confess Her heart was filed with
love for France and, when she heard the
stories of her country's suffering, she was
moved by patriotism. The supreme thought
took possession of her that she could save the
land she loved. Miss Catharine Beeeher dis
covered that the visions Of Joan, of which much
has been heard wePe disordered dreams. II
bolieye she was called to her work not by voices
by signs aud wonders in the air. but you and
] are called; as every soul that is sent into the
world has its voices TO drive it on. She believed
in France, in her king, in heavens interposition
to save its own. These influences made her fiji
10 be a leader of France
The lecturer narrated her difficulties, peas
ant girl, in getting to the daHphin, and while
the obstacles were slowly moving out of her
way how she swept and swayed the people
by some subtle power they could not
understand, but which was genius, inspired by
patriotism and piety. She appeared at the head
of the French troops and victory followed. The
French said 'she comes from God" the English
'she comes from the deyi7 She enters Orleans
and in six days. the siege Of six months is raised
She does as Napoleon did centuries later She
massed her troops and hurled them upon the
weakest spot in the enemies line
The Growing of the dauphin at Rheims, the
honors heaped upon the maid, the ennoblipg of
her family, the refusal of the request to return
to her home are all forcefuy told and at last
her cruel death through treaehery by burning
at the stake.