Connecticut western news., 1894-03-08
A HEROIC DAUGHTER

"A l1LltO1O DA OQl1 Il Ill
 In the year 1478 the city of Nancy, in Lorraine. was besieged by Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, warrior of the most heroic daring. but whose harsh and irritable temper often drove him to commit acts of wanton cruelty.
 The governor of Nancy at that time, whose name history has not preserved, was a man of dauntless courage and great military experience, and, more over. an excellent and devoted father. His only child, whose mother had died in giving her birth, was the joy and pride of his heart and shone conspicu- ously among all the maidens of her time for her goodness and knowledge.
 Telesila at the date of the siege was in her eighteenth year, and had already received many offers of marriage from nobles attracted by the charms of her beauty and suitability, but she refused all suitors. preferring to watch over the declining days of her gray haired la ther. and by her love and devotion cheer and prolong his existence.
 The inhabitants. led by their govern or. in whose skill and judgment they had the utmost confidence, made brave defense against the countless troops of the fiery duke.
 All the men and youths capable of bearing arms had taken weapons, as was fitting in the time of danger, and posted themselves on the ramparts to beat of every attack.
 The aged men encouraged the faint hearted and insisted on the women aid. ing. as far as their strength permitted. by carrying stones to the walls to be hurled down on the besiegers; they also lighted fires under enormous caldrons filled with pitch, oil and even water, and when the enemy ventured on an assault the seething mass was poured on their devoted heads.
 Nothing that the most resolute bray cry and experienced skill could accom- plish was left undone to defend the town. and Charles, after vainly endeav bring for a considerable time to take the place by assault, at length resolved to make overtures of peace, hoping thus to gain the end which it seemed useless to expect from force of arms.
 He whose custom it was to deliver every conquered city to be plundered and burned: he who, after a successful siege, invariably wrecked his bitterest vengeance on the inhabitants and de- lenders. now proposed to the governor and inhabitants of Nancy that they should surrender and open to him the gates of the city. pledging himself to protect their dwellings and property from all plundering, and to take care that no one should suffer the least harm either in life or possessions. The pro noble governor. who had grown gray in the service of his prince, stepped for ward and declared that he would rath- CT be buried under the ruins of the ram parts than deliver up the city to the en- emy.. so long as there were means to defend it. He encouraged soldiers and citizens to bravery and perseverance and inplored them to keep the city for ] their sovereign, the Duke of Lorraine, and he succeeded so we'll by his enthu- | siastic eloquence that all swore to sacri- I flee their lives rather than surrender. l While the brave governor thus reani- mated the courage of the men, his daughter, on her side. raised the wom- en's fainting spirits and cheered them | by her presence and inspiriting words, and by her own conduct gave the exam 1 pie to maids and matrons to share 1T the hardships and dangers of the de I fense. She reminded them how, z short time before, when the Duke ot Burgundy besieged the town of Beau vais, the women had taken up arms ant fought beside the men on the rampant. and how they had succeeded in driving back the hesiegers.
 These brave women were far fewer than we are, ]" continued Telesila
 while the enemy was the same in mum Der and strength. Why should we b. afraid, when we have before us such al example of devoted patriotism?'
 This speech made the greatest impres sion on the minds of her listeners Fresh courage was instilled into mei and women, and no one spoke of sur render.
 Meanwhile. Charles had recourse t, every stratagem that ingenuity coult devise to endeavor to render hinsel master of the town. During the nigh
 watches he kept the besieged in stat of alarm by continual feints of attack and then. as p,orning advanced, whel they were quite wearied and worn out
 he would rush with tenfold violence t
 the assault.
 He caused large stones to be hurle'
 by the machines at the walls whereve they were weakest, in the hope of mak ' ing breach, which at last, by tn greatest efforts he succeeded in doing
 and after two hours desperate fightin
 he forced a entrance into the city breathing vengeance against its defend
 CTS, whose obstinate resistance, com
 bined with the loss he had sustained C
 his bravest warriors, had enraged hir beyond measure. But it was especiall
 against the governor that all his ange
 and hatred were directed, as he kne'
 that the latter had steadfastly refuse
 the terms of equalization and had 1T
 duced the inhabitants to offer such prt
 longed resistance.
 He swore that the governor should | the first on whom his relentless yer D geance W ,uld fall, but his intended vi tim, to escape recognition, had disgu1 q ed himself in an ordinary citizen | dress, and now stood, unknown, amol r the assembled inhabitants, who we 2 2 awaiting their fate at the hands of u | enraged duke.
 @ Charles demanded that the govern s should, be instantly delivered up to hir but the people would rather die ther
 selves than betray their beloved chi
 into the hands of the bloody conquero
 Duke Charles threatened to destr ] nal with fire and sword # his dstnan