Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-10-12
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MONUMENT TO JOAN OF ARC.
Bronze Equestrian Statue Raised In Her
Honor at Chinon.


Honor at Chinon.
Sunday l went out from Paris to
'Iittle village of great renown,' which
Pantagruel declared to be the oldest in
the world, because, as facetious Rabelias
makes him say, 1.-The original name Of
Chinon was Caino, and that was got
from Cain himself. the first builder Of
towns and cities" Chinon is indeed old,
but not interesting on that account
alone.
Four hundred and sixty-four years ago
a certain damsel of Domremy, in the
Vosges, was inspired to go from her ma
tive place to the town, where an indolent
king was passing his time in doing moth
ing, and to humbly solicit of him the
honor and privilege of leading his troops
against the English, who were then mas
| ter of three-fourths of French territory.
1t was difficult task that which Joan
of Arc undertook, for he who persopi-
fed France at that time was pale, Ian
gushing, sensual young man of 20 years,
who seemed to have given up hope of
ever being the real ruler of France. In
his castle, looking down on the river
| Vienne, he passed his time in fetes, gal
| lantries and miserable court intrigues,
and at no time in her history had France
sunk to such low degree. 1t was then
that the peasant girl of Domremy went
to see the king. and In commemoration
of her visit to the place in 1920 the town
of Chinon determined to erect bronze
monument in her honor which would
last forever.
1t was to assist at the Inauguration of
this "bronze equestrian Statue" an ug-
ly, hideous thing though the cause it
represents is sacred, that took a train
Sunday morning early and went down
into that part of France which is called
fair Touraine.
When Joan reached the castle, the
courtiers opposed her entrance and de-
clared that the king would be humiliat-
ing himself if he received this common
shepherd girl. But she went into great
hall lighted by 90 torches, where Charles
VII, surrounded by 800 noblemen dress
ed in magnificent costumes, awaited her
coming. To test her he put one of his
titled subjects in the place Of honor and
half hid himself among the courtiers,
but Joan went directly up to him, bent
down and respectfully kissed his knees.
He denied himself to her, whereupon she
said:
Gentle prince, this is you and none
other"
every well, what wilt thou have of
me?' asked the dauphin, for, though king
in fact, he was not so officially, not yet
having been crowned.
"Most noble lord" she replied. II am
called Jeanne, the maiden, and l have
come to you, aided by God, to help you
make war on the English"
The king smiled, whereupon Jeanne
continued: "You do not believe me,
Well, tell you that God, yielding to the
prayers of st. Louis and st. .Charlemagne
has taken pity on you and your people
"Who art thou that speaks thusT" de
manded Charles.
II am only poor peasant, ,"'she an
swered, "who knows not how to read OF
write, but under arms l shall be your
servant, and God will be your salvation.
Struck by these words, the king spoke
TO her alone for awhile, and then he said
TO all the court, This young girl has my
entire confidence"
Such is the true story of what passed
| in the old castle above Chinon 464 year.
ago, and such is the reason why bronze
statue has been stood up in the Tourain'
town that overlooks the Vienne river
Cor. Boston Herald.