The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-06-22
FFIeIN REVIEW
JOAN OF ARC.
l.. r. PITTS.


Raise for Il moment the curtain IF the
worlds stage. and gaze upon that trag.
zeal scene of the fifteenth century. IL i,
one Of dire confusion. The clamOrou:
cutlery OF intriguing mOnarchs; the tramp
OF martial feet; the menacinS bulls Oi
the Pope: the clash of broadswOrd and
battleaXe upon shield and helmet; the
symphony Of the grand lie Deum = the
mOnotOnous chant Of hooded monks; the
wall of despair from the lips of shrek
ing victims ut the stake. blend i'm awful
discord. while over all is thrown the lu-
rid light of confiagration. As bird,
storm-t0ssed by the ocean tempest. seeks
some secluded nook for rest, sd the eye,
wearied by this discordant spectacle,
would fain turn gladly TO the history of
more tranquil times.
What seraph-like form Is that now
kneeling before the portals OF the tenn
pie. now quitting forever the home of
her childhood. now PROSTATE before the
knees of the Dauphin, now bearing aloft
her c0nsecrated banner ut the head Of
fierce soldiery, and now the object
against which the passions of nation
burst? Ii is the form Of Joan of Are.
the Maid of Orleans.
1t was at Dom Remy, between the
Lorraine of the VOsges and that of the
plains, that the heroic creature. destined
TO bear so nobly the sword of France.
first saw the light. 1t was among the
rustling woods of the VOsges. that she
drank poetry and legend from the fairy
ring and haunted well. 1t was here she
saw the visions which spurred her ON TO
success.
Her success. however. depended not
upon her visions, but upon her good
sense. Her inspiration was not merely a
fanciful vision, but a conviction true and
honest. No doubt she had been fore
told that the woman should bruise the
serpent. No doubt she had seen above
the portals of the Church ST. Margaret
trampling under foot the dragon. She
sees subsection threatening her land.
She realizes that through herself. and
herself only. will her people be able To
drive the English from their boundaries.
At the age of eighteen this unlettered
girl left her rustic home and sought an
audience of the court itself. After much
doubt and hesitation she was brought
before the King. In his distraction he
accepted her services. clad her in armOr
and placed her at the head of his troops.
At The noble appearance of this brave
and beautiful girl. new liteentered into
the respondent men.
Under the very battlements OF the
0verawed beseigers, she entered Orleans
with food for the starving people and
soldiers for the empty forts. Her enthu-
siasm melted her worshiping followers.
while the English were discouraged.
The seige begins in earnest. The clash |
and rattle of arms resOund throughout
the long. wild days. Horses mad with
pain plunge wildly about. The shouts
Of fiendish exultation miugle with the
yroans of death agony. But above the
lin of the battle rings out the voice of
the leader. the Maid of Dom Remy.
shouting for France and victory.
Fort after fort is taken. TOurnelle
,nly remains. Now at the head of the
lrmy, she orders the gates TO be thrown
,pen and advances. Although wounded
~ an arrow. her sword is triumphant.
The fort is taken and the deliyerance of
france complete.
Her next step was the coronation of
Ter King. 1t was joyful day at Rheims
If old when the young King, surrounded
~ his glittering retinne, marched tn the
hronged Cathedral, while At his side,
gearing his cOnsecrated banner on high,
was the simple peasant girl. the Maifod
orleans.
The coronation takes place midst
,rand solemnity and incOnceivable splen-
Ter. Triumphant music peals forth and
he air resounds with plaudits.
Now do the evil clouds of tribulatiOn
,egin to hover in darkness over this
,rave and gentle girl. Pressed by her
deserted by him for whom she
lad fought; now cheered by dazzling
now disappointed in the
reachery of her people, she is still firm
N the knowledge of determined pur-
'ose. She never forgets the destiny of {
he people whom she leads.
Joan of Arc fell prisoner TO the recre-
mt Burgundians and was sold into the
lands of the English. She was thrown
nto Jail and stagmatized as witch and l
Irons were put upon her
mbs and brutal guards watched over